Call Him, But You Can't Use My Phone

30 x 22 Original Mixed Media Figurative Portrait - Acrylic, watercolor, goldleaf, spray paint on fine art paper.


This piece blends humor, attitude, and a sharp sense of boundary. The subject, painted in grayscale tones accented with fiery orange hair and lips, holds a bold red telephone—an object that instantly commands attention as both prop and metaphor. Her expression is one of cool detachment, paired with a stance that suggests confidence and control. The muted geometric backdrop contrasts with the vibrancy of the red phone, reinforcing the theme of communication and disconnection—what is shared, and what is withheld. Adorned with pearls and earrings, she exudes elegance, but the message is unmistakable: access to her world is on her terms. Call Him, But You Can’t Use My Phone captures the modern tension between intimacy and independence, playfully asserting autonomy in matters of love, loyalty, and selfhood. It’s as much a declaration as it is a portrait: bold, unapologetic, and unmistakably in command. Oh, not to mention a gentle nod to my beloved Erykah Badu!