Pastel portraits, whimsical fantastic bright and colorful art works of the children that have inspired me over many years. I have spent quality time with these young people under some tough circumstances within the institutions and organizations for high risk youth, teaching them many life skills. This image here is of a young girl I  have renamed Kujichagulia. She identifies as 100% Happa, she is of mixed parentage, Japanese on her mothers side and African American on her fathers side. Like many mixed raced children there is a determination to self identify and therefore they can change there identity many times, and when ever it suits them.

In her words, “I love the magic of seeds that grow into plants, and how plants can even break through concrete, they are allot like me, tough and filled with magic.”

You can see “Kujichakulia” and the other kids hanging around at the gallery Noel Baza, 2165 India St. North of  little Italy in San Diego it is the new home for my pastel portrait series “Piece of Mind Kids.”