A native of rural Mississippi, I have always had a passion for looking into the faces of colorful characters and reading their souls. I don’t see beauty in them, nor do I see them as ugly. I see them as people who are a part of our society, mainly southern, whose faces tell a story that most Americans can relate to in one way or another. These faces may seem insignificant in many ways because they lack physical beauty in the eyes of some that may not have the interest or ability to look deeper. Everyone has a story and often that story goes untold because of our apathy and disinterest in seeing further into who they are, who they have been, and what role they play in society. It’s not about inner or outer beauty. It’s about character. It’s about the diversity of Human Beings. It’s about recognizing that diversity and stopping for a minute to acknowledge that we are still all one in the same. We are all God’s creation. I paint the faces of people that I believe all of us have met, have known, or may have just passed by. It’s about reminding us to notice and to celebrate our differences and similarities. I want people who see my art to ask themselves “Who is this person, and where have I seen him before?” If you take time to ponder that question, I’ll bet someone you know or never took the time to get to know will come to mind and find a home in your memory that otherwise might have been an empty space that you forgot to fill with a part of our true American culture. If that occurs, then my series, ORDINARY FOLKS, has served its purpose.