Esther Griffith
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I. Heart. Multiples

12/17/2019

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Yep, I love multiples. It could be the pack rat in me, but I love the idea of a collection of beautiful things. A multiple is defined by the Tate gallery as "a series of identical artworks usually a signed limited edition". 

But alas, perhaps I shouldn't say that out loud. The idea of a multiple or copy is actually taboo in many fine art circles and can make a collector recoil in horror. This is because we often think of the topic in light of design. With design, things can be mass produced at a frenzied pace, with little variations, and at times, with questionable quality. In fine art, the pervading concept is that that quality comes from a piece being one of a kind. 
Now, don't get me wrong! I would never make an exact copy of a painting that I've done. For one, I can't, because my painting process is largely intuitive. Also, I love the idea of giving a client a special piece that he/ she can't find anywhere else.
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In my practice, though, I've come to value the idea of multiples. It first started when I did printmaking. We were taught how to make limited editions. I fell in love with that idea because I felt that I could broaden my approach on one specific project, exploring ideas by varying colour, texture and mood.

For example, with this painting project I wanted to use the same face, but make completely different, original paintings. It's a limited edition of 4. I used similar colours, but varied their intensity and placement. I used a mixture of tints and hues (I don't habitually use shades). 

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As with all my personal projects, I went all out with texture. I see paintings not as identical renditions of a person, but as opportunities to explore movement, mixture, colour complement and mood. It's a marriage between figurative and abstract art. Each piece evokes a different feeling, ranging from light and hopeful to brooding and mysterious. One common element, though, is the vulnerability you get when you look her in the eyes.
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If you're starting out as an illustrator and painter, I definitely recommend exploring multiples to learn how to harness colour and have more fun with your practice.
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