This mixed media collage was created when a customer requested that I make something using the color orange, African American history and family. I made a collage of important images and figures in African American history, and used various textures, stamps and painting techniques with acrylic paint. I intended the background to resemble a sunset in Africa, and I painted a family of elephants to emphasize “family”.
Each image used in the collage represents something important to African American culture, including a letter written during the Civil War that has been ripped up and placed throughout the collage.
This quote also inspired me throughout the creative process: Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life;
love illuminates it.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
This canvas can be recreated, though it will not be identical to this one. I can use any color for the background that you choose. I can also recreate it on a larger size canvas.
This piece is for sale at http://www.etsy.com/shop/artbooksandcanvases
