When I wrapped up my international exhibition “Blackbird Fly” in early 2022 I suddenly found myself unable to paint due to lack of inspiration. That all changed when I was approached by one of my favorite artists, Bar Abba, in regards to his up and coming project “No Stone Unflipped”. I was instantly drawn in. It was his ability to tell a powerful story mixed with his messages, super dope beats and his obvious talent. I knew that this was a project I had to be a part of.
Bar Abba (@protectandgrow)
I spent a lot of time listening to “No Stone Unflipped” and letting the ideas come naturally to me, always thoroughly exploring each as they came. I truly love this album and so the ideas really flowed in abundance as I listened to each track. We spent time brainstorming and conceptualizing over the course of a few months until finally it all came together in such an effortless way.
Once I started to work on this piece, I felt as if I had truly found my artistic groove again (right click the images above to see my progress shots.) This piece pushed me to the creative heights I am meant to climb and reminded me of the tremendous amount of detail I am capable of. It was a much needed kick start to a new season of painting for me.
The image depicts a bare chested Bar Abba, covered in his tattoos, illuminating a hologram of the city of Phoenix in one hand and holding something mysterious in the other. As with many of my works, there are SO many details and intricacies in this piece. The tattoos alone tell a story within the large story of this image. I could get into the symbols and deeper meaning of this piece but instead I will let you all listen to “No Stone Unflipped” and hear the story yourself!
The final painting
It was truly a privilege to work on this project with Bar Abba and create something magical to share with the world. Be sure to follow him on instagram (@protectandgrow) and let me know what you think of the artwork and the album on my Instagram (@antoinettecauley) or in the comment section below!
Interested in having your own commission work done by Antoinette Cauley? Send all inquiries to info@antoinetteCauleyArt.Com