Laura Malissa (2025) Painting by Roberto Rivas

The painting features a portrait of two young African American women with big, voluminous hair. They are positioned together, shoulder to shoulder, creating a sense of unity and intimacy.
The two women are the focal point, their figures taking up most of the canvas. Their facial features are clearly visible, with expressions suggesting a sense of serenity and contemplation.
The background is a warm, neutral, simple beige color that allows the figures to stand out even more.
The color palette is warm and earthy, with a predominance of brown tones. The Afro hair is based on dark brown with lighter highlights. The woman on the left wears a pale pink blouse that contrasts with the reddish brown of the blouse of the woman on the right. The contrast between the pink and dark red adds depth and dynamism to the composition. The women's skin is painted with brown and gold hues, giving a realistic appearance and showing the richness of African American skin tones.
The women display serene and contemplative expressions. There is a sense of calm and a certain look of understanding or connection between them, conveying a sense of inner strength and confidence.
Her afro hair, painted with small strokes, gives the feeling of volume and movement. Her facial features are well defined, including the shape of the eyes, nose and mouth, with a certain realism. The skin reflects subtle light and shadows. Special care is noted in the representation of the eyes, which show remarkable depth and expression.
The painting is a stylized portrait that celebrates beauty and female sisterhood, with a focus on the realistic and emotive representation of the figures and their distinctive features. The painting style approaches rough realism and professional composition and execution.

Related themes

AfroAfroamericanPortraitWomanportraitAfrowoman