A painting of someone pulling the moon out of orbit might sound like fantasy—until you hear the artist explain the symbols, the technique, and the lived history behind it.
In this episode of Tradition Café, I’m joined by George Bernard III, a Bay Area portrait artist whose work draws from African diaspora identity, spiritual traditions, and the people he observes and paints.
This conversation is part of the Art of the African Diaspora interview series, where we sit with artists to explore the deeper stories behind their work—what shapes it, what moves through it, and what it carries forward.
George shares how his artistic journey began at just five years old, learning by watching his grandfather’s hand move line by line. We talk about growing up between El Paso and California, and the complexities of tracing lineage in the diaspora—including family stories that point to Senegal, alongside the uncertainty many families inherit.
We also get into the craft itself—the materials, the discipline, and the practice behind the work—but the heart of this conversation lives in meaning.
Through his piece Urban Magi, George breaks down the Yoruba concept of asé, the symbolism of dreadlocks as patience and power, and how movement is created through brushstroke, texture, and layered color. He also describes how music—especially jazz—shapes his process, including moments where sound becomes color and painting becomes something closer to meditation.
This is a conversation about art as more than technique—about energy, cultural memory, and what it means to create from something deeper than yourself.
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Connect with George Bernard III
Instagram: https://instagram.com/bernard_illustrations_2021
Facebook: https://facebook.com/bernardillustrations
Classes: West Contra Costa Adult Education https://www.wccadulteducation.com/
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