DO U BOO NAIL SALON

I overheard two women talking, and one woman said "do u boo." This phrase inspired me to create a painting titled "Do U Boo Nail Salon" as part of my LLC Storefronts series. This particular painting stopped so many people in their tracks, especially young Black girls and women. It became the perfect opportunity for me to share both my art and wisdom.

I would explain to viewers that this piece belongs to my LLC Storefronts series—a collection where the names of limited liability company storefronts I paint serve as visual puns, providing viewers with a visual respite. These vernacular messages are ubiquitous, hand-painted lettered messages inspired by those found on wooden vegetable crate ends. The business names are designed to make you think, believe, or behave in a desired way. Each character has its own personality, perfectly suited to the advertisements and advisements painted on their store signs. My aesthetic goal is to encourage people to start their own businesses through artwork inspired by small business vernacular.

When people stopped to look at "Do U Boo Nail Salon," I would encourage them to consider opening their own nail salon. I took these moments to educate them about what an LLC is and encouraged them to research further into limited liability companies and how to strategically name their businesses. I would also advise them to protect their health by covering their nose and mouth (masking up) when getting their nails done due to the chemicals in nail polish.

I arranged all of my LLC Storefront paintings in a line as if they were real businesses on a street, allowing viewers to walk down the row and read all the business names. This setup gave me opportunities to share information about various types of businesses and explain the reasoning behind their names—such as "Sammiches," "Chicken Wayne," and "Boo Coo Soups." Through these conversations, I would teach people about different kinds of sandwiches and soups, expanding their knowledge while celebrating entrepreneurial creativity.

The series transforms everyday business vernacular into art that both entertains and educates, encouraging viewers to see the potential in their own entrepreneurial dreams