"Atlantis is Rising" by Sherwin Long

medium: Acrylic on wood  
size: 9.5" x 6"
This painting is about the lost civilization of Atlantis and how they sunk under the sea. They were known for their highly intellectual society and art based culture. It is said that the ancient egyptians are decedents of these people. I enjoy reading and learning about ancient cultures and the myths they passed down through generations.

Anunaki 1,2,3

The Anunnaki (also transcribed as: Anunna,Anunnaku, Ananaki and other variations) are a group of deities in ancient Mesopotamian cultures (Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian). The Anunnaki are the Sumerian deities of the old primordial line; they are chthonic deities of fertility, associated eventually with the underworld, where they became judges. In many other cultures there are stories that are similar where they use the same plots to the stories but just change the names of the individuals involved. The more we venture into the future I feel like its important that we review the past to be progressive and avoid repeating the same mistakes. I think these entities existed and changed the events in history by guiding us subtly and watching from a distance. I will be working on some new pieces regarding the Egyptians,Myans, and Incans.

"Mother Nature" by Sherwin Long

Acrylic painting on wood

12"x12"

This painting is about "Gaia" mother earth whistling to the birds secrets through the wind. I like to paint the things I see in my mind when I read stories. Art is a type of meditation for me that allows me to escape the disappointments and limitations of reality. I think creative thinking is the secret to evolution if we harness it.

"Great Balls of Fire" by Sherwin Long

Acrylic painting on canvas 

size:8"x11.5"

This painting is about me and my addiction to candy. I am sleep walking to the gum ball machine and using my super powers to melt it and eat all the candy. I painted several layers on the canvas then scraped some off in certain areas and thats how I created the texture. I painted the gum ball machine then the flame pattern after. I really like this painting because it is a metaphor.

"Dreaming of a Queen" by Sherwin Long

medium: graphite

size: 8"x 11"

In this drawing I drew my girlfriend the way she looked in my dream. She has always been there for me and by my side when I needed her. I love this woman and I am thankful for every moment she spends with me. Its hard to find someone who cares and wants the best for you no matter what, we have known each other since 5th grade. We are best friends and are so passionate about each other because we have grown together and seen the stages of progression through our lives from children to adults. Even though the journey has been far from easy we continue to embrace each other and are ready for anything life throws at us.

Yemi-ya by Sherwin Long

medium: graphite

size: 9"x13"

Yemi-ya is the goddess of the living Ocean, considered the mother of all. She is the source of all the waters, including the rivers of western Africa, especially the River Ogun.

Her name is a contraction of Yey Omo Eja, which means "Mother Whose Children are the Fish."As all life is thought to have begun in the sea, all life is held to have begun with Yemi-ya. She is motherly and strongly protective,she is said to be able to cure infertility in women,and cowrie shells represent her wealth.She does not easily lose Her temper, but when angered She can be quite destructive and violent, as the sea in a storm.

Yemi-ya was brought to the New World with the African diaspora and She is now worshipped in many cultures besides her original Africa. In Brazilian Candomblé, where She is known as Yemanja or Imanje, She is the Sea Mother who brings fish to the fishermen, and the crescent moon is her sign. 

As Yemanja Afodo, also of Brazil, She protects boats traveling on the sea and grants safe passage. 

I chose to portray her with a mural pattern that represents weather and the sea. Her mask has sun rays coming from the side and help to add some mystique. I drew this freehand on watercolor paper using mechanical pencil. It took me about a week because I was working on many projects. For the next version I will paint it and experiment with the background.

"Spike Lee" by Sherwin Long

medium: Acrylic

size: 6"x 8"

I enjoy painting portraits because they allow me to gain a better understanding of anatomy and how to convey the emotion of a person. In this painting I wanted to experiment with different techniques. I textured the canvas first then painted him over the bumps and creases. The last thing I did was cut out fabric cloth and use it as his shirt. In person the piece is made to be touched and rubbed. I enjoy the process of working on the art and watching how the audience interacts with it. I chose him as a subject because I think he is innovative, bold, enlightening, real, philosophical, and intellectual. He inspires me to be better and not to settle for mediocre, but strive to be the best at what I do.

"The Dream Chaser" by Sherwin Long

medium: charcoal, ink pen, and marker

size: 3ft x 6ft 

This drawing was one of my favorite things I have done because it pushed me to work to a level that I never have. I always limit myself in how much time I give myself to work on something. This drawing represents my journey to becoming who I am today. The children on the left represent see no evil, hear no evil, think no evil. The angel represents blind faith and hope. The elephant is my spirit animal/totem. The car represents my fire burning passion and classic style. I just wanted to pay homage to those people I look up to, All these people  inspired me and others are my temptation. I enjoy drawing things that are metaphorical because they allow me to say all the things I feel in a subtle way. 

"Malcolm X" by Sherwin Long

medium: Acrylic

on illustration board

size: 12.5"x 15.5"

I enjoy being expressive and spontaneous. It allows me to recreate myself and be a completely new person to roam free in my own universe where the colors and emotions are one. Where frequency and sound resonate on a spectrum in different forms of energy. It may seem strange at first but the more you master something or concentrate and focus you reach a state of consciousness that allows you to become more intuitive. I decided to paint Malcolm X because he allows has such an intensity that is hard to capture in just one image, so I decided to represent him as a form of energy. An explosive rebel. I chose to paint his glasses and ring with a metallic paint because I liked the luster it gives from certain angles and lighting situations. My inner child jumped up and down because this painting was like going to the playground during recess after taking a hard test. I have been so busy doing so much serious assignments that I sometimes forget to paint for fun and be a kid again. I always thank God for blessing me with a way to let out my stress and emotions in such a creative way.

"The Haunted Wall" By Sherwin Long

medium:graphite
size: 14"x17"
on Bristol Paper

This drawing was hard but was fun to do. This is exactly how I saw it in my head, its rare that I draw something the way I envision it in my mind.  The concept behind this image is a person is soul is trapped on the wall because he tagged the forbidden wall. Now he is a warning sign to all those who dare to try. In this drawing I decided to use my line work to my advantage and create a sense of depth in a dimension of my own.. This is a drawing from my graphic novel that I am working on. It is at the beginning when one of the main antagonist is introduced, the character on the wall, his name is knamelis (nameless). I though it would be interesting to create my own world with a great narrative to drive the imagery. In all my artwork my lifework tells a story of its own, and allows me to show how vast my imagination is. This is my first Thesis Project drawing and I wanted to show a little of what I can do when inspired by a narrative.  

"Face of Hope" by Sherwin Long

property of SJLart inc.

medium: Acrylic

size: 16"x20" canvass

This painting is one of my favorite I have done because of the size and composition.  When you see it up close and personal you will realize the texture and detail that went into the background and the face. Obama is one of the presidents that is for the common people.  He has been working to make the right reforms that will allow the economy to start moving forward. We cant expect change immediately, but understand that it will take time and a mutual effort from the rich percent of the population to share. I hope on my journey to become a great artist that I inspire change for the greater good of the world. 

"Modern Age Pharaohs" by Sherwin Long

Property of SJLart

medium: Acrylic on wood 

size: 12"x17.75"

This painting is a representation of the modern age of man where technology is the making everybody complacent and apathetic. Slowly we are losing our grip on humility and demanding more and more resources. In the search for knowledge have we lost touch with the purpose of our existence and how to coincide with the natural world. As we move forward I wonder if this progression is going to be as beneficial as we are promised. we must remain hopeful and keep seeking the truth. I enjoyed making this painting on the wood surface because it gave a nice texture to the background and to the gold as well. I work with light washes of paint so that it allows the wood grain to stay visible.  As I keep experimenting with new materials I am finding new ways to articulate myself. I am enjoying this journey and hope that along the way I inspire others to embrace innovation and remain passionate as we venture forth.  

"Tyler the Creator" by Sherwin Long

property of SJLart

medium: charcoal

size: 8"x11"

I enjoy drawing celebrities because they have some interesting traits that artist can exaggerate.  He is a unique rapper and has a weird aura about him. I wanted this drawing to be him caught after doing something awkward, lol. I have a lot more coming....stay tuned.

Dyslexia by Sherwin Long

medium: Acrylic and Spraypaint
size: 14"x17"

This piece is about a boy that is made fun of because he has Dyslexia. I been working on this for two years. I made the surface out of gesso and matt medium which gave it a cool texture. I wanted this to have a lot of layers and implications that the audience could decipher on their own. I am happy with this piece because it covers a serious topic and is an anti-bully piece. I like doing editorial work becasue I can use my art to make a social commentary.

"She got SWAG" by Sherwin Long

medium: graphite

size: 8"x11"

This was my first fashion illustration and I wanted to do something that was elegant and sexy but professional at the same time. I want to do a lot more of these because it allowed me to experiment with different lines to create illusions through consistency of the direction. 

Villain 1: Mastadon

I enjoy doing concept drawing for villains in my graphic novel because it allows me to explore different styles and line works. This is ones name is Mastadon. I named him that because he is big like a Mastodon and the name is a play on words "Master Don"... I thought it was cute. Each character I would like to have associated with a personality of someone I have met in real life. This guy is not the top villain but he is still very strong because his power is he manifests your fears into imagery and illusions. So with his greed and endless lust for power he challenges another villain (Namelis) to a duel and loses his life. I have like 20 sketchbooks and I want to fill them up with as many ideas as I can while I'm young,passionate, and inspired so I can look back on my progress as a thinker and artist. As a poet I am use to putting words together to make form imagery but now I have to figure out a way to mix that with my drawings. 

"Sing to me Billy" by Sherwin Long

property of SJLart inc.

medium: Acrylic Paint

size 11"x14"

What inspired me to do this painting was that I didn't feel I painted enough classic women that embodied the strength and confidence a real woman is known for. I usually draw women looking seductive but I wanted her to look like she was contemplating something important. I also wanted to stay true to my style and have fun in the process of making such an intricate piece. I think its hard to find a lot of women that still have the composure that woman back then portrayed, but maybe thats because the chivalry has dissipated as well. Billie Holiday is looked up to by performers,singers,visual artist, and aspiring black women around the world because she was able to put so much passion and emotion into her music that you could feel her pain.  

"Lublu" by Sherwin Long

medium: Acrylic on wood

size: 12"x20"

This painting is a metaphor for how I interpret love. Love inspires me and keeps me motivated because it gives me passion and a new energy for life.  When you find that special somebody they can make you feel like anything is possible so it allows me to push myself past my limits. In a "good" relationship you and your partner should grow together and work to eliminate each others weaknesses. In the image I made my girlfriend into an Acacia tree growing from my heart and sprouting lilacs which are the flowers of new love, when you develop trust. I will be doing more paintings that are poetic and have some trippy visuals to express my emotions.  I wrote a poem that goes with this image and when the project is finished I will be releasing a graphic novel and poetry anthology when I get back to being productive.

"Elephant Warrior" by Sherwin Long

property of SJLart inc.

medium: scratchboard

8"x11"

This is my first piece using scratchboard! I was so excited to get started on this one, but before I started carving into the surface I had to decide on a concept. Spirituality was a subject that I was interested in so I became interested in rendering what my spirit looks like. I read many books regarding personality traits and different aspects of life that determine the spirit animal that each person represents. My spirit animal is the elephant, having an elephant totem gives you ancient wisdom and power to draw upon. They are the embodiment of strength and power. People with this power animal often have a very strong sex drive. Through using fragrances and incense, elephant can take you to new energies and power. Generally speaking elephant people are very affectionate toward family, caring for the young and the elderly. They also usually have an inborn knowledge about plants and roots. Elephants give us insights into our inner power. 

The process of making this was interesting because had to use a knife to carve into the black surface and then the white shows. So the harder I carve the brighter the white is.I decided to use a cross hatching method to imply depth and brightness for  the light source.I enjoyed doing this and will be uploading a new more complex image with a landscape.

"HotRoD" by Sherwin Long

medium: Acrylic
size: 5"x 14.5"
$75
I enjoy painting random things because it helps me build my visual vocabulary. The more things I draw it allows me to memorize the shapes that compose each object.  I use these little paintings as experiments and studio for future work, I think these little exercises keep your drawing fresh and teach you to be fluid. Each line, each color, each splatter of paint means something so I try to relax and rely on my intuition to decide the colors. My emotion of feeling for the moment decides the colors and sometimes the composition. I find that the more I paint from my imagination the more I am beginning to learn about my self.