My first painting was on poster board.  You know.  The poster board used for grade school projects. 

                                                                              This is my second painting. 

                                                                                Acrylic on board, 12" x 15".

This is my  third painting.    
Acylic on board.  16" x 20"'  

My work has been termed primitive or naïve. Being oblivious to the world of a proper art education, I was naïve and felt a little insulted that my work was being called naïve, and primitive.  Here I am an African American woman who is doing art work that is being called primitive. Primitive to me was a non-complementary description of a people who are uneducated.  But, there are many means of education, especially in different cultures.

My old family Thorndike Barnhart - The World Book Dictionary' s definition of primitive is as a noun, "an artist belonging to an early period, especially before the Renaissance."  That is not me.  The next definition says, "an artist who does not use the techniques of perspective, shading, or the like in painting. " and  "a picture painted by such artists."  The same dictionary has the definition for the word "naïve" as, "simple in nature; like a child; not sophisticated; artless".

True, I do not have a formal art education.   So all kinds of questions began to twirl in my mind...Should I be painting?  Should I be showing what I paint? Should I have an expectation that people will buy my paintings?  Should I have an expectation that my paintings are worth being seen?  Should  I obtain an art degree? Am I worthy? What is art and who says what is art? Should I be dictated by the traditional rules of what is art?  If I can not, and/or do not want to create in the traditional sense should I consider being called an artist?  What is the purpose of my art anyway? More importantly, what is the purpose of me creating my art? Why has the Creator made me one of His vessels in this way?  Some questions are answers to others.

Fortunately, and rightfully, Outsider art has become highly valued and  acceptance has somewhat been given by the traditional art world. 

My paintings have also been categorized as Outsider art.  Of course, that is the overall term for naïve or primitive art by self taught artists with no formal art education, and other artists who have an art education and create in this style. I am better able to accept this term.  I can embrace this categorization.  Although I am self-taught, art degreeless, naïve in art education, and my work may well be primitive, or fresh; the importance here is that you get to decide if these things are true.  You get to decide if you like my art, and if any of these terms or labels really matter in your judgment.  Now, there's the fun!

Check out some of the Outsider artists and websites that feature Outsider artists. Search "Outsider artists or galleries".  Have fun!