27-Angelina1
©2010 Craig Ashby
Mixed media on masonite.
7″ x 10″

Here is the first image of Angelina Jolie in the series. I decided to skip the black layer and instead went for a red to yellow gradation layer.

Let me say right now that this was a nightmare to cut. Four separate layers cut across the super obvious razor blade background made for a long week of cutting. Apparently that 60 Minutes interview scarred me and I just couldn’t get over it. Really, Angelina, a cutter? It’s amazing how the simple revelations of trash television can leave a mark that stays with you for years.

Overall I love the impact of this image and how nicely it came across. But its lack of subtlety bothers me. Ironically, it’s a double-sided blade. I love the pharmaceutical ad for the face, but then I think about it all and I just leaves me cold. And each aspect of this painting does that to me. I love this, but…

I love the more hidden aspects. The image is taken from her stint as model for knitwear titans St. John. And the idea of knitwear and their natural enemy, razors, brings a smile to my face. But everything else is Craig Ashby in sledgehammer mode.