ARTIST STATEMENT

Lawson Smith is from Fort Worth, Texas. Coming from a family of artists and creatives, Lawson always felt a strong drive to create. As a child, he spent hours drawing simple cars with pencils and crayons. Lawson’s passion for art truly ignited during his early teens, when he realized drawing realistically was essential for communicating his ideas. He understood that to share his vision with the world, he needed to master depicting people and objects accurately. 

Since then, Lawson has dedicated himself to learning anatomy and various artistic techniques. This journey has been both challenging and rewarding. He is driven by the desire to effectively translate his imagination into tangible art. Ultimately, Lawson aspires to achieve the ambitious goals he set for his artistic career, and to share his visions with others. One day, Lawson hopes to own his own animation company that excels in creating fantasy stories starring people of color in various settings.

THESIS STATEMENT

For my thesis, I’m developing ‘Rupture Rumble,’ a mock fighting game set in a meticulously crafted fantasy world that I started working on in the summer of 2024. This project serves as a platform to challenge and expand Black representation in fantasy, showcasing characters beyond stereotypical narratives. I have dedicated years to building this world, and now, I’m bringing its inhabitants to life through this game. 

The game features three distinct characters, each embodying a classic fighting game archetype, all while being people of color. I prioritized diverse visual designs, ensuring each character stands out. To achieve this, I immersed myself in character design principles, studying shape language, color theory, and anatomy. This rigorous process allowed me to create characters that visually communicate their personalities and backstories. My favorite character, affectionately referred to as ‘the fat man’ for now, was a particular joy to design. He challenged my creative process in the best way, and the lessons learned from his creation will undoubtedly influence my future work. His design, like the others, emphasizes unique silhouettes and vibrant color palettes. 

The game’s title, Rupture Rumble, reflects the intense, dynamic nature of the fighting genre. I designed the logo, using an existing font as a base and refining it through multiple iterations. This personal touch adds a unique visual identity. This project is more than just a game; it’s a statement. I aim to demonstrate that Black characters can inhabit diverse roles in fantasy without being confined to narratives of hardship. By creating visually compelling and narratively rich characters, I hope to contribute to a more inclusive and empowering representation within the genre. The Rupture Rumble project, from its world-building to its character designs, is a testament to the power of diverse storytelling and visual representation. 

PROJECT WORK