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By Carlos Burgess

The making of 13 Blues is best described as a journey where you get lost and you don't have a map, but yet you figure out a way to get to your destination. The process through which I came to a resolution taught me a valuable lesson in being a better artist. In order to save you guys time in reading this, I started this one way, switched a few times, then settled on another way-my way. The best way ;-)! 13 Blues was the beginning of my journey of doing intuitive art on a figurative abstract stage; or in normal non-artsy talk I figured out my new art style! The painting started out as a fluid flow acrylic painting, then it turned into an attempt to do colorful shapes that was a little uninspiring for me to finish the changes. It finished up being a warm-up intuitive painting where I painted what was in my mind and soul. I named it 13 Blues because of what the 13th Amendment has done for the African American male since its passage in 1865. I was inspired by the documentary by Ava DuVernay "13th" on Netflix. I almost feel like we as Black men accept our fate in this society that we'll be incarcerated at some point, and so I must accept this cruel rite of passage. I hoped to paint that feeling of sad fait accompli in this man's face.