(2024) Oil on cavnas. 48"x72"
 
The sitter in this painting is a local rapper/musician that goes by "King Dugi". When he's not rapping, he works as an orthopedic nurse at one of the local hospitals. I met Shemar at a couple Rochester Artist Collaborative (RAC) events. I wanted to create a large portrait inspired by old paintings of monarchs and the elite, and King Dugi seemed to fit. Plus, he has this super cool sequined coat. 
 
This painting is still based on life, like most of my work.  Here he is seated in the French Room at Artisan Works. Fancy items we associate with generations past fill the space. Hanging on the back wall is a copy of Raphael's "School of Athens." An extremely influential painting for the history of art. Personally, I enjoy the very red walls and the decorative pattern on the carpet.
 
Obviously, as "King Dugi" this painting should be titled, "The King." However, "Inner Eye" also adds another layer to this piece. I believe that all art forms influence each other in this globally connected society we have made. "Inner Eye" references an idea that comes from African Art. Sometimes in masks or sculptures, the eyes of a face will be different sizes to represent seeing both the outside physical world, and the inner emotional/philosophical world. Internal eye or mind's eye is associated with memory, intention, intuition, insight, thinking, imagination, critical analysis, visual cognition, dreams, trances, prophecy, hypnotism, empathy, telepathy, divination, healing, benevolence, malevolence, extrasensory perception, and witchcraft, among others.
 
I hoped that even one of those concepts would invite the viewer to contemplation when they see this painting.