The Water Boy (2024)
Oil on canvas, 16”×20”
 
A young Black boy sits on a weathered porch, his worn shoes and tattered clothes reflecting a life of labor. Beside him lie a metal ladle and an old water bucket, essential tools of his role as the water boy—running tirelessly to hydrate workers in the cotton fields under the scorching southern sun. A single bulb of cotton rests nearby, symbolizing the harshness of the work and the endurance it demanded.
The Water Boy honors the spirit of service and sustenance. It invites reflection on the value of even the smallest roles in sustaining others and the importance of "watering your soul" to endure life’s trials.