As in earlier series, the artist uses a title consisting of a pairing of words: Alteration/Deviation. Previous bodies of works included Order/Disruption, Parallel/Bend and Orientation/Disorientation. The artist’s titling emphasises the interplay of contrasting elements such as two colours, the interplay between fore- and background or the direction in which a pattern is drawn, which in turn relates to the idea of warp and weft. Each aspect carries the same visual weight, as a result, there is a sense of interchangeability between the contrasting components.
The compositional strategy of Alteration/Deviation is based on a limited range of changes in a pattern which are obtained by modifying the orientation of a right-angled triangle within a square. As areas with differing orientations are placed in proximity, they generate contrasts that vary in intensity depending on the placement within the overall composition, producing a dynamic interference on the boundary of two areas; for example the contrast is significantly enhanced along borders occurring at an angle of 45 degrees. This latest series embraces the notion of setting a strict set of preconceived parameters, offering their own visual proof that a surprisingly wide range of possibilities for image-making can be developed from a simple set of rules and dispassionate unfolding of the motions of the artist's hand. Indeed, Ricci remarked about her sense of gratification from exploring what at first appears to be a narrow framework only for this to open limitless possibilities for developing a diverse set of compositions.
Whereas the dimensions of earlier works were determined by how far the artist’s arm could reach, these latest pieces are made in sections, allowing Ricci to expand the overall size exponentially. These works, conceived as small maquettes, are then painted on a larger scale, resulting in a new physical experience. The realisation, for Ricci, that it is not necessary for the artist to see the entire surface of the sheet at once while working has made possible a new range and new level of nuance in her practice.