THE ARTIST
My work celebrates faith, family, and Black history, which shape my identity and artistic voice. I paint Black people to highlight dignity, joy, and truth in how we see ourselves and each other. Acrylic is my primary medium, though I often return to my roots in mixed media, layering texture and color to honor the depth of our stories.
As an art educator who has worked with children ages 3–14, my heart's desire is to place positive, affirming images before their eyes. Research shows that repeated exposure to positive representation strengthens children’s self-esteem, cultural pride, and sense of possibility. Imagery shapes how we think, dream, and define ourselves.
Through my art, I aim to plant seeds of hope and pride, images that remind young people, and all of us, that we are valuable, seen, and worthy of celebration.
-Shanel Romain
IG @shanelromainart
The Heart of the Father
This piece captures a tender moment between a father and his little girl, a moment that speaks to love, security, and presence. As he holds her close, she rests peacefully, trusting and content. I wanted to show the quiet strength and gentleness that exist within fatherhood, especially within Black families.
To me, this painting also reflects the heart of our Heavenly Father, steady, protective, and full of compassion. The Heart of the Father is both personal and spiritual; it’s about connection, belonging, and the kind of love that gives us peace.
Joy
This painting captures the laughter of two Black girls, bright, full, and completely unguarded. Their energy fills the canvas with color and movement, reminding me of my niece’s laughter, the kind that’s pure and effortless. It also reminds me of the same light I still see in some of my students, before life tries to dim it or shipwreck their innocence.
Through this piece, I wanted to honor that purity, the joy that exists before the world teaches otherwise. Joy is both a celebration and a preservation of that light, a visual reminder that laughter and love are powerful acts of resistance and healing.
Brown Skin
I created this painting for girls like my niece and for every child who has ever questioned their own beauty. As an educator, my heart aches when I hear Black children degrade one another under the weight of colorism and Eurocentric beauty standards. Those words reveal how early society begins shaping how they see themselves.
Brown Skin is a reminder that every shade of melanin carries light, purpose, and divine design. Through this piece, I want Black children to see themselves with pride and to recognize that they are wonderfully made, just as God intended. This work is both a protest and a love letter, urging us to embrace who we are without apology.