Niam's Crown of Life! Portrait of Niam K. Johnson-Tate by Chenoa McDonald
From Kimberyly Kamara, Niam’s mother, and his family: Chenoa is a young lady I meet through the Souls Shots Project. Once we connect via phone and text we grew a bond. We spent hours and days talking about my son Niam K. Johnson aka Sonnyboy, along with articles she grew an attachment to the family as we did to her. When we met face to face on July 5. It was like we already knew one another as she showed the picture of what she did. The picture brought tears of joy to our eyes as she painted her masterpiece of our child. It was an amazing, emotional day that we will all remember. Thank you so much Chenoa for picking my son to showcase your talents on.
From the artist, Chenoa McDonald: Doing this portrait of Niam was such an honor. I knew that the finished product just had to be one that his mother Mrs. Kamara would look at see her baby in. I chose a picture of Niam that to me captured his innocence. I used his favorite color blue for the background and the crown I placed on his head is symbolic of the noble decision he made to be an organ donor. There are 7 points on his crown one for each life he helped to save.
From the curator: I will repeat myself on several points here. First, this portrait deserves to be seen in person. Hopefully the day will come when the exhibition will be open again. The field of blue bring’s a calm to the portrait and let’s us focus on Niam’s face. The choice of the white shirt, here again, frames his face with a simple purity. Chenoa added real stones glued to the crown which are very effective and catch the light. The use of graphite for his features is perhaps her most important choice. The way the details fade in and out and change with the angle of viewing adds an ethereal quality to the portrait. (Again, when it is viewed in person.) It is also a quite large work which commands attention.
Niam’a Crown of Life! Portrait of Niam K. Johnson-Tate by Chenoa McDonald acrylic, graphite, on wood 27” x 28” 2019