Reflections of an Artist: Round like a C

As you can probably tell from my photo I happen to be a voluptuous black women with a little extra baggage in the back, okay maybe more like a lot of luggage in the back. I love my body and the way that I am. Don't get me wrong I'm not perfect and there are several things I would love to change about myself physically and mentally, but all in all I'm happy with the skin I'm in. It wasn't always this way. As a child I got a lot of rap about my butt from my siblings and also my classmates. My sisters would call it a shelf because of how far it stuck out from the rest of my body and taunt me by saying " Can I sit this on your shelf?" and other smart remarks about my backside. As a child I went to predominately white school and all I heard day in and day out was "Your butt is so big" or "Why is your butt so big?" of course being an African-American my retort was "Cause I'm black". I remember being some what proud of my curves even then. I felt like my butt was a symbolization or representation of my blackness (because back then whites and everyone else didn't have butts).

As I grew older puberty set in along with all of the hormonal changes females go through and I got sick of being referred to as "the girl with the big butt" in High School. No one knew me by my name. I was aways referred to either as twin and when someone said which twin they replied "The one with the big butt". My name is Charece I wanted to scream. I have a name. I felt like no one took me seriously. I even went out with a guy who seemed to only like me for my butt. I vowed that when I got older I would get a but reduction to put an end to the ridicule and negative attention. I was sick of being the girl with the big butt. I was sick of being groped and grind on in the lunch lines. I dreaded walking pass a group of guys because I could feel them looking at my behind followed by remarks like "Sheesh" or" Damn". I was gonna put an end to this thing once and for all.

Later on in college I subscribed to this magazine since I love clothing and wonderful photography. One day while reading the magazine I came across a Nike ad with a poem called "My Butt" . This poem made me feel so powerful. It reminded me of the times when I was a kids and I'd lash back at my classmates and others who dare to say anything about my "hump". It made me feel proud to be a black women with curves. Proud to have all this booty, junk in the trunk, donkey, cake, whatever you wanna call it. I love my Big Ole Butt :)~

Mood: Pulchritudinous

To read this poem click on image to make larger.

"My Butt is big and thats just fine and those who might scorn it are invited to kiss it"~ Nike

Reflections of an Artist: I'm Back!

Wooow I haven't done this in almost a year. But as you can probably imagine I've been very busy and yes, still going through it. Where do I began??? I "draw" a blank...It is what it is guess! So many thoughts are racing through my head right now I can't even decided what to talk about first. Not that much has changed for me other than the fact that I've gotten a new job. I'm still single and not that thrilled with that(more stories to come about that in later post)but what can I say? Wow and I had so much to tell you guys too. Sorry I'll be sure to have something for you guys Monday. I'm just glad I finally got the chance to write something on here after all this time.Stay tuned!

Mood:Perplexed

Watch Out for the Big Girls!

I've been meaning to blog about this phenomenal woman Kendra C. Johnson for weeks now after noticing her for the first time on the season premiere of "The Game" starring Tia Mowry and Pooch Hall. For those of you who haven't seen the last episode of the season here's a recap.

Malik played by Hosesa Chanchez runs into Renee who is the character played by Kendra, an old flame who wants to show the world that their a couple. Behind closed doors he's loving ever inch of her body from her head to her toes and can't get enough. But Malik gets cold feet and is not sure if he can be seen in public with an "overweight"(yeah right) female. In the end Malik realizes that he's ready and willing to let the whole world know that he loves him some voluptuous Renee. Kendra C. Johnson performance on "The Game" has given the show an amazing twist on what is to come in the following seasons. Some of you may have already seen it but if you haven't you can see Kendra amazing performance again and again here.

As a size 14, which is the average women's size, Kendra is representing for all the real women out there like myself who have been waiting to see a real women on the screen doing her thing. Kendra has been in the industry for a while now working as a stand in for Queen Latifah in “Last Holiday,” “Taxi,” “Beauty Shop” and even Cover Girl commercials. She has also co-starred on shows like“Bones,” “The Shield,” and Strong Medicine. Many of you probably recognize Kendra from the movie "Phat Girlz" where she played the role of a mousy, plus size department store manager who learns to appreciate her assets after meeting a Nigerian doctor. Kendra C. Johnson is an amazing performer who is taking the world by storm and representing for the Big Girls!

Mood:Anticipation!

Kendra C. Johns with Hosea Chanchez and Mara Brock Akil, creator of "Girl Friends"and "The Game"

“The most important thing in life is to persist in your passion”~Kendra C. Johnson

Get Em' Jazz!

Yeaaa! Jaslene has proven herself worthy of the title Americas Next Top Model. A girl who didn't give up and tried out for ANTM not once but twice and because she didn't give up she has become America's Next Top Model. Go head girl!

Mood: Satisfied

Here are some of my favorite photos of Jaslene from Cycle 8.

Who Will Be America's Next Top Model!

Renee

Natasha
Jaslene

Who will be America's Next Top Model. Three beautiful girls remain to finish the competition. It's gonna be a tough choice we have Renee who take great pictures, but does she have what it take to the next Top Model, then we have Natasha who no one understands and who just so happens to get a great shot week after week, but is her mind really in it? To me she seem lost, and then there's my girl Jaslene aka Jazz who screams ANTM all over. She's the jack of all trades when it comes to this competition, the girls got major skills. Great shots week after week, never a dull shot. So who will it be Renee, Natasha, or Jaslene. I guess we just have to wait for tonight's show but, you all know who I routing for Jaslene all the way.

Get 'em JAZZ!

Mood: Anxious

Niggers, Niggas, Niggaz by Julian Curry

Check out this clip from Def Jam that my sister introduced to me! Thanx Netta! We need more men like Curry that will stand up and speak the truth.You'll think twice before you ever use the N word again!

Reflections of an Artist: Nappy is Not a Negative Word!

The other day at work, one of my high school students, a black girl that I teach brought up a question, "Why is black people's hair so short and nappy? Why doesn't our hair grow long and white people and everyone else's hair is automatically longer and more "manageable" than ours"? I tried to answer her question to the best of my ability, telling her what I had learned in college as a psych major! I begin to tell her how as decedents from Africa which is very hot we didn't "evolve" with longer hair because the climate in Africa was much hotter than the climates from which other races evolved and then I went on to tell her that Europeans who lived in colder climates "evolved" with extra hair to keep warm which is why they are hairier than others. Can you imagine how hot we would have been with longer hair on our heads and bodies I asked, She stopped to think about it, and then she went on to say how she hates black hair and how's it's short, kinky and nappy as if it where something to despise! I was stuck on stupid for a while, I didn't really know what to say to her. As the conversation got heavier it was time to go, so I ended the discussion by saying "there's no such thing as good or bad hair, hair comes in all different textures and lengths who's to say which is better than the other. Hair is hair and that's just the way it is".

On the ride home from work I couldn't stop thinking about some of the statements made in class and I how much I wanted to say more, and I begin to ask myself why does she feel that way about herself and and other black people. Then it hit me that everyone you see in the media who's viewed as gorgeous or beautiful has long flowing hair. So people who don't know any better can't help but to think that the person on the magazine or in the videos or movies hair is what is perceived as "good" hair or the hair to be desire. Then I asked myself, what if where the other way around and natural hair or kinky, and nappy hair was the hair that everyone who was viewed as gorgeous or beautiful on T.V., on the cover of magazines, or in the movies had, would her and others attitude change about what is quote on quote "good" hair or "bad" hair? and would she still hate black peoples hair?

Creative Juices: Not Much of a Painter!

Here is a painting from a series I did a while back for an AIDS benefit. I was trying to stress the importance of safe sex which is why I displayed the figures in black and white and the condoms in a bold bright colors and also the background in color to set the mood. My professor actually love the idea but I thought I could have done them a little better maybe next time.

Mood: Reflective

Reflections of an Artist:More Blogs to Come!

Boy, I haven't blog in a minute. I've just been so busy with work and everything else in my life that I just hadn't had the time, but next week I'll definately have some more fun creative blogs for your viewing pleasure.

Get Creative With It : African Inspired Shirt Dress!

Every year for black history month my church has an African-American luncheon where we dress up in our African garbs, feast on the most delicious African, Caribbean, and Soul foods, (yummy) and celebrate our African heritage. With nothing to wear and little money to spend, I decided to create my own African inspired garb for under $20.
I've gotten so many compliments that I've decided to make a step by step guide on how to create this one of a kind shirt dress. So you too can recreate this fun loose fitting dress with waist definition and butterfly sleeves given by belt which creates a flattering look for all shapes and sizes, and the best part of it is, there's NO stitching required.



Things You'll Need:

• Funky Afro-centric fabric (choose length based on your individual size.)
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Chalk
• Waist Belt
  
  

Step 1: Fold Fabric into one large square.

Step 2: Find the center of the fabric from left to right.

Step 3: With the chalk, draw an 8" line horizontally in the center at the very top of the folded piece of fabric being sure to leave an even amount of space on either side of the line.

Step 4: Cut at the line to create and opening for the head.

Step5: On the front of the fabric draw a triangle starting from each end of the cut in Step 4.

Step 6: Cut out triangle to create a V-Neck. Step7: Place fabric over the head like a smock, bringing arms out at sides. Pull each side of the fabric front and back together and quickly place belt around your waist to in order to keep the fabric in place.

TA DA!
Pair it up with your favorite pair of jeans or some funky leggings, whatever you do just GET CREATIVE WITH IT!