Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Swift.
Hi Barbara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up with art all around me. Both my parents were very artistic as well as both of my grandmother’s. I watched them paint and make things with clay and even rocks. We used all of my father’s vacation time mining for Rubies, emeralds and diamonds in mines across the United States.
My passion began with drawing. My dad taught me how to draw when I was just three years old.
I love colorful things. I was drawn to glass as well. I worked with hot glass for 20 years. I sold jewelry using my glass beads and my husband did all my silver findings. We traveled all over the United States selling at art fairs and festivals. We eventually settled in Florida every winter . We liked it so much we moved from Michigan to Florida permanently. We lived in our RV so we could still travel to art shows. I put up a tent on our lot that I used as my studio to make my glass beads. Everything was great until we experienced our first Florida summer! It was so hot that I couldn’t bear working my torch sitting next to a kiln set at 900+ degrees. I found myself going inside and drawing where it was cool.
Eventually I took a watercolor class from a neighbor at the RV resort. I was hooked! I loved the transparency of the paint. It reminded me of my glass technique. I spent the whole summer practicing with watercolor. I loved it so much that I decided to pursue painting and put aside glass for just awhile. One day I would go back to it. It’s been around 10 years now. I still want to make beads again one day, but I have so much more to explore with watercolor.
I have mostly sold my paintings through galleries, but about 3 years ago I started adding in art fairs with paintings.
I love to paint tropical subjects. The Florida wildlife is so different than Michigan wildlife. I love the flowers that grow in the tropical environment. I love to use as much color as possible. I often change or add unrealistic color to my subjects. I feel it adds a whimsical and joyous feeling for the viewer to enjoy. When people see my art I hope they can feel the happiness and playfulness that I feel while creating my artwork.
I mount my paintings on wood panels and seal them with a resin based wax to protect them from, well Florida! I never liked the glare that glass creates. I think that displaying my paintings this way allows you to see it clearly from any angle. As a bonus it also looks very clean and modern to fit in with contemporary homes.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Art is a very personal item. Sometimes it is hard to find that right person who is going to love your painting and wants to give you their hard earned money for your painting. That is why many artist travel to shows all across the country. We try to find the right crowd who we fit in with. I will often try to build my business by becoming a regular participant at certain shows that are more receptive to my work.
As an artist you also have to wear many hats. You become a photographer, marketing expert, travel planner and a tech person. If you don’t know how to do those things then you have to spend your hard earned profits on hiring someone to do those things for you. That’s where the term starving artist originally developed I guess.
The love of your art is what keeps you going! I can’t imagine giving up my art. It is who I am. My very being.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I love to follow other artist. Thomas Schaller, Leona Love Grove, Denise love, flora bowley to name a few.
Liz chatterton’s book on mounting and sealing my artwork is excellent.
Anne Blockley is a wonderful watercolorist. Love her books!
I like to listen to podcasts too. Especially on the business side of things. I like art store fronts pod cast Art Marketing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bswiftart.com
- Instagram: B SWIFT ART
- Facebook: B SWIFT ART
- Youtube: B SWIFT ART
Image Credits
Myself
