Oil on Canvas
”48 x72”
2023

Greener Pastures speaks a language of grief and rebirth, a visual ode to resilience in the face of loss. The artwork, vibrant yet poignant, centers on a young black girl, arrayed in a yellow dress that radiates like the first light after a long night. Her posture, regal and composed, belies the recent witnessing of her father's passing. Yet, in her gaze, there's an unyielding belief in life, a defiance against despair. She sits atop a tranquil blue lamb, a symbol of innocence and wisdom, embodying the purity of her spirit amidst sorrow. The lamb's golden bell, once silent in her father's final moments, now rings in her hands—a sound of perseverance, a tribute to the love and lessons he imparted. This ringing is not just an echo of victory, but a clarion call of continued existence, of life pulsing forward despite the void.

Surrounding this central figure, a cardinal darts across the canvas, its vivid red a stark contrast against the backdrop of green squares, each representing a fragment of her inherited land and legacy. This bird, an omen of her ancestral lineage, sings a melody of enduring connection, bridging the realms of the living and the departed. Below her, coi fish navigate the waters, ancient symbols of resilience and good fortune, mirroring her journey of finding hope in the currents of life. Her feet, dipped in these waters, symbolize her immersion in the cycle of life and death, a testament to her reawakening. The loops in her hair, once markers of control, now cascade freely, a metaphor for her liberation from the shackles of certainty. In this painting, every stroke, every hue is a testament to the girl’s journey—a reclamation of life, a profound understanding that even in the wake of death, the bell of life continues to ring, resonant and clear. The artwork stands as a poignant reminder of the indomitable human spirit, of finding light in the darkest of times, and of the unbreakable bonds that tether us to those we have lost.