"Soul of a Woman"

Just finished up a painting to enter in the "Soul of a Woman" show in Morehead City.  I decided to paint a portrait of Maya Angelou.  She was from North Carolina and has written many soulful things… I first wrote out the poem "I know why the caged bird sings" - the lines of the poem can be read here.  I followed the contours of her face with the words… then I painted the portrait over the words...