My Art

This piece was done earlier this year. I got the idea for this piece after studying Botticelli's masterpiece, "The Birth of Venus" I wanted to (in my own amateur way) show what an opposite of this classic painting would look like. In my opinion, the opposite of love would not be hate but indifference and isolation. Hence, the "venus" in my piece is alone, grimmacing with what could only be a "Dear John" letter in her hand. There is no one around to comfort her and she is entirely exposed to the elements, in all their cruel beauty.

Negra Tomasa is a classic Cuba folk song about a sad man who is bewitched by his lover's cooking. He knows she puts mojo in his food but he loves her so much he lets her. He knows she goes out after he's bewitched (read stoned) and cheats on him but again, he loves her.

NEGRA TOMASA

Estoy tan enamorado de la negra Tomasa, 
que cuando se va de casa, triste me pongo. 
Estoy tan enamorado de la negra Tomasa, 
que cuando se va de casa triste me pongo. 

Estoy tan enamorado de mi negra preciosa 
que cuando se va de casa triste me pongo. 
Estoy tan enamorado de mi negra preciosa 
que cuando se va de casa triste me pongo. 

-Ay! -Ay! -Ay! 

Esa negra linda que me tiene loco, 
que me come poquito a poco. 
Esa negra linda que me tiene loco, 
que me come poquito a poco. 

Estoy tan enamorado de la negra Tomasa 
que cuando se va de casa, triste me pongo. 
Estoy tan enamorado de mi negra preciosa 
que cuando se va de casa triste me pongo. 

-Ay! -Ay! -Ay! 

Esa negra linda que me tiene loco, 
que me come poquito a poco. 
Esa negra linda que me tiene loco 
que me come poquito a poco 

Mi negra linda nunca me dejes, 
hay mi negra linda nunca me dejes.