http://www.m2fineart.com/index daily 0.75 2020-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425389087173-FUWN3GJ0OV9B3472HT5Y/IMG_0394.JPG Gallery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1443527380337-W8A3A1B54IBCEA70WHPT/Marvin+new+pict+from+cruise+2015.jpg Gallery http://www.m2fineart.com/blog daily 0.75 2024-02-08 http://www.m2fineart.com/blog/2024/2/5/hon-marshall-whitley monthly 0.5 2024-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/30495aa5-ca97-4394-8ebc-2e6fd0f8acbb/Hon.+Marshall+Whitley+copy.jpg Blog - Hon. Marshall Whitley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. http://www.m2fineart.com/blog/2024/2/5/city-of-piedmont-mayor-jennifer-cavenaugh monthly 0.5 2024-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/a52dc330-b5fd-4cdb-9eca-28c286348a97/piemont+Mayor.png Blog - City of Piedmont Mayor Jennifer Cavenaugh - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. http://www.m2fineart.com/blog/2024/2/5/mii-with-oakland-mayor-libby-schaaf monthly 0.5 2024-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/c387532f-fb0c-4ced-81c7-5145396596ca/MII+with+Oakland+Mayor+L.+Schaaf.jpg Blog - MII With Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. http://www.m2fineart.com/blog/2015/3/10/koig187pd7y94vnvqihzvd0jv88n8a monthly 0.5 2024-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425962410221-F8CXKFJS3BMVQ158R6JC/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Studio Prepared Canvas good ol' BLICK http://www.m2fineart.com/blog/2015/3/10/vfdykfm3pi76vld8v8ra285icp5hnu monthly 0.5 2024-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425962271638-80WH6RR2UAFP4DJF1MCD/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Work in progress I usually start with a sketch then I block in the background with a color I think will either pop or set a certain mood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425962324380-VQAV7H3FT17RNTR3ODKM/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Work in progress Then I may start to lay in my first layer with black and white paint http://www.m2fineart.com/blog/2015/3/10/supplies-in-studio monthly 0.5 2015-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425961863695-4QP3R91H0MN3IFFNLPEI/image-asset.jpeg Blog - SUPPLIES IN STUDIO http://www.m2fineart.com/blog/2015/3/10/mii-and-rasheed-young-phat-farm monthly 0.5 2015-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425961089383-1E9AP045ZPTUJWCY8UIJ/image-asset.jpeg Blog - MII and Rasheed Young @ PHAT FARM http://www.m2fineart.com/blog/2015/3/10/lsddh7mnd3eyf27tp6ibn6r90rkc37 monthly 0.5 2015-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425960943127-VAPCDH7CND6P4X5Z35J8/image-asset.jpeg Blog Baby Phat logo http://www.m2fineart.com/blog/2015/3/10/phat-farm-run-athletics monthly 0.5 2024-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/ab983bd2-6399-4811-b993-586e68d2a1ae/image-asset.jpeg Blog - PHAT FARM RUN ATHLETICS NY - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. http://www.m2fineart.com/blog/2015/3/9/jerry-rice-gwen-jones monthly 0.5 2015-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425960076723-H5AUQTDY289SGC9E1W28/image-asset.jpeg Blog - JERRY RICE & GWEN JONES MII Jerry Rice & Gwen W. Jones Oil on canvas 20x40 http://www.m2fineart.com/blog/2015/3/9/san-jose-museum-of-art-3 monthly 0.5 2015-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425955201106-7DQZRTOTOSFZEC31NF0C/image-asset.jpeg Blog - SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART Big Momma with Black Book 48x48 Mixed Media on Wood SJ Museum of Art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425954758489-FZTE6ONQX5TMZX5MK9YO/image-asset.jpeg Blog - SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART MII At the SanJose Museum of Art "We are Family group show with Big Momma with black book 48x48 mixed media   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425954801565-TB1VG48NZX9JJ7LVJVZM/image-asset.jpeg Blog - SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART http://www.m2fineart.com/blog/2015/3/9/ipad-art-appprocreate-jot-script-stylus-1 monthly 0.5 2015-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425954662723-7AWTQDJ248027RERZN9C/image-asset.jpeg Blog - iPad art: App:Procreate Jot script stylus Recently I've acquired an iPad which has opened up a wide range of possibilities for my art. Here I've painted a jazz player in one of my traditional styles. I'm learning so much and I'm allowing myself to push the envelope past my comfort zone. http://www.m2fineart.com/art-work daily 0.75 2025-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596267982850-L8HVPASU38QHKF9ZNDOW/IMG_3189.jpg ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596268291283-1XGPEVN231CWRIIAUB2L/image-asset.jpeg ART WORK - Ali https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596294925227-3UKUH50IVZHUVBNQVZ7T/Harriet+tubman.jpg ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596295278361-JZ8L1CVTEUQGVR6BVZ64/image-asset.jpeg ART WORK - Lady Day 24x24 Acrylic on canvas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596295766881-59FG7LGSFJ1EK33WLNIM/image.jpeg ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596296942587-UUVLTYS050UIGJWPYR48/image-asset.jpeg ART WORK - Who Has More Rights? America's Song https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596297433781-L3F423LV3NONNEIOSW08/image.jpeg ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596297661339-Y5RDXWJ4RKNE6OM8Q316/image.jpeg ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596297843528-VF4KVYAOS0P5B545GOEX/image.jpeg ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596298155862-HMBD3FF22YWGLQ6PIFRZ/image.jpeg ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596298370248-XG6RYFMWL9OPS1ALH7SS/IMG_3117.jpg ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1620326772725-DE3ZQQCCPBCHA1BBWEWY/Harriot%2BTubman%2B.jpg ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1754198760346-K1HPNSLKYPKDH1LFZKQZ/image-asset.png ART WORK Title: “67 Wildwood Ave.” Medium: Mixed Media on Canvas Dimensions: 48×48 inces This mixed-media piece evokes a serene landscape at first glance—vivid horizontal blocks of textured white, tranquil turquoise, and earthen tones suggest sky, water, and land. But beneath its minimalist surface lies a deeply charged narrative. At the heart of the work stand five small, uniform houses—four painted white, one black—neatly aligned like silent witnesses or characters in an unresolved drama. Their stark simplicity draws the eye immediately to the black house, a striking center of contrast and isolation. The texture above—fragmented, fossil-like, and peeling—resembles both the scars of time and the fragility of social veneers. It’s an intentional choice: the surface is literally cracking under the weight of history. Below, the colors become more structured, clean, and modern—perhaps alluding to the suburban idealism of early 20th-century planned communities. But this is no utopian vision. This is a confrontation. Interpretation & Historical Context: The Story of Sidney Dearing in Piedmont (1924–1925): This piece references a haunting chapter in the history of Piedmont, California—a city that branded itself as a “City of Homes,” yet worked systematically to exclude Black residents. In 1924, Sidney Dearing, a successful Black homeowner and entrepreneur, purchased a home in Piedmont with his wife, Irene, through a white proxy since restrictive covenants and social norms of the time aimed to keep Piedmont racially homogenous. The reaction from the city and its white residents was swift and violent. Dearing and his family faced harassment, threats, and relentless pressure. Despite having every legal right to live there, the city used fear and intimidation to force the family to sell. By 1925, under duress, the Dearings were compelled to leave. The single black house in the painting is emblematic of Sidney Dearing’s home: conspicuous, centered, and unjustly alienated. Its very presence disrupts the visual harmony—just as Dearing’s presence disrupted the social contract of a white-only enclave, revealing its fragility and intolerance. The surrounding white homes appear almost complicit, boxed in tight formation, unmoved by the tension they create. This work isn't merely an aesthetic exercise—it’s a challenge. It asks the viewer: What is belonging? Who decides who gets to live where? And more uncomfortably: How far have we really come since 1925? By juxtaposing clean modernist lines with brutal historical reference, the artist has transformed a minimalist landscape into a quiet indictment of racial exclusion and the whitewashing of American suburbia. The black house does not shout—but it doesn’t have to. Its presence alone is revolutionary. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425026481339-68MKLDHSSIHR3T6WYO3Q/Holding+on+to+the+spirit.jpg ART WORK Holding on to the Spirit 20x30 mixed media on paper A tall, stylized human figure stands in profile with their head turned slightly downward or inward. The form is elongated and elegant, reminiscent of the Modigliani-esque tradition with exaggerated neck and posture, conveying grace and introspection. The most prominent visual focal point is the raised hand, holding a glowing orb of light or energy—symbolic of knowledge, power, or inner illumination. This light is the brightest element, giving the composition an almost divine or mystical quality. A warm-to-cool transition dominates the canvas. The left side is rich with fiery reds, oranges, and yellows, suggesting passion, spirit, or revelation, while the right side leans toward tranquil blues and greens, hinting at calm, reflection, or healing. Together, they evoke a journey or transformation. Ethereal layers and energetic scribbles interact across the piece—suggesting both chaos and harmony. There are vertical strokes of white, like descending light or ascending energy, and a floral vine motif on the right margin, which introduces natural growth and organic symbolism. More about the piece: The word "Eltsopa" in reverse— is a play on the word “Apostle.” This suggest a spiritual mission or identity rooted in delivering messages, healing, or transformation. It’s an intriguing vision that invites further inquiry into the artist's intent. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425019062269-VLGMSSPKB0BP0UO81J74/Keyz.jpg ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425228381022-6WI96WL9BBTV5WLDV9UO/IMG_1633.JPG ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425023412800-LJKG7WO39XCSXUKDDU75/big+momma.jpg ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1620326112550-2206WHNLI9PJL466OUTR/Harriot+Tubman+.png ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1620326517128-1E7YH4LCO2GAXEEA4LC2/Billie+Holiday+.jpeg ART WORK https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1620326535287-N9QFDBAX3SQZEFG7QKUZ/nina.jpeg ART WORK http://www.m2fineart.com/about daily 0.75 2015-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425532174958-WRGA4WIQE3YV5W2VCHZQ/IMG_5621_2.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425481067260-YE6GH7E16OQY1IJLNXJV/ships.jpeg About http://www.m2fineart.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1461728529825-98A8RMMFSJP8GM5P3MVL/work+in+progress+ALI.jpg Contact http://www.m2fineart.com/home daily 0.75 2021-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1425387412507-NU2WGU3Z8FIVFSQ92RAG/peach+cobbler.jpg Welcome http://www.m2fineart.com/home-1 daily 0.75 2020-05-17 http://www.m2fineart.com/about-1 daily 0.75 2024-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596327925464-KLNJ8C7EOHN6C4MSIH7D/peach%2Bcobbler.jpg About MII https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596327990356-TY1OYFV8WPX7CQKCQLZY/peach%2Bcobbler.jpg About MII http://www.m2fineart.com/bio-1 daily 0.75 2025-12-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1596299436429-IS8J726OXUK9SSRMKU2N/image-asset.jpeg Bio http://www.m2fineart.com/welcome daily 1.0 2021-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54eea77be4b0d26f932c3eb1/1621360995765-OLUNRAVMVIB6DI9XTFNJ/Boxer.png WELCOME - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. http://www.m2fineart.com/artist-statement daily 0.75 2021-04-29 http://www.m2fineart.com/new-page-1 daily 0.75 2026-02-06 http://www.m2fineart.com/archives daily 0.75 2026-02-06