Tupac Shakur 24"x36" oil on canvas

This one, obviously, Tupac Shakur, done in the same vein as the Biggie portrait, was produced to bring balance to that east/west conflict, during the reign of these two pillars of hip hop music during the 90's, to a point where this had to be resolved in my own head, with the canvas.  The focus was on light and dark and shadow vs light, and please believe, I painted this to many a Pac song.  The feel is without a doubt emulated through this portrait.  The struggle is captured and power within it evident in the feeling that overtakes you as you really look deep within the eyes.  I think that was one of his most powerful features, his eyes.  Cliche' as it might be, the eyes really are the window to the soul.  If one really takes the time to observe and become sensitive to that, maybe, outside of ones own circle, it eventually creates an empathetic influence. 

Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996)