24-ItsMiley1
©2010 Craig Ashby
Mixed media on masonite.
10″ x 7″

Here is another high point and once again I think it’s hysterical that it’s Miley Cyrus. Miley is releasing all those missing bees and the ghost of Earl Butz. Just the thought of it all makes me laugh out loud.

So I am back to the idea that the first image has a top layer of black. This black layer’s interaction with all those flesh tones and the purple is a “win win” situation. The hazard signs poking through at various locations. Once again, this is exactly what I was aiming for when I envisioned these pieces. It’s an absolutely perfect mess.

A couple of my favorite bits. I love that purple in the corn glasses that just stops and has the white magazine border. It’s one of those things I used to fight to achieve a flawed idea of perfection. And then I grew up and learn to accept myself and the world. So now I see it and yeah, it still bugs me because I want the purple to continue. And then I check myself and love it. The decay on the dark side of Miley’s face is exquisite. It completely conveys those contours even in extreme blackness.

Much like the Ivana series, I adore saying that one of my best pieces is of Miley Cyrus. Anyone who knows me would find that interesting. These are not my “go to” icons. And somehow, by allowing them to exist and accepting the process I have created, I have made some wonderful paintings of people outside my comfort zone. That’s the real point of all this. The test was, can I make a gorgeous painting of Miley Cyrus? And I think I did.