Beyond the Blue presents a more intimate moment of joy, challenging the narrative surrounding black men in contemporary art and media. Instead of being set in a stereotypical environment of strength, aggression or stoicism – the figure is depicted within a more peaceful and warm moment. The composition of the painting helps to add to this warm environment; the background is muted and thus takes the viewer’s eyes towards the subject, who is smiling, and the lighting and shadows of the work are soft, which creates a peaceful atmosphere.
Threads of Heritage is set upon a circular canvas, which gives it a much more personal touch. The figures are not only portraits; instead, they serve as symbolism for a generation’s heritage. As the work is set in a monochromatic greyscale tone, it ignores time, as it could be set within any generation, thus celebrating the heritage of the family. Each figure has a unique personality with different generational clothes while yet are connected to each other which bridges these different family members together.