Sandra Dopson

For many artists, the act of creating art is more than just putting paint brush to canvas – it is a higher calling. Sandra Dopson is one of those artists for whom painting is not only a form of release and therapy.

“It’s a spiritual journey — a journey of self-discovery,” says Dopson, “because while you’re painting, there’s an inner teacher. In that process, you learn about yourself.”

Although Dopson has been painting professionally for over 30 years, her journey began when she was just a child. The fascination she felt for the images she saw in storybooks and puzzles instilled in her the dream of becoming an artist. After receiving a distinction at O’Levels in high school, she built a reputation for herself in the visual arts landscape of Trinidad and Tobago.

Dopson is best known for her nostalgic scenes of old houses, coconut trees, bamboo and country roads. She’s uses variations of pointillism and impressionism, never landing too long on any one style to let herself get boxed in. Her work has been featured in several group exhibitions for institutions such as the Horizons Art Gallery, Savanna Art Gallery and the Art Society of Trinidad and Tobago (ASTT).

Dopson’s paintings have changed over the years to reflect her life circumstances. Whereas in the beginning many of her pieces reflected sombre tones, her spiritual journey has led her to include greater amounts of light. In fact, the playful dichotomy between light and dark is one of Dopson’s favourite themes to explore. For example, her acrylic painting Under the Shade makes light a central theme. Its portrayal of a flamboyant tree in full blossom providing shade from the harsh rays of the sun shows the life-giving nature of both sun and shade.

In her colourful paintings of nostalgic Trinidad and Tobago landmarks, Dopson celebrates the unique life of her country with a respectful reverence. She has featured beautiful paintings of fishermen and rustic buildings that represent the life and culture of Trinidad and Tobago — one of her paintings even featured the popular “Magnificent Seven” buildings around the Queen’s Park Savannah.

Sandra Dopson’s words of wisdom for other artists is to “Be true to yourself,” and “Be open to criticism, especially within yourself. And see the connection between yourself and what you’re doing, because everything we do reflects something about ourselves — what we’re supposed to do and what we fail to do.”