In Rachel Crumpton’s “Life’s Creation”, the viewer is immediately greeted by a looming, seemingly divine figure as she puppeteers a force of nature. It is a traditional watercolor piece, made for the student’s series documenting life and the natural world. The female figure, noted by distinct stylization, is drawn with cartoonish elements. The large eyes are the focal point of the face and emphasized by their vivid forest shade—which in turn compliments the theme of flora and fauna. The broken, implied lines, and crosshatching of the woman’s nose and lips lend to a semi-realistic style. Her hair, pulled back into an elegant hairstyle, is textured with linework. The movement and curls of her hair are indicated by swirling pen detail, and then shaded with watercolor for a flat, graphic color effect.
Her robes, a stately royal blue shade, act as the framing for the deer scene she is controlling. Not only do her robe sleeves create this framework for what she puppets, they also allude to her divinity; as long sleeves are associated with priesthood. The deer scene contains a silhouette amongst a forest background, painted with different shades of tree-like, yellow and brown shades. The scene appears to be of the figure’s own divination, being created as it drips from her own fingertips. It drips in a gooey, honey-like manner, giving the scene a similar honeyed hue.
Use of different techniques in watercolor painting can be seen throughout the work. In the background, the towering trees behind the figure are very light and quite subtle, and still add notable rhythm to the piece. The artist utilizes a splattered ink technique amongst the trees, giving the feeling of sprawling branches. What can also be seen is a drip technique, where the watercolor is allowed to flow freely, creating a freeform shape for the branches and vegetation throughout the work. This work provides a storybook-like narrative of a divine figure forging life, uplifting femininity and the virtues of the natural world.
Review by Bronwyn Hales
I am from Burlington, North Carolina. I have loved art for as long as I can remember, and it most likely stemmed from watching cartoons and reading picture books. I lost interest in art when I was in middle school because of insecurities I had with my skills, but after taking a class in high school I rediscovered my love for it. After that the rest of my high school years were spent in art classes. My parents and family help to inspire a large part of my art, they have always believed in my skills, long before even I believed in them.