Liberty Torch
©2010 Craig Ashby
8.5” x 11”
Pen and Ink

Liberty Torch are all pen ink details from the Fritz self portrait. All images of the assembly of The Statue of Liberty. All gorgeous images with loaded symbolism.

Here I tried three variations. Heavy marker nibs to start. Then I realized I needed that scratchy line to get that engraving look. Or maybe I just thought the market thickness didn’t feel right.

It comes across as easily digital. Something I could have done in Illustrator. A simple filter and line choice.

This has become both a thorn in my side and a blessing. Like most gifts a curse. A curse I have frothed at the mouth about on this site enough.

I wanted something more organic. Something that added that analog element to something that was heavily Photoshopped. It is essentially layer upon layer of photographs.

Of these three, the bottom one won in the end. The detail in the top two just isn’t strong enough to stand against all those layers. It is too simplified.

This begins a whole series of these. The feet and face will be coming in future posts. Although never used, it is good too show that even unused pieces can get a little show of their own.