Jazz Collage: Portraits & Typography (2010-2013)

Here is a collage of most of the portraits and type I did over the past two or three years related to Jazz Musicians of the past and present. I cannot remember how I started this but I do remember wanting to try out some things whether they failed or worked. Weird styles, different color patterns, some of my favorites, etc, etc. Anyways, like many I found jazz through hip hop and for that I am truly grateful. It not only opened my mind to a different musical patterns, but different religions, philosophies, and world views.

Portraits: Lto R : Cassandra Wilson, Madlib, Etta James, Roy Ayers, Meshell Ndegeocello, Oliver Nelson, Amel Larrieux, John Coltrane, Dorothy Ashby, Nujabes, Freestyle Fellowship, Patrice Rushen, Bobbi Humphrey, Headnodic, Esperanza Spalding, Pharoah Sanders, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Jose James, Abbey Lincoln, Dizzy Gillespie, Muhsinah, Mulatu Astatke, Eligayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw, Jneiro Jarel, Celia Cruz

Type: L to R: A-Amel Larrieux, B-Bebel Gilberto, C-Coltrane, D-Digable Planets, E-Esperanza Spalding, F-Freddie Joachim, G-Guru, H-Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, I-Invisible Skratch Piklz, J-Jneiro Jarel, K-Kat 010, L-Linda Oh, M-Miles Davis, N-Nina Simone, O-Oliver Nelson, P-Pancho Sanchez, Q-Quadron, R-Robert Glasper, S-Stuyvesants, T-Thelonius monk, U-Ulysses Owens Jr, V-Vinia Mojica, W-Wayne Shorter, X- nadie, Y-Yesterdays New Quintet, Z-Zelia Barbosa

 Some of my favorite songs from over the many Jazz posts are: and disclaimer, you might not think of some of these cuts as Jazz, but they are to me. Look out for more Jazz artwork and Posters soon.

John Coltrane-Aisha
Patrice Rushen-Before the dawn
Mulatu Astatke-Tezeta
Meshell Ndegeocello-Aquarium
Madlib-Dear God and Stepping into Tomorrow
Dorothy Ashby-Drink
Oliver Nelson-Stolen Moments
Zelia Barbosa-Pedro Dina
Amel Larrieux-We can be new
Roy Ayers-Aint got time
Bobbi Humphrey-My little girl
Headnodic-Something feat Rashaan Ahmad
Donald Byrd-Places and spaces
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble-Sankofa
Vinia Mojica-Sands of time
Digable Planets-Pacifics (NY is red hot)
Robert Glasper-FTB

If you would like to see who else I drew or painted click the tags "Jazz" "typography" and/or "Jazz Portraits"

Flashback-Book covers

When i was on my YA novel book cover hype. It's always nice when people trust you enough to say "do what you do"! some more oldies

Children's portrait 17 & 18-Kamau and Kai

This was a really fun one to paint. These two guys are very beautiful little boys. Their momma allowed me to paint a piece of them juxtaposing two separate photos together. The prints are meant to represent their African heritage and I'm not exactly sure how old they are. I'm guessing 7 and 5 though. Hope they like it. You want one of your child or your friend's child?

Sometimes it gets shelved #4- A little girl

Another in a series of works that never really saw the light of day. This was shaping up to be quite nice, but sometimes it gets shelved. Would you like to have seen where this girl was going? Their loss I guess.

Switch plates for November 2

Another set of hand painted switch plates for your Spaceship, Mosque, Boat, or dorm room. To purchase, go HERE

FLY-Positive Affirmation

Everybody needs to feel like they can do it sometimes, and it's a good reminder to do it even when you feel like you can barely walk. FLY

at the store

Character 58+59 Kuro and Shiro of Tekkonkinkreet (revisited)

I revisited these guys again. Black (Kuro) and White (Shiro) from the original story of  Taiyō Matsumoto

Switch plates for November

Here are some new switch plates for November, hand painted, made for adding a bit of color, mood, or decoration to a room. Purchase HERE

RISE- Positive Affirmation

RISE, A positive affirmation to have around. Purchase HERE

Justice for Renisha McBride-Collab with Dignidad Rebelde

Download poster here: http://bit.ly/HTXdE3

Reposted from Melanie Cervantes: PLEASE SHARE
Seeking help after being in a car accident, Renisha McBride,a 19-year-old young Black woman, knocked on the door of a home in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn Heights last Sunday. Instead of assisting her, the White homeowner Ted Wafe (54 years old) opened the door and shot McBride in the face with a single shotgun blast and killed her. She had knocked on several doors seeking help after the accident. #blacklivesmatter #justice4renisha #blackwomenmatter

My thoughts on this? It's hard to even verbalize how angry it makes me that black folk are being taken away from their families and robbed of life because of a nation's fear and or hatred of Black or Brown women and men. I wont go on, I'll just say that they cant take us away unless we let them. Shout out to Melanie Cervantes of Dignidad Rebelde for letting me get down on this beautifully colored/designed poster. Please share it and print it out if you are protesting. Shout out to Alicia for making the connection and call to artistic arms!

Clean out studio=Art Sale

I'm trying to get rid of some stuff in my room and my studio that would probably look better in your home, office, classroom, or place of work. From now until November 30th you may use this code (GREAT22) to obtain a 50% discount off art in my store. STORE link

The man who was afraid of falling down-Inspiration

Making The Man Who Was Afraid of Falling from Joseph Wallace on Vimeo.

The Man Who Was Afraid of Falling from Joseph Wallace on Vimeo.

Great short film by Joseph Wallace, Emma Rose Dade, and a slew of other folks.

Children's Portrait 16-Riley Nico

Here is a new portrait of a very cute little girl. She is 3 years old and she is Filipina, Latina, and Irish. I don't know if these are her favorite colors, but I tried to incorporate some of her culture in there. Hopefully her and family dig it. If you are just tuning in and are unaware of these pieces, these are childrens portraits I do for family, friends, and friends of friends. Please contact me if interested and check out the portraits I've done since I started a year ago. Happy holidays.