In a world increasingly dominated by fleeting digital images, Wonderland, an oil on canvas portrait by Suzanne Lawson, offers a rich and immersive counterpoint—a work that slows time, ignites imagination, and invites personal reflection. With its bold use of colour, directional lines, and symbolic storytelling, Wonderland is more than a portrait; it is a visual narrative infused with memory, emotion, and fantasy.
A Portal to the Imagination
In Wonderland, the subject Bridget is placed within a dreamlike setting that intentionally blurs the boundaries of space and time. Much like the storybooks of the artist’s childhood, the painting acts as a portal, a threshold into another world. Here, Lawson doesn’t merely depict a figure—she captures a moment of transport, a visual metaphor for what it feels like to escape into fiction.
The influence of childhood nostalgia and literature is palpable in the composition. There’s a deliberate sense of unreality that draws viewers into questioning not just where Bridget is, but who she becomes within this whimsical setting. Through stylistic abstraction and symbolic elements, Lawson taps into a universal memory: the moment a book sweeps you away, carrying you beyond your known world.
Colour and Direction: Composing Emotion
Colour plays a commanding role in Wonderland. Lawson’s palette is bold and emotionally resonant, underscoring the psychological undercurrents of the piece. The hues do not adhere strictly to realism; instead, they serve the dreamlike narrative. Bright, contrasting tones imbue the portrait with energy, suggesting a world pulsing with possibility, enchantment, and even mystery.
Lines of direction within the painting further invite storytelling. Subtle gestural brushstrokes and the spatial arrangement of forms direct the viewer’s gaze across the canvas, guiding them through the visual journey Bridget appears to be taking. These compositional strategies encourage the observer to consider their own interpretations—what tale is unfolding here? What memories or dreams does it echo?
The Power of Books and Memory
For Lawson, books are not only sources of knowledge but engines of transformation. The painting is a tribute to their power: the way stories, especially those discovered in childhood, can profoundly shape our inner world. In Wonderland, this sentiment is translated visually. Bridget’s expression, posture, and surrounding elements suggest a moment suspended in time—like the pause between turning pages when the imagination takes over.
This portrayal of literature’s transportive quality speaks to a broader theme in Lawson’s work: the desire to capture not just appearances, but the unseen emotions and psychological landscapes that define a person. It’s no coincidence that Wonderland feels deeply personal, even as it gestures outward to collective experiences of fantasy and longing.
Suzanne Lawson: A Voice Rooted in Tradition
Suzanne Lawson is a West Australian representational artist who brings a classical sensibility to contemporary themes. Working primarily in oils, Lawson’s technical approach is grounded in traditional methods. She begins with a toned ground, methodically building layers of paint to evoke form and depth. This slow, intentional process allows her to create works that are both technically rich and emotionally resonant.
Her focus lies predominantly in portraiture and figurative art, and it is in this space that her voice shines. Rather than mere likeness, Lawson seeks emotional authenticity—capturing the essence of her subjects while layering in the poetic interpretations that make her work distinctive.
Her commitment to craft is mirrored by a deep reverence for storytelling, memory, and human connection. From her home studio in East Fremantle, Lawson continues to explore how traditional oil painting can give new life to timeless human experiences.
Bridging the Personal and the Universal
What makes Wonderland particularly compelling is how it balances the specific and the universal. While Bridget is clearly an individual—perhaps someone close to the artist—the painting transcends portraiture to become something symbolic. It invites viewers to reflect on their own moments of escape, nostalgia, and imagination.
This bridging of the personal with the universal is emblematic of Lawson’s wider body of work. Whether in commissioned portraits or gallery exhibitions, her art fosters a quiet dialogue between viewer and subject. She encourages us to slow down, to contemplate not just the surface, but the stories and emotions beneath.
Conclusion: An Invitation Into Wonderland
With Wonderland, Suzanne Lawson offers more than a glimpse into a dream—it is an invitation to enter one. The piece stands as a celebration of imagination, a reminder of the joy and wonder that books—and by extension, art—can bring into our lives. Through her masterful use of colour, composition, and emotional insight, Lawson continues to affirm the enduring power of representational art in telling stories that are both deeply personal and universally resonant.
As she continues to paint from her studio in East Fremantle, one can only anticipate more works that blend classical craftsmanship with evocative storytelling—each canvas a doorway to another beautifully imagined world.
