02-Agyness2
©2009 Craig Ashby
Mixed media on masonite.
7″ x 7″

So this is Agyness Deyn, again. From the moment I cut the masonite down to squares and rectangles I knew I was going to make multiples of the same image. I hadn’t formalized how I was going to differentiate the multiples yet. Here on the second piece of the series I am still experimenting.

First thing I did to improve the pieces was purchase new gel medium. Secondly, I distressed each layer of collage as I put them down. I even put the piece under the broiler after cooking chicken one night. The burns are especially evident over the eye.

The topmost black layer is actually 4 layers. I used sandpaper on those layers but only in one direction. So one layer would have horizontal scratches and the next vertical. It helped me build a black layer that worked like crosshatching. Unfortunately that adds some muddiness to the graphic itself. Not to mention it took four layers to get the black readable.

Regardless, the color scheme and the crosshatching together put this into my favorite list. There is a subtlety to the color palette that I relish. And the level of destruction on each of the color layers is perfect. The diamonds right beside the corner of her mouth, impeccable.