Crumpled Pumpkin 80 × 60 cm

"Crumpled Pumpkin" is an artwork born from my fascination with texture and how it can transform a familiar form into something abstract and deeply tactile. The name itself evokes the organic, somewhat irregular surface of a pumpkin, but the piece goes beyond a literal representation to explore the essence of its texture.

My Creative Process and Execution

1. The Inspiration: My starting point was the visual and tactile quality of fabric. I was captivated by the way cloth can be manipulated, folded, and creased to create intricate patterns of light and shadow. The idea was to translate this fabric-like texture onto a more rigid surface, giving it a sculptural presence. The vibrant orange color is, of course, directly inspired by the quintessential pumpkin, representing warmth, autumn, and a sense of earthy abundance.

2. The Base and Medium: I began with a sturdy, stretched canvas, ensuring it was primed to accept a significant amount of texture. My chosen medium was a highly pliable and sculptable modeling paste, mixed with an intense, matte orange pigment. This paste allowed me to build up layers and create deep creases, mimicking the effect of crumpled fabric.

3. Sculpting the Texture: The creation of the surface was the most intensive part of the process.

   • Layering and Creasing: I applied the orange modeling paste in layers, building up the thickness of the surface. Then, using various tools – palette knives, sculpting tools, and even my fingers – I began to create the crumpled effect. This involved pushing, folding, and pleating the paste while it was still wet, forming a complex topography of ridges and valleys.
   • Defining the Form: The overall form is intentionally abstract, but it suggests the rounded volume of a pumpkin through the way the textures flow. A significant portion of the canvas features vertical, closely spaced creases, giving a sense of downward draping or the rind's natural segmentation. Towards the top and right, these vertical lines transition into more diagonal, sweeping folds. These broader creases create a sense of volume and imply a curved surface, as if light is playing across the rounded body of the "pumpkin."

4. The Play of Light and Shadow: The success of "Crumpled Pumpkin" relies entirely on how light interacts with its highly textured surface. The deep creases cast pronounced shadows, giving the artwork a strong sense of three-dimensionality and depth. The raised ridges catch the light, creating highlights that emphasize the organic, uneven nature of the surface. This interplay of light and shadow is what truly defines the form and makes the texture so visually compelling.

5. Finishing and Presentation: Once the paste was completely dry and hardened, I ensured the edges of the canvas were also treated with the same textured orange material, creating a seamless, sculptural object. The artwork is presented without a traditional frame, allowing its textured form to command attention as a standalone sculptural piece, emphasizing its materiality and dimensionality. A floating frame can be applied to go with the interior of any fine home. 

My Artistic Intent

With "Crumpled Pumpkin," I aimed to capture the essence of texture and the transformative power of a single, vibrant color. The piece is an abstract exploration of form, using the familiar imagery of a pumpkin as a departure point to delve into the tactile and visual qualities of surface manipulation. I wanted to create an artwork that invites viewers to look closely, to appreciate the intricate details, and to imagine the sensation of touching the surface. It is a celebration of the organic, imperfect beauty found in natural forms, rendered in a bold, sculptural statement

Size: 80 × 60 cm

Every piece is handcrafted and one of a kind

Heavy duty frames used for each art piece

Created by local artists in the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah