Passionate fordrawing Black women and the invoking of emotions, Antoine Mitchell, a juniorfine arts major from Norwood, doesn’t mind showing his softer side.
“A Black woman’sfeatures are so defined. I love drawing Black women because you can’t telltheir age. They age gracefully,” Mitchell said.
Raised mostly bywomen, Mitchell prides himself on trying to capture the essence of the Blackfemale.
“Black womenrepresent strength. Without women in this world, the circle of life wouldn’texist. They can hold a life inside of them for nine months. I don’t know anyman that can do that. I appreciate women and I feel they should be treated likethe queens they are,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell, whostarted drawing at the age of four, found out how talented he was when the ArtInstitute of Houston accepted him, for computer animation right after highschool.
“That ArtInstitute taught me a lot, it was a good experience and choosing to come toSouthern was a good decision,” Mitchell said.
Now lookingtowards the future, Mitchell accredits most of his success to fine artsinstructor Robert Cox.
“To me the artdepartment is a big family and Mr. Cox has positively influenced me in manyways. He is my favorite artist,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell, alsoknown as “G.H.O.S.T” (God Holds Our Souls Together) is the master of ceremoniesduring poetry readings every night in the Mocha Room of the Smith-BrownMemorial Union.
“To me spokenword and art are related. Spoken word is a form of performance art. I enjoydoing both,” Mitchell said.
Provingtriumphant in many trials such as a tragic death of his sister, Mitchelldoesn’t find interest in his talent making him rich but rather for the love ofart.
“I just want tobe able to pay my bills and be comfortable and happy with what I am doing,”Mitchell said.
Mitchell placedsecond in a Student Art Show and was awarded “Outstanding Art Student” by theLouisiana Art and Science Museum.
Even though heloves drawing, he appreciates all forms of music and dreams of becoming arapper.
“I love alltypes of music. Music is also a form of expression,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell wantshis work to make people think and concentrates on composing many poems withcoinciding illustrations in a book in the near future.
“When people seemy work I want them to wonder what was I thinking about? I want people to feelsomething from it, whether it be spiritual or controversial. I want them tofeel something,” Mitchell said.
