My Favorite Fairy by Courtney Jolliff

This original mixed media painting on a newsprint substrate is a significant work from Courtney Jolliff's 'Service' exhibition in Detroit. The piece features a stylized portrait of an individual in profile, rendered with thick, expressive applications of paint that suggest an impasto technique. The subject is depicted with dark brown skin tones, wearing a white garment, and is framed by vibrant, abstract wing-like forms in neon green, yellow, and deep blue. The use of a newspaper or typed manuscript page as the canvas provides a textured, intellectual backdrop that contrasts with the raw, neo-expressionist style of the figure. Notable markings include a crown motif in the upper right corner, a signature element of the artist, along with the handwritten text 'MY ART' and 'BOYS' near the bottom right. The condition appears consistent with contemporary works on paper produced in a non-traditional studio setting; the edges of the newsprint are slightly irregular and the paper shows minor undulating from the moisture of the paint. Created circa 2023-2024, the work is a poignant reflection of the artist's personal history following a 2022 house fire, celebrating the human connections that sustained him through homelessness. The craftsmanship is characterized by bold, gestural brushstrokes and a vibrant color palette that conveys both emotional weight and resilience.