14-Naomi02
©1992 Craig Ashby
Collage
3.75″ x 3.75″

Number fourteen and second in the series of Naomi Campbell is up. This is another piece that I think actually happened earlier in the series. Made in the first five but not positive.

The idea was to use a spiral staircase for wings. The pairing with the heavily pop art dot background works. The handcut stars and halo are charmingly naive. But this isn’t a favorite.

I don’t remember who the designer was for this image. The destruction on Naomi’s face got a little out of hand. The gel medium blistering her face when snagged on sandpaper. It’s not the worst but it’s not the best.

I haven’t mentioned this before but sixteen of these pieces were turned into larger paintings. I still have about twelve of them. The rest given to old friends.

The idea for the paintings was simple. I would create Rembrandt like underpaintings for each. Each underpainting would be based on a black and white of the same model featured. The black and white image would be rendered in an appropriate color scheme. Then I would gild certain elements with gold leaf.

The underpainting extended beyond the image. Providing a mat and then a one inch border of gold leaf. It was so over thought and overwrought I look back in horror. Even now I dream of having the remaining pieces cut down just to feature the transfer image.

Maybe I will do that in the near future. The only issue I have is how to get them cut down and not damage the painted layer. An even greater issue is how do I get the ones I gave away back to have them cut down.