Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

I love charcoal-pastel portraiture, painted denim jackets and murals. I don’t have a favorite as I create for the people around me. I organized and painted about 25 murals with my students. Students get a sense of ownership and belonging when they paint on the school walls. I make portraits of the different types of social groups I am involved with, like dancers, musicians and loved ones. I started painting denim jackets when I Iived in New Mexico and was influenced by the native American art.

Where do you find inspiration?

In doing all my art, I try to reflect the societies in which I traverse. My most recent series of portraits are of the people I go dancing with. I recognized that they were connected by music, dance and love, even tho they have a lot of different beliefs. I made them see each other in a different light by capturing their joy when they danced. Doing murals with my students gives them a power and belonging they don’t often experience. Their exuberance is my inspiration. Wearable art is inspiring.

What would you do with $25,000?

I give all my art away. My murals are free to the public and I have never collected a fee other than, sometimes, money from the schools for paint. I used to have my students bring any extra left-over paint from their homes. All of the 140 or so portraits I’ve done are gifts to the subjects to say thank you for playing with me. The denim jackets are a personal reflection of the recipients interests and desires. What I would like to use the money for is to rent a studio as I work in a 6’x6’ space.