Analysis and critical annotations of "Stare"

In the drawing I have chosen, Saville has used charcoal on paper and small areas of oil paint to create a distorted, bloodied, image. She has used fine lines to show inaccurate shape and smudging with finger to create tone. Both eyes and the left ear has been repeated with line to show further distortion and the red oil paint may show post-surgery or injury. Where Jenny has drew the hair, she has smudged the charcoal to create lighter tones perhaps with a rubber also. She has sectioned out an area of the hair also which also shows more of the 'blood'. The character in the drawing appears to have no specific gender but would most likely be perceived as male. Saville may have done this purposely. The illusion of facial distortion by layering features may also support the idea of surgery/injury but could show the 'genderless' point Saville has attempted to put across in her other pieces. Saville has included another medium in contrast to charcoal, oil paint, which shows effectively the illusion of blood as charcoal creates matte tones giving a two dimensional image whereas oil paint shows liquid well as it reflects light. The repetition of the ear in charcoal and a red medium shows use of layers and looks like it has been built up to show the actual character.