I was having fun going back to my early pastel works on paper where I was creating figurative works of art using bold lines in my own simple "flat" blocks of color, my signature style I came to be known for. With this work, however, I created an oil painting on canvas that combined my unique flat style with introducing a new sculptural element. As you can see, these new works are also much more round and sculptural in nature. I love the idea of "sculpting with paint".  Nonetheless, I am making sure to stay true to my unique signature and personal method and early style of work.  

This woman who inspired this painting is a member of my family. So I did her portrait staying true to the uniqueness of my original flat style while also adding this new sculptural style. I also created a metaphoric self portrait in my vintage bowler hat -- I am a painting within a painting like a statue symbolically depicting my early years as an artist in Paris. The woman and I have always been complete opposites! Besides, why do we all have to be alike? There is enough room for everyone to celebrate our own uniqueness. That's what makes us who we are... She is very "stern", "rational", and "analytical" while I am definitely very imaginative and "creative".  That's why I became an artist instead of a judge or an art critic.

I intentionally used orange in the same shape as hers to show that the woman and the artist are related, depicting both of them using primary and secondary hues. The reason for this is that they are also "opposites" on the color wheel.

My "flat style" ended up being a tremendous blessing in my life and in my career as an artist. My flat style is how a year after I created my first works of art I found myself in Paris celebrating my first international exhibition. Why do I say this? I say this because there is an important message in this for all of us. We are all unique. So celebrate your uniqueness!