Reign Man

8"x 11" Watercolor

"Reign Man" is a watercolor portrait of Seattle Sonics legend Shawn Kemp. The piece is titled after his on-court nickname, Reign Man, and is based off a photograph taken of him dunking a basketball in-game. It took me around 45-50 hours to complete over the course of a year.

This piece is my first ever realism painting and it represents the joy and capacity of creativity when unburdened by the utility people often think art ought to have in order to be "purposeful" or "meaningful." I initially created this painting because I was so sick of people telling me how much they hated modern art, and that art was a waste unless it had an explicit message for good. Art teaches us that how we make is just as important, and is just as much of a teacher to the artist, as what we make is. Art does not need to justify itself by proving it has some "function" or utility in order to be valuable, beautiful, or worthwhile.
This piece hangs beautifully in my office as a mercy for anyone who is willing to let themselves enjoy it.