Tom T. Lawson is an abstract painter from Daleville. After 27 years as a trial lawyer, in 1992 Lawson left his job in law to follow his passion in more creative fields; he is now recognized as a professional painter in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas.
On top of becoming a painter, Lawson (now 75) also followed his interest in psychology – particularly in the teachings of Carl Jung. Lawson has written a book, Carl Jung, Darwin of the Mind, published by Karnac Books of London. As a painter, Lawson likes to draw on his background in psychology.
In college, Lawson shied away from psychology, despite his already budding interest in what is now called “introspective” psychology. The work of early psychologists such as Freud and Jung is considered introspective. Lawson however had no interest in the educational prerequisites. He did take some courses in art – both in and out of college – but after his graduation and a stint in the Navy, he entered law school as a way to make a living.
Although he enjoyed life as a lawyer, once Lawson found the means to do so, he retired to a life of pursuing his creative passions. He produced his book and turned a love of drawing into a professional endeavor. Lawson got then Hollins University art professor Bill White to take him on as a private student, and eventually found a style of his own.
Because of his study in psychology, Lawson takes an interesting approach to art. He believes in relying on the effects of the unconscious – and giving way to the creative process. However, he says, that one “[has] to exercise conscious control or you end up with a mess.”
Lawson said that he starts out with a brush sketch on his canvas, and then sets to work deforming it. “I never try to paint a literal representation,” Lawson said. “I try to see how far I can bend the image.” (Fellow Roanoke artist and jewelry designer Tif Robinette has been one of Lawson’s nude models in the past and Lawson has displayed those works at the Open Studios Tour in recent years.)
Lawson’s focus is on the nude female form. As stated in a release from The Market Gallery “[Lawson] begins with the figure and then strives to work his way out of it, merging it with the background and letting geometric shapes come forward.” Lawson himself mentioned that he likes to see how far he can take the figure from her original form and still have it as something recognizable to the viewer. Lawson’s stated aim “is to relax the conscious hold,” which directly correlates to Lawson’s passion for psychological theory.
Lawson is a member of The Market Gallery in downtown Roanoke and will be featured alongside Debby Lee in an opening on March 1. The show featuring his works will be run from February 26 to March 28. The Market Gallery is a long time participant in the monthly Art by Night event hosted in Downtown Roanoke Inc. every first Friday of the month and coincides its openings with the monthly event. See The Market Gallery’s webpage – www.marketgalleryroanoke.com – for more on the six major art instillations scheduled for the 2013 calendar year.
By Jennifer Giannini
