IRVINGTON — A one-artist show and sale of the works by local landscape artist William Lawson will be at the Bona Thompson from April 6 to April 28. Come meet the artist and some of the people who collect his works at the opening reception on Saturday, April 6 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Lawson, who grew up in Indianapolis, always wanted to be an artist. “Like all kids I had the opportunity to express myself through drawing and coloring when I was young,” he said. “I never grew out of that.” He became serious about art during his senior year of high school after winning a number of scholastic art awards and receiving a small scholarship to attend the Herron School of Art. During his time there, he picked up classical drawing and printmaking skills which he transferred to a variety of styles of painting.
“You can see elements of printmaking in my current paintings,” he said. “I make implied applications of paint with the brush rather than actual strokes in a lot of places. A good painting has all the elements and technical subtleties stashed away in its composition to keep it interesting.”
Lawson’s works depict scenes of Indianapolis neighborhoods such as Lockerbie, Woodruff Place and Irvington as well seaside locations from his stay in Seattle, Washington.
This past year, he has also been experimenting with collage using cut-up magazines. “This has allowed me to create expressively using and expansive array of color swatches to explore and build from,” he explained. A few examples of these collage pieces will be included in the exhibit at the Bona Thompson.
The show and sale will also feature some found object assemblages made from river glass — “embossed or colored shards found along local streams,” he added. “I have discovered a lot of local history through a tiny shard of glass and hope to share some of what I have learned at the Irvington Historical Society.”
Lawson was one of the youngest artists to win top honors in the Hoosier Salon and Indiana Heritage Arts. His works hang in public collections such as Franklin College, the Indianapolis Athletic Club and the Indiana State Museum. Lawson’s works will be on sale throughout the show at the Bona.
Eight collectors lent items to exhibit as well as put into words why they collect. Lawson is buoyed, “knowing that there is a community here in Irvington that has supported me through the years and seeing that they are still here and willing to share and celebrate these works.”
The Bona Thompson is open on Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.
