What inspired this painting?
There are so many different races in the world, but many times we don’t acknowledge races other than our own. I wanted to make a painting that included everyone.
How did you develop this composition?
I created a tightly cropped picture to give the impression that this is one group. I wanted to create a sense that the faces are all equal. There is no one ethnicity or race that is greater than another.
What was your working process?
I created eight or nine sketches before I settled on this composition. Then I began painting with acrylic paint, starting in the center and working outward. If I used light blue, I worked next with a totally different color, like yellow or red, to make the differences between faces stand out.
Are the colors significant?
Some of the colors are realistic, and others—like the girl with green hair—are not. I wanted to grab the viewer’s attention by randomly mixing in these fun and vibrant colors.
What did you want the viewer to walk away with?
I wanted the viewer to appreciate how we are connected to each other even if we don’t always admit that truth. We are all together in one space, and we need to cooperate.
Do you have any advice for aspiring artists like yourself?
Find your story. If you paint from experiences in your own life, you will deliver your message with more authenticity and the viewer will connect with your work more deeply.