"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.

"Lady Boston" by Sherwin Long

medium: Acrylic

size: 16"x 20"

I made this painting to represent the relationship between land and sky. A love story of two that will never touch but shall forever watch over the other. I wanted to be a little more poetic with my art because it allows me to have fun and be intellectual.

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.