Fresh Prince

Acrylic on canvas.

24x36"

I've been a fan of this show for so long I barely remember a time before knowing it's existence. In fact, I probably used that quote above on my first crush in grade school as I recall her saying, "I'd maybe go out with you if you didn't say all that "hey baby" stuff". Sorry Alex, you were right haha. But Will Smith was captivating to me. He had the confidence and bravado and street smarts that gravitated to me as a young kid trying to figure out how to be me. I was an awkward hyperactive kid who didn't make friends easily. I usually found myself being the weird kid and coming on too strong. I know what it was now, and had nothing to do with me but my point is, Fresh Prince was in a way aliken to me in my eyes. Loud and jokingly fun and didn't really get along with the uptight people of his surroundings. He'd rather be with friends or enjoying life instead of taking everything so seriously. And also had tons of heart sprinkled in. I tell alot of my friends (and now fans) that I grew up alot like The Cable Guy character only I didn't go mad and stalk people, I hermited away and made art! Fresh Prince of Bel-Air sort of raised me to some degree. Showing me the life lessons of things I would have never experienced growing up in literal middle America. I also now have an addiction to Jordan 5s largely due to this show, which I also have a nod hidden in the lower left. The classic grape colors and a 'netting' cross hatch scattered around the canvas.

Being that Smith's character was caught tagging a wall in the opening credits, I wanted to keep that vibe abstractly alive in the piece. He's not really a tagger in the show so I didn't want it to be a focus but it's definitely apart of the feel of the show. Along with bright neons of the 90's and his need for too many accessories at once. It's just a quintessential image of the Fresh Prince and I love how it turned out. Adds ton of color and life to any space I hang this in.