Trent Lawson graduated with his BFA in Studio Art from Oklahoma City University in 2002. With his art he encourages the viewer to become a part of the creative process by finding his or her own meaning/imagery in each work. Trent likens his creative process to that of a psychological phenomenon, pareidolia. Examples of Pareidolia are the man in the moon, cloud shapes looking like animals, Jesus in a burnt tortilla, and Rorschach ink blot diagrams.

Trent enjoys being an active part in the arts community by working with the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, the Oklahoma City Arts Council, City Arts Center, and Individual Artists of Oklahoma, where Trent currently serves as Board President.

Artist Statement:

Pareidolia is the psychological phenomenon where one sees a vague or random stimulus and perceives it as something recognizable. Examples are the man in the moon, cloud shapes looking like animals, Jesus in the burnt tortilla, messages in records played in reverse, and Rorschach ink blot diagrams.

This idea is at the heart of my work.

I start a painting by randomly laying various strings into the wet gesso. The lines created from the string form the basis of my imagery. I stare and turn, and stare and turn until I see something I want to bring out. Whether or not the viewer recognizes my particular imagery is not important. I encourage the viewer to become a part of the creative process by finding his or her own meaning/imagery in each work.

Do not look for, but look passively and receive what the painting has to offer.