EYE TRAPS: A CELEBRATION OF PAINTED PORTRAITS ON FABRIC
Eye Traps is a celebration of women, which marries traditional oil painting, patterned fabrics and fresh color.
The namesake for the collection originates from the Christian cult, the IBLP, which outlined a pamphlet on appropriate dress for women, warning of "eye traps". Ashley is redefining the term to highlight every beautiful blemish, hair a-strewn, and deliciously highlighted cheekbone.
Each lovingly layered oil painting is 8" x 8", with a wooden panel base. It's stretched with fabric, gessoed and prepared with a medium red ground. After three passes of oil paint (generally), each painting is varnished.
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12" x 16" oil painting on fabric, stretched over wooden panel
12" x 16" oil painting on fabric, stretched over wooden panel
12" x 16" oil painting on fabric, stretched over wooden panel
12" x 16" oil painting on fabric, stretched over wooden panel
12" x 16" oil painting on fabric, stretched over wooden panel
8" x 8" oil on fabric over wooden panel SOLD
8" x 8" oil painting on fabric, stretched over wooden panel
This piece is a star in a galaxy of awesome paintings. Inspired by a strict guide by a religious cult, The IBLP (The Institute of Basic Life Priniciples), of appropriate dress and presentation for women, I set out to create a tapestry of oil paintings on fabric. "Souls on Fire" is unique but they also work together as an amazing visual quilt. She is bright, beautiful, introspective, and most importantly autonomous
An absolute powerhouse in this collection, Listen all a Y'all is the cream of the crop. Really and truly, this piece was a turning point for me as an artist. She commands your eyes, she's in total control of her body and her voice. Visually, she is perfection in a 2-dimensional square. The contours of her face, the warm glow on her cheek, the play of curves and tonality shifts in her ear, the brow. There's SO much to breathe in! Can we talk about the pinky fleshy areas of her scalp!
The last in the birth order of the Eye Traps Collection! An important and not to be overlooked distinction. Say the Right Things with Your Eyes was pulled directly from the IBLP pamphlet, and a chapter heading in how a women should present themselves. Look closely to discover the broken lines of color that build her porcelain skin. The golden pinks that dot her brow - and the BROW! Aren't those bits of flesh that break through so lovely?
The first in the birth order of the Eye Traps Collection! An important and not to be overlooked distinction. Genesis is a women is who beautiful, no doubt sensual, in a quiet way. She is bathed in contrast. She is a paradox of light and dark, cool and warm skin tones, packed into one delicious square. Look closely to discover the thousands of dots that tickle her nose, her chin, and cheek. Isn't the light hitting her eyelashes divine?
Stirring Secrets was originally created as a companion piece to Eternal Optimist. I felt like they were women in the same moment, but different parts of the photographic sequence. There are only a couple of women with eyes closed in this collection, which was intentional. The very nature of eyes closed recalls an inner dialogue. The composition of her nose turned upward felt like she was rising and I just had to paint her.
You know that ole turn of phrase “a spade is a spade”? That’s kind of how I landed on the title for this work. ❣️So, the pamphlet that started it all described “appropriate dress” for women in the Christian (I say cult) movement IBLP. In one of the ACTUAL descriptions they wrote: 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘴. When I way glazing that yummy yummy cadmium and alizarin crimson in the 💋and 💃I kept thinking “sooooo garrriiish!”
Eternal Optimist is a sun seeker. She's leaning into warmth and glow. She's your "classic" beauty, good vibes and flows in between time and space. Eternal could be present now, or fifty years ago. There's a little pause when you see her. Like a reminder to take a breath. Look closely to see the broken colors of sap green, yellow ochre, and alizarin crimson that form the contours of her cheek bone, upper brow and forehead.
Sprinkles is the closest to me, autobiographically. If I had to choose a painting that told me as a story: sunglasses on, messy dark bun, blowing in the wind, full of color. It's me. Sprinkles is a direct reference to the bright dashes of colored reflections in the sunglasses. It's also how I feel about painting portraits - delicious, yummy, sweet, and tactile. She's all about freedom, color, and confidence. We can all get behind that, right?
This piece is a star in a galaxy of awesome paintings. 17 pieces were created around a common theme: Eye Traps. Inspired by a strict guide by a religious cult, The IBLP (The Institute of Basic Life Priniciples), of appropriate dress and presentation for women, I set out to create a tapestry of oil paintings on fabric. Each woman is unique but they also work together as an amazing visual quilt. They're bright, beautiful, introspective, and most importantly autonomous.
8" x 8" oil on fabric over wood
I find paint viscerally delicious, yummy, and totally addictive. Don’t you?! Although a parent can't say they have a favorite child, an artist can. Sugar is one of my absolute favorites. 🍬Just like sugar, this painting is addictive to me. I can find so many nuances in it with every glance: the EAR, oh the ear (!!!), the delicate strands of hair on the nape of the neck, the cool green broken lines along the veins.