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Thomas Swanston Mixed Media

American, b. 1956

Painter Thomas Swanston captures the life-changing experience of observing a natural migration. When the Atlanta-based painter witnessed flocks of birds in the sky over his farm one day, he became fascinated with Sandhill cranes, an interest which would change the trajectory of his art.

Swanston began annual trips to the Central Platte River Valley in Nebraska to photograph and observe the over 600,000 birds that migrate through the area. Swanston witnessed how the birds’ travels are rhythmic, with a pattern of departure and return, and are part of the natural flow of the planet. 

Drawing on these first-hand experiences, he depicts the cranes through a host of media and techniques. He uses materials ranging from gold leaf, silver and pewter to oxidized copper, palladium and gouache. The gilding allows his paintings to change according to the light.

A 1978 graduate from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Swanston complemented his Bachelor of Arts degree with studies at the New York Studio School. After enrolling in 1980, he became one of the first to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Parsons School of Design and met his wife and fellow artist, Gail Foster. Together, they now run their own art center, StudioSwan.

Swanston later attended AIR Serenbe, a nonprofit that connects individuals to nature. He played a major role in founding its art program, which continues to support artists today.

Swanston has exhibited his work in numerous solo and group shows. His art is in private collections around the world, including Ritz-Carlton hotels in the United Arab Emirates, Japan and China and Four Seasons hotels in California, Wyoming and Morocco.

Swanston and his wife continue to share their passions for art and nature from their studios in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Thomas Swanston’s paintings and mixed media.

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Artist: Thomas Swanston
Red 2
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Denver, CO
This painting is striking. It's used of mixed media with rich red paint and equally rich gold leaf color brings the piece alive. This was painted on canvas. The bird silhouettes are ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Thomas Swanston Mixed Media

Materials

Gold Leaf

Up in Blue
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Denver, CO
It is a tall, vertical painting. The mixed media is composed of oil paint and gold leaf with smaller silver leaf birds at the bottom of the composition. The bird silhouettes look lik...
Category

2010s Contemporary Thomas Swanston Mixed Media

Materials

Gold Leaf

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Previously Available Items
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Thomas Swanston mixed media for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Thomas Swanston mixed media available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Thomas Swanston in canvas, fabric, gold leaf and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Thomas Swanston mixed media, so small editions measuring 39 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Anke Schofield, KOLLABS, and Frank Hyder. Thomas Swanston mixed media prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $10,200 and tops out at $13,500, while the average work can sell for $11,850.

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