SHADES OF US
Look Closer. Every Shade Tells a Story.
Shades of Us is a collaborative art experience that invites participants to look closely at the colors within their own skin while exploring identity, representation, colorism, and belonging.
Through observation and artmaking, participants discover that skin is never simply one color. It is made up of layers of undertones, highlights, shadows, and subtle variations that make each of us unique.
THE PROJECTMore Than a Skin Tone.
Participants create a drawing of the back of their hand and arm on brown kraft paper using chalk pastels.
Rather than reaching for a single “skin color,” they are encouraged to slow down, observe, mix colors, layer values, and notice the many colors they actually see.
The individual drawings are then brought together as a collaborative installation—creating a visual representation of the many shades, identities, and experiences within a community.
LOOK CLOSER • CREATE • REFLECT • CONNECT
WHY SHADES OF US?
Art Creates Space for Conversation.
Shades of Us grew from my ongoing work exploring colorism, identity, and representation through The Colorism Project.
I wanted to create an experience that moved beyond simply talking about skin tone and gave participants an opportunity to look, create, question, and reflect.
The project uses art as a starting point for age-appropriate conversations about how we see color, how people are represented, and why every shade deserves to be seen and valued.
BRING SHADES OF US TO YOUR COMMUNITY
A Collaborative Art Experience
Shades of Us can be adapted for schools, universities, museums, community organizations, and other learning spaces.
Experiences may include:
Artist Talk + Discussion
Explore colorism, identity, representation, and the ideas behind the project.
Hands-On Art Workshop
Participants create their own chalk pastel hand-and-arm drawing through guided observation and color layering.
Collaborative Installation
Individual artworks come together to create a larger visual celebration of the community.
Programs can be adapted based on age group, number of participants, schedule, setting, and organizational goals.
TEACH SHADES OF US
Bring the Project Into Your Own Classroom.
Art educators can also teach Shades of Us using my classroom-ready resource.
The lesson is designed to give teachers the background, visuals, student directions, and discussion support they need to introduce the project thoughtfully and confidently.
The Resource Includes:
Teacher Guide
Overview, objectives, materials, vocabulary, pacing, and discussion notes.
What Is Colorism? + The Brown Paper Bag Test
Age-appropriate historical context to help students understand the project's ideas.
Student Project Guide
A clear introduction to the big idea, learning goals, and artmaking process.
Look Closer: What Colors Are in Skin?
A visual mini-lesson exploring undertones, highlights, shadows, and why there is no single “skin color.”
Meet the Artist
A student-friendly introduction to Dr. Ashley A. Jones and the work that inspired Shades of Us.
Visual Directions
Step-by-step student guidance for observing, drawing, layering, blending, and completing the artwork.
Collaborative Installation Guide
Ideas for bringing individual drawings together into a larger class or community display.
Reflection + Exit Ticket
Prompts that help students think about what they observed, created, and learned.
FROM ONE HAND TO MANYEvery Drawing Becomes Part of Something Larger.
One hand tells an individual story.
Together, the drawings reveal something bigger—the range of colors, experiences, and identities that exist within a classroom or community.
That is the heart of Shades of Us.
Different shades. Individual stories. One community.