Here's my Finished Piece!

The article I used: https://zora.medium.com/soft-black-girls-and-the-reclamation-of-black-femininity-203db3c57f35

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This final project was both fun and challenging for myself. I really wasn't sure what topic I'd do or how I would create the whole collage in general. I've also never fully done a collage before so this was fun to figure out even if it doesn't look like a normal collage. I'm very happy with how the drawings came out for each section even with how much I made myself do, but I was also able to use my markers again after a year and being unable to use them (Even though some where drying out quick and some parts look patchy because of that).

For the First design I wanted to convey/ capture the conflicted mindset black women go through. One side showing what/ how a black woman would want to dress or present herself, like in a soft or feminine style that isn't what people stereotype black women and girls to wear. And the opposite side being the stereotype and what black women and girls have been told through the years from not allowing them to wear bright colors to being seen as to grown wearing a certain style that other young girls wear. In the article it mentioned how this can be embedded in a young girl and cause them to change and hide a part of themselves in fear of being made fun of or seen as too different.

For the second design, I wanted to show a more positive side to Black Femininity. I used a quote from the founder of Adorned by Chi, Jacque Aye, where she wanted to create a space and art for black women to see them represented in a magical and feminine way. There are two other artist I mentioned as well being Celi, a Dutch-Afro-Caribbean artist who creates a cozy and fun environment with their characters and GDBee who also creates Soft Black girl characters as well. To kind of capture that soft and magical feeling I used (and redesigned) some characters to fit that theme a little better although it would have been better if I had lighter markers or painted it (either way I still feel it captures that feeling/theme). 

The last design although simple, I wanted to capture the breaking of stereotypes and embracing that vulnerability. I took capturing that in a literal sense since I couldn't figure out how to convey it along with the article. I still feel it gets with the point especially after reading the quotes I added. Embracing not only being confident and strong but also that opposite side where you allow yourself to be vulnerable and softer, being able to empower yourself through what you like and prefer and empower others to be confident in their own skin and show and embrace what that like no matter how different or un-stereotypical of them.

For the logo I just did something simple being two hands holding each other with a heart behind it to show being there for one another and being able to show love and embrace difference.

Overall I'm happy with how this came out (Although I don't feel it really looks like a collage) and I feel my points are easy to follow throughout each piece.