Katie Swatland
(B.1981)
An Artist's Journey
After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Syracuse University with degree in mechanical engineering, Katie made the choice to follow her dream of becoming an artist. In the summer of 2004 she began intense study of the arts by reading numerous art books given to her by her mother – Sally Swatland. The very first book was Alla Prima, Everything I Know About Painting by Richard Schmid. She treated it like a text book, diligently taking notes, studying every concept, and labored over making color charts in order to fully understand the dimensions of her palette. She studied for 6 months before she even decided to put a brush to a canvas: I wanted to understand the fundamentals first and really practice 'seeing' before I put an image on a canvas. For me it was like learning Calculus, without the fundamental basics of Algebra, more complex concepts can not be understood. She discovered many of the great masters and studied their works to learn ways in which they solved some of the many challenges of painting – amoung them: Cecilia Beaux, da Vinci, Mancini, Metcalf, Sargent, Sorrolla, Zorn, and two of our favorites, Dupré and Ridgway Knight.
The following summer, 2005, she attended her first academic workshop with her mother in Wyoming, studying with Scott Christensen, and continued with workshops given by Don Demers and Joe McGurl. That fall she met Richard Schmid, who was holding a demonstration in Putney, Vermont. Richard, and his wife Nancy Guzik, were impressed with Katie’s abilities and invited her to come and paint with them and the Putney Painters. In 2006 Richard offered her the unique opportunity to study with him on a regular basis: I am fortunate to learn and study with the handful of the great artists of our time. I send my sincere gratitude for their guidance and for sharing their wisdom and knowledge, for all have opened my eyes to the glorious world around me. I no longer just see a tree or a rock; I see the intricate shapes and patterns of light and shadow. I see in terms of pieces of paint.
Katie continued her formal training during the summer of 2007 at the Palette and Chisel Academy of Art in Chicago. There she spent 12 hours every day, 7 days a week, studying, drawing, and painting from live models. She also studies with Dennis Sheehan and has been greatly influenced and inspired by Nancy Guzik. Katie is now a proud member of the Putney Painters of Vermont.
Now, working harder than ever, Katie feels that: when you stop learning, you stop growing. She continues to study from life, and spends a significant amount of time outdoors studying nature and painting from models. She uses these studies, or etudes, as reference in her studio work: There is no substitute for working from life. A camera can never come close to capturing the subtle shifts in value, color, and tone. It is about responding to your subject and communicating that to your viewer. I strive to capture the essence of the scene, to break it down and simplify it to the bare essentials that grasp the true heart of the human experience.
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Katie Swatland
(b. 1981)
Amore Risveglio
Oil on canvasboard
16 x 20 inches
Signed; also signed and titled on the reverse
I have spent many hours in the Louvre and other museums throughout the United States drawing the statues for study and pure enjoyment. It was such a pleasant surprise to find a young girl at such a tender age, drawing and coloring the statue before her. She was so intent looking at the statue, and then at her paper, and back at the statue, that she didn’t even notice me observing her. I wanted to capture her lost in this moment drawing Antonio Canaova’s statue, Psyche ranimee par le baiser de l’Amou. This statue represents the god Cupid in the height of love and tenderness, right after awakening the lifeless Psyche with a kiss. This is a scene excerpted from Lucius Apuleius’ Aureus Asinus. I found it fitting to title the painting Amore Risveglio which is Italian for Love Awakening.
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Katie Swatland
(b. 1981)
Boats at Wainscott
Oil on canvas on board
13 x 18 inches
Signed; also signed and titled on the reverse
| Katie Swatland
(b. 1981)
Oceanside View
Oil on canvas
12 x 16 inches
Signed; also signed and titled on the reverse
I discovered this house during a trip to Wainscott last summer. I fell in love with the composition, the design and the contrast of textures in the grasses and dunes.
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Katie Swatland
(b. 1981)
Afternoon in Paris
Oil on canvas
16 x 12 inches
Signed; also signed and titled on the reverse
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Katie Swatland
(b. 1981)
Noelle
Oil on canvas
13 x 18 inches
Signed; also signed and titled on the reverse
| Katie Swatland
(b. 1981)
Etude
Oil on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Signed; also signed and titled on the reverse
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Katie Swatland
(b. 1981)
Symphony in White
Oil on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Signed; also signed and titled on the reverse
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Katie Swatland
(b. 1981)
Orchestration in G
Oil on canvas
8 x 12 inches
Signed; also signed and titled on the reverse
| Katie Swatland
(b. 1981)
Setting Sail
Oil on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Signed; also signed and titled on the reverse
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