24"x36" | Acrylic on Canvas | Solomon is drawn to sunflowers as it is his late sister Ella’s favorite flower. To him, the sunflower now represents Ella’s life. The sunflower is like the sun, bright joy which reminds him of Ella’s heart. “Despite knowing they won’t be here for long they still chose to live their brightest lives – sunflowers”. Solomon purchased this painting from artist, Kyndall Owens. He has donated the piece with a handwritten message on the back for Smocks & Jocks. All proceeds will be donated to The Defensive Line.

Solomon Thomas has played in the NFL for six seasons as a Defensive Lineman and is Co-Founder and Board Chair of The Defensive Line. Drafted as the #3 overall player in the 2017 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers, he played 4 seasons for the Niners including Super Bowl LIV. His defensive skills have taken him to the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Jets where he was their nominee for the 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Off the field, Solomon has dedicated his life to sharing Ella’s story and has worked with a myriad of nonprofit organizations to raise awareness and secure funds for mental health and suicide prevention work. His courage to vulnerably share his experience through national media outlets like CNN, ESPN, The New York Times, and NFL Network have established him as a respected advocate in the field.

Original Artist: Kyndall Owens

This painting was inspired by the sunflowers that bloom at Dorothea Dix park in Raleigh, NC. I’ve always loved the warmth of summer and the sunflowers that bloom and dance in the sun.

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