Chesshire Rodgers Portrait 24" x 30" Oil on Canvas

I am almost positive this was the first black and white portrait I produced, but its been more than a few years since so some fog remains.  The pressure was on to make it right since, umm, yea she is my wife lol.  Even my instructor reminded me daily to not screw this one up since this could bring on a lifetime of friction. Ha! Didn't matter in the end, I still shined, and I enjoyed painting this one.  I love this woman's swag and this picture emphasized that beautiful, quiet, confidence that always drew me to her.  This proudly hangs next to a picture that my father created and always serves as a good source of inspiration.  This one is absolutely not for sale, so if u thinkin bout it... ya better git it out ya mind! lol  :)  

James Brown 24" x 30" Oil on Canvas

James Brown, the true godfather of funk.  One of my third paintings under the black and white value concept.  The main focus was that you could visaully see music, if ever there was a thing, but to convey a sense of almost hearing the music, or rather his vioce, come right through the painting.  I think it was a successful feat in that regard.  But mostly what was so important to my growth as a fine artist, was that when I finally sold this one, I got exactly what I asked.  No one tried to gas me up and get a deal or swindle me out of the time, energy, work, creativity I put into it.  This turned my confidence up a notch, to now was I not only painting with bolder strokes, but I knew that if the content spoke volumes by itself, than overall, the art will sell itself.  The artist can now dettach from what he birthed, by way of compesation for the aforementioned traits.  The gentleman just knew that his son would love this so much and it was perfect for a Christmas gift, as his son loves music, so this one became a game changer.  I saw the man who purchased this about a year later and he thanked me and said his son loves it and is inspired by it.  waa-laa!  like magic!  I stood in faith that someone would come along and fully appreciate the art for what it was and how it could amplify a part of their own lives to the extent that they would reciprocate value in kind to hold ownership... and what do you know?! Milestone!

Commissioned Portrait 12" x 12" Oil on Canvas

Portrait I did for a friend of mine, his mom.  Beautiful woman, I'm sure, never got to meet her but that was what I tried to convey here.  I think it turned out great! Shout out to  Eric G!  He turned me into a believer of his skillset (my dude throws down in the kitchen!), so naturally I had to make a believer out of him in my own skillset and it worked.  One hand washes the other.... 

Jim Leyland Portrait 16" x 20" Oil on Canvas

Painted this for fun stemming from an idea I gathered while watching some good ol' Detriot Tiger baseball with a good friend of mine, I swear looks just like Jim Leyland.  It could be the six degrees of seperation theory into play here, so that gave me more motivation to produce a painting like this so I good pick with him and hold a figurative mirror up to his face.  We both got a good chuckle from it and now that he is the owner, the coincidence and the legend continues on... priceless!

Richard Pryor 18" x 24" Oil on Canvas

Really enjoyed doing this one, I mean, check out the look on his face?! haha ridiculous and pulled no punches, just called it like he seen it.  Genius, troubled, addict, kept a fire burning from within to spit something real to the world... a few of the many traits seem to plague those who shoot to superstar status in a stupid, fast time period.  My cousin is now the proud owner (shout out EII!) of this one, of which I'm confident, enhances and amplifies his mancave all that much more.  ;)

Erykah Badu "22 x "28 Oil on Canvas

One of my favorite black and white studies.  Soul music... if ever there was a picture to represent it properly, this is defintely it, within the realm of the more current artists... plus, I dig her swag.  I already thought that the original image was dynamic in its own right, but nevertheless, I sought to put my own spin on it, so I changed up the microphone to something that was a bit less phallic in shape (lol, you know, for class etiquette puropses) and basically cropped enough to still maintain the same feel but more forced in a black and white scope.  ..and so the emphasis remains on the look.  Compelling, or like we say in the streets, all the way charged!

Billie Holiday 18" x 24" Oil on Canvas

Interesting piece once again, as the focus was on value shifts and contrast that creates an illusion of close vs far away, also referred to as light vs dark.  This painting in particular, was more so, a learning process and created during the time I had begin to work different perspectives.  Overall, it took me about 10 months (in cumulative degrees) to finish. I managed to force myself to accept mistakes push through these new and difficult areas.  The angle that her head is tilted creates a dynamic feeling, that made it almost vital to hit the mark, so to speak.  The subject matter became of interest primarily because I wanted to tackle something with more of an ol skool feel, so in my researching, I ran across the lyrics to a song by the name of "Strange Fruit," in which she sang.  Interesting, not only because of the time frame, but the "Strange Fruit," referred to  Black people that had been lynched.  Those who were cursed to hang from a tree, hence the stange fruit.

 "Strange Fruit"

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulgin' eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burnin' flesh

Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

Powerful!

Biggie Smalls is the Illest! Biggie portrait 22" x 28"

The concept behind this painting was primarily derived from the study of light. Values contrasted with each other, light against dark, etc... But do you see how the influential aspect of the subject matter involves an icon in with a steady flow of music would have a direct influence on the content?  Powerful, to say the least.  I think the boldness of the look is regarded in the painting and any musical influence creates a feeling of.. "yea, this is definitely the Notorious B.I.G., definitely!"

Uuh Huuh...

Kids Sharing Ice Cream - Oil On Canvas 24" x 30"

Prior Commissioned work

The subject matter was somewhat difficult to compose together, in the beginning.   A summation of both classes, because there had been so much information with so many questions going in and an even greater amount upon the conclusion of the two, I had to think objectively and with abstraction as well.  So after a few weeks of letting the idea percolate, as you so cleverly put it, I came up with an idea.  I even looked into the word percolate and surprisingly, what I gathered was "..to extract the essence," so I choose the subject matter of kids sharing ice cream.  

            This just really got to the root of everything and was simple enough to make enough of a splash that the reverbs within the heart of the message will echo continuously throughout time.    With that in mind, I looked for an image that contained a bit of that "essence" and how fitting in which I found a reference photo so intricate with intermixing,  that it obtained different genders and races all compacted into this one picture of a little girl and a little boy sharing ice cream.  The awesome that is already prevalent in the child before the indoctrination of a shared and possibly biased ideology.   Engineered  with gender specificity in mind, as children are adopted into gender specific roles at very early ages, I wanted to highlight the colors of their shirts as the process of socialization had already begun, but only to the point of apparel, as innocence and impartiality still remained.   Notice the expression upon the kids faces, which is always open to interpretation within any art form, but to me, the only concern is getting enough ice cream, or rather getting a taste. 

            Powerful and profound I found the image, and immediately I knew I had to transform this concept into a painting infused with my own style and spirit (and quite possibly a few bits of my cat's hair).  Which I'm quite sure if you look closely enough, you will find all three!  :)

            Thank you Deb for this opportunity and for opening my eyes to the world, society and a purpose driven future.  You told us truth, exposed our history and in doing so, moved me into a position to make an impact!  

~ I deeply respect and admire you,  sincerely,  Jamie Rodgers

Mat 19:14

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." *note Professor Deb Bishop @ LCC, has dared to become the one of the few people in my life who not only revealed to me truth, but showed me how to adjust my sails.  Here is to new horizons!