Renowned photojournalist Linda Solomon reached out to me to see if I’d be interested in creating a painting based on the cover of her new book, The Queen Next Door: Aretha Franklin, An Intimate Portrait. She didn’t have to ask twice! I was thrilled to be given the opportunity. Linda had seen my work on Facebook and Instagram and messaged me. The painting took me through many challenges. I was trying to capture the essence of the photo without necessarily trying to replicate the shot. The photo captured Aretha at one of her infamous costume parties, dressed as an Egyptian Queen, fitting for the Queen of Soul.
The painting was displayed first at the National Book Launch at the Detroit Institute of Arts where it sat onstage alongside such luminaries as former Governor of Michigan James Blanchard, former Mayor of Detroit Dennis Archer, and friends and family of the Aretha herself. It was an amazing event.
