What kind of feeling do you get when you see this? Looking for the perfect title!

I posted my work a little bit ago and you really gassed me up. I always feel so vulnerable sharing my work, like a ball of anxiety deep in my stomach. Y'all, I had my art sales last weekend and I very nearly sold out, like there was barely anything left. I went with three really big boxes and I left with one small box of work, plus there were things I forgot to put out in that little box. I really felt more confident after posting with you. Thank you! Also I made the website since many of you asked. I know I can't promote here so if you're interested in the site DM me. But I really wanted to thank all of you for your kind words. I really appreciate you all!

I’m a potter and I fire in a wood kiln. There are very few women who are known for firing in a wood kiln. It’s dominated by white men. So I wanted to share my work with some Black women. I often feel awkward at the firings (which are done with other potters because it’s a lot of work loading the wood and raising the temperature). Usually when we talk about male dominated fields people talk about STEM but art fields are often dominated by men as well.

hey y’all, I’m excited to share this new illustration I made! I finished this a few days ago and I just now uploaded it to my shop for art prints. Lately my work has been connected to celebrating Black joy & childhood and I find it to be very healing for me! I hope others connect with it too.

When I close my eyes, it makes me think of their mamas being like “don’t forget to get inside before the streetlights come on” and I can hear giggles and “okay mama we will”, the smell of rain, splashing puddles… coming back inside to a hot meal.. Just makes me think ❤️ I hope people can relate!

Made this for the Ugly Sweater competition at my job. Yes, I did win 🤩. It took a few weeks to finish. I was even working on this on the treadmill.

Just wanted to share!! It’s still my favorite picture of her, so glad I finally painted it!

Working on sharing my pieces more. Any feedback welcome ☺️

I don’t know I just think that the fact I’m black and I’m driving around with this on my car is hilarious. I showed my mom she didn’t look amused. But I showed it to the black lady in my class and she thought it was funny 😂

She’s finished!! I’m still very much a novice when it comes to embroidery, but I think she came out okay! I’m especially proud of her hair (soooo many colonial knots).

Growing up, I always felt a certain distance from the captivating world of Dungeons & Dragons. While the lore and gameplay deeply intrigued me, the noticeable scarcity of black representation made it difficult for me to wholeheartedly engage. Fortunately, adulthood opened up new avenues for me to explore the intricacies of D&D, yet the issue of underrepresentation persisted.

When Baldur's Gate 3 was announced, I intentionally shied away from spoilers and avoided early access, wanting to envelop myself entirely in the forthcoming experience. The launch was everything I hoped it would be.

However, my enthusiasm dimmed upon hearing about a mod that altered Wyll, the game's only black companion, into a white character. This development wasn't shocking, but it was nonetheless disheartening. It felt like a clear message: black people not welcome at this fantastical roundtable, even in a world abundant with dragons and elves.

The irony of changing a character's race in a game where racial diversity among mythical creatures is a given baffles me. If dragons and elves have a place in this universe, why is a single black character so problematic?

Compelled by these experiences, I took the initiative to modify the game myself, making all the main characters Black. BG3 offered a range of customization options for black characters, far surpassing the stereotypical and limited choices like "dark ashy skin and afro, braids and 2005 cornrows" that are often present in other titles. The faces and hairstyles I could create for the most part felt unique and fit the characters.

I feel especially proud of my versions of Astarion, Shadowheart, and Karlach, who currently make up my adventuring party. Their transformation transcends mere aesthetic alterations; it serves as a powerful affirmation to my younger self, who once felt estranged from such imaginative spaces.

Before I encounter the inevitable criticisms, let me preemptively address a few points:

1. I acknowledge that in these games, characters are not specifically African-American, Caucasian, Asian, etc. However, it's clear that characters can be racially coded as black or white, and so on. So when someone releases a mod that makes the sole black companion white. It feels very targeted.

2. No, I'm not "obsessed" with race. The act of making Wyll white is not world-ending, but when black representation continually sparks controversy, it becomes draining. I view my modding effort as a creative reimagining of one of my favorite games.

3. For those who might say this mod 'ruins the lore,' remember that the D&D universe is one of endless possibilities, including diverse racial representation.

4. If you're thinking "it's just a game, why does it matter?"—representation in media impacts our perceptions of reality and inclusion. So, yes, it does matter.

5. To those who argue that I should "create my own game" if I want black characters, I'd say modding is a form of creative expression and commentary on existing cultural works. I'm participating in the gaming community just like any other fan.

TLDR: In response to a mod that whitewashed Wyll, I decided to make all characters black in BG3 using mods.

Anyway heres my new baby (⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

Hi there. I'm Bee! I'm a self-taught Black artist with a specialty in painting people and couples. My most recent portrait is a study of one of my favorite actresses, Danai Gurira, and I thought I'd share here for y'all to enjoy. Thanks!