B.A.M. Boston Arts in Motion

click here to see footage from last B.A.M. Event

This event will be a great experience as we push the arts culture in Boston to the next level. I am excited for this because I will be painting an 8ft x 8ft canvas on stage as spoken word and poetry is recited. There will be body painting and art work on display. This night will celebrate and showcase the talent hidden in Boston's underground art scene. Come and enjoy the vibes and great people. Come celebrate life and individuality and expression of self. Follow on twitter 

@BosArtsinMotion @sherwinlong

"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.