NEWS: “Momentum” has been juried into the SCA 2025 Open International Online Exhibition, as one of 167 selected artworks out of 1180 submissions. View the exhibition here.
NEWS: “Momentum” has received an Honourable Mention in the Women’s Art Society of Montreal (WASM) Juried Exhibition at the Montreal Arts Council, May 2025.

This is a limited edition hand-embellished signed first state print of my original watercolour painting, “Momentum”. There are only 10 prints in this edition, printed on special watercolour paper and customized with tiny hand embellished 24k gold leaf stars. This makes each print unique, distinct from any other print of the same painting and an original artwork in itself.

In Momentum, cultural and historical allusions offer layers of meaning that invite the viewer to engage with the work on a deeper level. The traditional depiction of a "woman on a sofa" is challenged. Through the artist’s lens of magical realism—that which appears real, but cannot be—she is elevated to a star-filled galaxy, where she takes as much space as she chooses. I’m grateful to my model for this painting, the inimitable artist and poet Tracey Steer.

In her crown, the planet Earth shows four continents: North and South America, Europe and Africa, the storm systems between them illustrating the turbulence and trauma caused by the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The position of the woman’s hand, resting on her knee palm-down, conveys quiet authority. The Monarch butterfly, known for its yearly migration across North America, represents resilience, endurance, and determination as well as transformation, and freedom. The Empire gown worn in white satin denotes a high social status, prestige, and wealth. Sought by royalty since ancient times, the sapphire that glints in the woman’s earring indicates intelligence, wisdom, and serenity. Like many precious gemstones, it has a history of exploitation, having been mined and processed in Africa and the Far East by disadvantaged people, and child labour. The Regency settee calls back to Egyptian motifs, from which the styles were appropriated by European imperialists. Decked out in sumptuous fabrics and cushions, it is richly upholstered, and embroidered with stars—a nod to the sitter’s celestial status. In terms of cultural and social change, ‘momentum’ is achieved with impetus and persistence; this painting is in acknowledgment and celebration of the enormous work and perseverance of Black women and all they have achieved despite power systems historically used to oppress them.

Limited edition ink jet print, 13 × 18” including a white border. The print is signed, titled and numbered by me, JC Little, on the front, and it is stamped with my embossed insignia. Printed with fade resistant Claria Photo HD Ink on Epson Watercolor Paper, Radiant White. The original painting was professionally scanned by Photosynthese, and the print is as close to the original painting as possible. Each print has been gilded with 24 karat gold leaf. A Certificate of Authenticity and a Framing Guide is included with this print. It’s recommended to frame it behind UV filter glass, with an acid-free matte, and display away from direct sunlight to preserve the print from deterioration and fading. It will be packaged with an archival sleeve, and carefully rolled into a cardboard shipping tube. To avoid waste, where ever possible I will re-use mailers and other packaging materials.

SHIPPING via Canada Post with tracking and insurance. This item ships to Canada, the USA and most of the EU. If you are outside these territories, please reach out to me directly so I can quote you an accurate shipping rate.

Actual colours may vary from those shown here depending on the device you are using to view the painting. All copyright, reproduction/duplication rights, and artist’s resale rights are reserved by the artist JC Little. This painting will be sold with the condition that the artist may show the painting in an art gallery or other art show setting.

The original painting is HERE. Contact me HERE to commission your own whimsical artwork.