Art Journal Review: Night Caps
When crafting and making from a cultural perspective, one of my inspirations is all things Black hair, and I tend to gather ideas from browsing the aisles and products at the beauty supply store. This mixed media trio from my art journal centers the quintessential bonnet, purposely adorned at night (or whenever one deems fit) to protect hairstyles and keep hair moisturized and (mostly) breakage free.
I own several bonnets in various colors and sizes, a necessary assortment depending on style and current hair length; the sometimes miscalculation of head circumference; and the ones that inevitably disappear into the Upside Down.
Each piece features a theme, and the model’s face is painted or decorated to make the work feel universal.
Wild Slumber is a nod to my smedium lived plant collecting phase and the many Black plant enthusiasts who populated my social media feeds at one point. An orange-hued sun forms a “halo” around an animal print bonnet with a glittering black silhouette, surrounded by embellished leaves. Though my plant collection has dwindled to a lone snake plant, my indoor jungle was once glorious.
Cosmic Slumber features pop-art inspired elements with thick black line work, rich and vibrant colors, ethereal shimmers, and celestial baubles orbiting around a sun-crowned purple bonnet. The body silhouette is filled with dotted stars. It feels dreamy and electric, a place you might travel to during the twilight hours.
Sweet Slumber was created to evoke softness through dessert and candy imagery and playful pastels. Bubblegum frosting lavished with rainbow sprinkles drips down the page, melting into half a dozen cupcakes with hand-painted toppings. Red, yellow, and blue splattered jaw breakers float freely around a glossy, chocolate silhouette. I wanted to create a piece to display Blackness as softness, a necessary disruption from an often opposite narrative.
I may add to this series in the future and make note of any other potential themes that come to mind. Three is the magic number so that’s usually where I start, but I like projects that can be revisited and offer more opportunities for creative exploration.
