I Want To Be Jerry Pinkney

The watercolor drawing presents a striking juxtaposition of figures and styles. In the foreground, a young girl stands with an animated expression, her arm raised in a gesture of emphatic declaration or perhaps joyful exuberance. She is rendered with bold lines and vibrant color, particularly noticeable in her skin tone and the red accents on her dress and shoes. Her posture suggests confidence and agency.
Behind her, occupying the majority of the composition’s space, appears an orchestra. The musicians are depicted in a much more ethereal style – loose washes of watercolor create a sense of transparency and movement. Their faces are less defined, almost ghostly, suggesting they exist within a dreamlike or symbolic realm. The instruments themselves appear as blurred shapes, contributing to this impression of fleeting presence.
The color palette is dominated by warm tones – yellows, oranges, and browns – which contribute to the overall feeling of energy and warmth. A strip of green at the bottom provides a grounding element, suggesting a stage or platform upon which the girl performs. The contrast between the sharply defined foreground figure and the hazy background creates a sense of depth and draws immediate attention to the childs presence.
Subtextually, the drawing seems to explore themes of aspiration and self-expression. The girl’s assertive pose and bright coloring suggest a desire for recognition or perhaps a declaration of individuality. The orchestra in the background could represent societal expectations, established structures, or even the pressures of performance itself. Her separation from them – both visually and stylistically – implies a rejection of these norms or a striving to transcend them. It is possible that the work speaks to the power of individual voice against a backdrop of tradition, or perhaps celebrates the unique potential within a young person.