Black History Month

I believe in drawing as an act of learning. Illustration requires research and active looking. I’ve been learning about social justice, white privilege, systemic racism, and a whole lot more through Black Girl in Maine, a media company led by Peaks Island resident, Shay Stewart Bouley.

I did a drawing on the 6 month anniversary of the Women’s March, inspired by Shay.

I began drawing notable black women during February, a daily challenge to learn about each person, their features and their power.

My first sketch of Oprah followed her historic speech at the Golden Globes.

I was just finishing up a fantastic novel, The Hate You Give, by Angie Thomas, so I drew her. I’m not saying these are great likenesses, which I struggle with. This is practice, practice, practice, keeping my eyes and pencils sharp.

Next was Michelle Obama, the most beautiful FLOTUS ever, who is writing her first book!

I heard Whoopi Goldberg speak at the Women’s March in NYC, rousing the crowd to RISE UP, wearing her pink hat.

Only four days in, and I was having trouble squeezing in a drawing on top of the illustrations on deadlines I’m under and also teaching a MECA class. I cheated and shared this detail from my poster for Lady Day at the Emerson Bar & Grill for Portland Stage Company. Just a hint here of Billie Holiday.

Then we watched a stellar documentary about Winnie Mandela, South African activist and political leader, which got me back on track.

I’m always thinking about the girls who become amazing women. I did this portrait of Kyler several years ago, the niece of my friend, Anne. She will make history in her own exuberant way.

I met Hamdia Ahmed at King Middle School when she was a feisty student. Now she is a USM student, activist,  aspiring model, and the first Miss Maine contestant to wear a hijab.

My island neighbor and fellow Women’s Marcher, Nicole, suggested I look up Fannie Lou Hamer, a passionate civil rights activist who helped organize the 1964 Freedom Summer African-American voter registration drive in her native Mississippi. Her singing empowered her fight, saying, “Your vote is your voice.”

I drew Angela Davis, civil rights activist, author, and educator.

Next was Grace Jones, because. Soundtrack of my youth.

The next day was the unveiling of the Obama’s official portraits. Wow! Amy Sherald‘s painting of Michelle is an historic sensation.

Again, I couldn’t muster a drawing. This piece is from awhile back. Going out to all the singers of black music.

Next I drew Marcia Minter, a fellow MICA mom and Vice President Creative Director at LL Bean.

I was often drawing these at night, listening to music. I drew Diana Ross.

By then, Black Panther had debuted. Before seeing it, I looked back to Nichelle Nichols, whose ground-breaking role as Lt.Uhura on Star Trek featured some killer costumes.

We watched Tell Them We Are Rising, a film about historically black colleges and universities. I tried to draw while watching, but there were mostly males featured. Great film, though!

We talked to our MICA student, and heard she skipped class to hear Joyce Scott speak in East Baltimore, a wise move.

After seeing Black Panther, I drew Lupita Nyong’o. If you haven’t seen the film yet, go. If you have, let’s see it again and again.

Thanks to Petronella Periwinkle I discovered Lorraine O’Grady  a concept based artist whose persona, Mlle Bourgeois Noire, crashed art openings in protest of racism and sexism in the art world.

My motorcycle partner suggested I draw Bessie Stringfield, the first black woman to ride solo across the US in the 1930’s. She became known as the Motorcycle Queen of Miami.

It’s mid semester in the Picture Book course I’m teaching at Maine College of Art. I decided to draw Ilyasah Shabazz, third daughter of Malcolm X, whose latest picture book is about her mother’s childhood, Dr. Betty Shabazz, Betty Before X.

For the last day in February, I drew Diana again.

I fell short of my goals, but my education about American history will continue!