This original 12x16-inch painting was created by me, Jim Faris, in my Washington, D.C. studio, The Make Shift Studio. It's a vibrant, handmade piece painted in acrylic and mixed media on stretched canvas, unframed, signed, and one of a kind.

I often use three recurring marks - a line, two stripes, and a crown, circles and crosses to tell a story about voice, equality, self-ownership and inclusion. 

The vertical line running from the lip down the chin is The Freedom Line. It was inspired in part by the symbolic power of traditional facial markings found in Indigenous cultures around the world. While I don't imitate those traditions, I honor their spirit, the way a simple mark can tell a story of courage, identity, and belonging. In my work, this line stands for freedom of speech, the moment your truth leaves the body and enters the world.

The Equals Mark - two cheek stripes - represents empathy and equality, a quiet stand for connection between people. The Crown, a nod to Basquiat and the lineage of street artists before me, symbolizes self-ownership, the idea that we each rule our own creative life.

Together, these symbols form a visual language of independence, humanity, and voice, reminders that we are free, equal, and our stories are our own.

- Jim Faris

My work blends modern abstract expressionism with postmodern and pop influences, using texture, collage, and color to explore the harmony that hides inside chaos. Some of my pieces include layers of vintage magazines from the '40s through the '90s, little fragments of history that bring their own stories and energy to the surface. Some may use gelli plates and other pressed or imprinted processes.

Each painting is unique, there's only one in the world, and it comes with a signed Certificate of Authenticity.

Details:

• Size: 12 x 16 inches

• Medium: Watercolor / Ink / Acrylic / Mixed Media on Canvas

• Signed and dated on the back

• Ships directly from my D.C. Make-Shift Studio

• Same-day or next-day shipping

This painting is sold unframed, but I can have it professionally gallery-framed for an additional $85, just send me a message if you're interested.

TEXTURAL, BEAUTIFUL, HIGH-END FINE ART! ALL OF MY WORK COMES WITH A SIGNED CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. THANK YOU FOR VIEWING MY WORK! THIS IS A HANDMADE ORIGINAL PAINTING Research Me: JimFaris.com Gallery: Faris Art Studios ABOUT ME I'm a painter, musician, and creative director based in Washington, D.C. Originally from Sugartit, Kentucky, I spent two decades in Boston's art and music scenes before settling in D.C., where I work out of my basement studio, The Make-Shift Studios. My paintings blend spontaneity, storytelling, and a touch of humor, reflecting a lifelong curiosity about color, texture, and the emotional rhythm of everyday life. When I'm not painting, I record and perform as "Kentucky Jim" and run the design and apparel brand HipsterDaddy.com. I AM 100% FULLY COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY, CONSISTENCY AND LIMITED QUANTITY OF MY WORK. THIS IS HOW WE TOGETHER CREATE ART THAT IS NOT ONLY ENJOYABLE DAY-TO-DAY, BUT ALSO MAKES FOR A WISE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT. IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY FOR ANY REASON, I AM NOT HAPPY! We are forced to live in a chaotic world, when we all, in fact, thrive in harmony. My paintings demonstrate that harmony pre-exists within the chaos itself, and that peace can prevail.