ARTS & CRAFTS

Artist Statement

I am an artist who understands that art is the original media; Artists transform ideas into images, music, movement or words. As artists we are often more important to others than we are to ourselves, hence we have artists for hire or commercial art. Be it ancient or modern times artists tell a story of ours or someone else. That is why I take pride in being a freelance artist — I believe that the challenges I encounter encourage me to produce a variety of techniques and styles to satisfy my customers. These challenges are fuel for growth, and I believe all artists should constantly strive to improve their skills.

I produce art in a variety of mediums, from oils to acrylic and mixed medium, but the art of pencil drawing is primal and special. I have learned knowledge from many people and places including the Atlanta College of Art, the Neighborhood Art Center, and the Arts Exchange, to street artists. And having that internal instinct to do for self, that knowledge has been instrumental in my life and career.

I have been a creative soul since birth, recognizing my gifts at an early age — that happens when you are the youngest child and you spend a lot of time using your imagination to create things when you are alone. I started my first art business in Beckley, West Virginia in 1974, designing and painting murals. That year I also joined the Beckley Art Group.

After returning to Atlanta and art school again I married the lady I met in Beckley, another creative soul. Siti and I created nine beautiful children; we also created a non-profit organization — PCC, Progressive Center for Creativity — that focused on teaching the arts. I was also a co-founder and president of Creative Co-op, an organization founded in 1985 by artists and technicians coming together to produce art, music, festivals, galleries, TV productions, and teach art classes.

As of 2025 I am a co-founder of GMAP — Georgia Music Archive Project, Inc. (2019) — a non-profit that promotes and celebrates the Georgia music industry. Thanks to my daughter Kemba and her artistic business, I was blessed to design adinkra symbols that were laser cut into stainless steel for a 15 ft. × 10 ft. archway. This was one panel in a multi-panel installation that Kemba designed for a multi-story high-rise in Seattle, Washington (2018).

I have been a committed artist since 1970 and have been blessed to have customers across the United States and in the Atlanta area in particular. As a freelance artist and an in-house artist for several companies, I have done nearly a hundred murals both commercial and in private homes. Now I am focusing on producing quality art and reproducing quality prints — for I am an artist and I have a story to tell.