Christal-Ann: mixing fantasy with art
Published:Sunday | June 22, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Keisha Hill, Gleaner Writer
At six years old, Christal-Ann Thompson's mother bought her a paint set with a plastic-bristle brush. She loved the colours and began experimenting, splashing designs here and there with a little drawing, as her mind told her. Thinking nothing much of her new-found passion, Christal-Ann continued occasionally playing with the colours and creating ad hoc designs.
However, while attending the Savanna-la-Mar Seventh-day Adventist High School, her passion was rekindled when a friend gave her a figure-drawing book. At this point, she vigorously started to explore the intricacies of art and painting.
Moving up the ranks
Life for young Christal wasn't easy. While in high school, she had to sell sweets and snacks and used this money to provide things for herself. Notwithstanding, she moved up the ranks from class monitor to prefect and then became the school's head girl.
God's grace shone on Christal-Ann, and as the valedictorian for her graduating class, the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) had a representative at the event. She was chosen from among three students with outstanding academic achievement and given a scholarship to attend NCU.
Art classes
"I wanted to do something practical in art, so I started with Introduction to Principles of Art. After I started the class, I realised it was more theory than practical, but Mr Gerald Wray who started the art department was a great inspiration and I decided to continue," Christal-Ann said.
"I am glad I went to the class, and just talking about art, I learnt so much. It led me to find out which equipment to use, and I was also motivated to do research on my own," Christal-Ann said.
Christal-Ann's work includes subliminal paintings that portray people's connection as a world and as a people. She stated that we are all connected as a people and nobody exists on their own. "This is why we have colours and do things differently. It is our interaction as a people that I express in my paintings," she said.
Wray, her instructor (now deceased), encouraged her to create her own style, distinguishing herself from everyone else. Christal-Ann likes to create still-life paintings and portraits that use a lot of surrealism; mixing fantasy with art.
high demand
There is a high demand for her paintings, sold to private clients locally and internationally. She has also exhibited at a number of art shows, and five years ago was involved in Caribbean Fashionweek, where art was fused with fashion, dubbed 'Art on the Run'. "It was really awesome," she said.
Christal-Ann sold her first painting at NCU for $50,000 and, since then, has matured as a painter. Art has also started many of her other talents. She could be considered a jack of all trades as she also does photography, writes books, manufactures hair products, produces videos, plans events, and, for the past two years, has been operating a pastry business in Mandeville.
She hopes to publish a children's biology book and is currently interested in designing. So far, Christal-Ann has completed an associate degree in mass communications and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in biological science at NCU.
Christal-Ann's work can be viewed on her facebook page: www.facebook.com/christalannart.
CHRISTAL
Continued from E1
Work in progress
PLEASE SEE CHRISTAL, E2
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