Permanence is a series of portraits which began in 2022 and are an extension of my larger body of work of nightscapes. In my usual practice of documenting imagery as reference material for those nocturnal paintings, I would inadvertently photograph various individuals in the background and which I later noticed a selection of women in those images who held an intriguing gaze. These women appeared resilient and were a reminder of my mother, Elva, who passed away in 2020. While the delicate imagery on their skin may look like tattoos, most are intended to mimic lace referencing the South Texas floral and fauna adored by her. Ultimately, the paintings are a reminder of everything my mother embodied: strength, independence, and elegance.
Permanence is a series of portraits which began in 2022 and are an extension of my larger body of work of nightscapes. In my usual practice of documenting imagery as reference material for those nocturnal paintings, I would inadvertently photograph various individuals in the background and which I later noticed a selection of women in those images who held an intriguing gaze. These women appeared resilient and were a reminder of my mother, Elva, who passed away in 2020. While the delicate imagery on their skin may look like tattoos, most are intended to mimic lace referencing the South Texas floral and fauna adored by her. Ultimately, the paintings are a reminder of everything my mother embodied: strength, independence, and elegance.
