The story behind BJP’s name
There are several reasons why I chose the name of my studio. As the eighth of nine children I learned a lot from the examples set by my mother and father. They were among a small number of the first black students to attend and graduate from Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School in Baltimore, MD, making them mavericks of both their families and communities.
My mother always had a creative streak that included a love for writing and building custom doll houses from scratch. She also worked hard to take care of the needs of the family, and was skillful at drawing out the best from my siblings and I both at school and regarding chores at home. I learned much about the pursuit of excellence from her diligence and both of my parents instilled in us a strong sense of personal responsibility and self respect.
As for my father, he joined the USAF upon finishing his studies of commercial art in school. While in the Air Force, his primary job was as a jet engine mechanic while still holding responsibilities as an illustrator. He never lost sight of his love for art and always incorporated that somehow into his daily routine, even if in order to support his family he took on jobs that were not related to his field. He was and is the quintessential Jack-of-all-trades. Of all of the things that I was able to learn from my father, the appreciation for both fine and commercial art has been something that remains dear to me to this day.
Roots of our name