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.
$18,500
Pink Landing
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting is in excellent condition and has only been shown in a gallery setting. Please note that given the characteristics of the silver and gold leafing the work will photogr...
Gold Leaf
"Migration of Silver Geece" Large Painting of Birds and Trees with Gold Leaf
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Austin, TX
Mixed Media on Canvas 50 x 56 in. A stunningly beautiful painting that portrays the grace and wild beauty of migrating geese with a combination of naturalistic subject matter and ab...
Gold Leaf
Fugue Triptych
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting is in excellent condition and has only been shown in a gallery setting. Please note that given the characteristics of the silver and gold leafing the work will photogr...
Gold Leaf
Lines From a Past
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting is in excellent condition and has only been shown in a gallery setting. Please note that given the characteristics of the silver and gold leafing the work will photogr...
Gold Leaf
$3,900
Farewell
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting is in excellent condition and has only been shown in a gallery setting. Please note that given the characteristics of the silver and gold leafing the works will photograph and look different under various types of light. Using gilded shapes intertwined with abstract washes of color and light, Swanston creates paintings that visually evolve and transform in conjunction with the natural light of a passing day. He brings the beauty of nature into the home and captures the idea that art originates not only through personal introspection, but through the contemplation of nature and place. The environment plays a key role in the construction of Swanston’s paintings and guides the context of each work. Underneath the gold leaf and acrylic paint lies a deeper conversation about species preservation and habitat loss, both conservation efforts important to the artist. Swanston utilizes beauty as the vehicle by which he entices the viewer and provides the bridge for a critical discussion about environmental protection. Thomas Swanston was born 1956 in Annapolis Md...
Gold Leaf
Deep into Twilight
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Bozeman, MT
Thomas Swanston was born 1956 in Annapolis Md., Naval Hospital. He graduated from Hobart & William Smith Colleges 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts, with studi...
Gold, Silver
Up in Blue
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Bozeman, MT
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...
Gold Leaf
$2,250Sale Price|71% Off
H 86.62 in W 70.87 in D 1.46 in
Large Horse Oil Painting. Contemporary Equestrian Oil Painting 220 x 180 cm
By Rubins J. Spaans
Located in ALP, ES
This large figurative oil painting is a reinterpretation of two paintings by John Vanderbank, A young gentleman riding a schooled horse, 1729 / Man on horseback, 1728. A unique oil p...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil Crayon, Raw Linen, Oil, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Pencil
$5,400
H 47.25 in W 31.5 in D 0.79 in
''Bull'' Dutch Contemporary Fresco Painting with a Bull
Located in Utrecht, NL
The pronounced technique is the first thing that strikes you when viewing the works of Jan Grotenbreg (1946). It is innovative and unique. The result of...
Canvas, Acrylic
$425
H 11 in W 14 in
Don't Look Back - Abstract Vintage Inspired Figurative Horse Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jesse’s imagery often merges playful and gritty elements, blending floral patterns, vintage-inspired designs, and bold outlines with a touch of whimsy. His artwork exudes a sense of ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Antique American Underwater Animal Seascape Watercolor Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
A wonderfully detailed crab and fish filled underwater landscaped Signed and dated lower right. Measuring: 21 by 26 inches overall and 19 by 23 1/2 inches image alone. Gorgeously fra...
Paper, Watercolor
$1,800
H 32.5 in W 26.5 in D 0.75 in
Mid Century Horse in Winter Landscape
By William Ernest Smyth
Located in Soquel, CA
Charming mid century watercolor painting of a horse in winter with a barn in the background by Ernest Smythe (American/England 1881-1950). Signed "ERNEST SMYTHE" in lower left corner. Presented in a tan mat with a wood frame and glass. Image size: 25"H x 19.75"W As William Ernest Smyth, he was born at 13 Commercial Road, Ipswich on 9 April 1874 but was not baptised at St Michael's, Ipswich until 23 October 1885, when his birth date is given as 17 February 1874, youngest son of artist Thomas Smythe...
Watercolor, Illustration Board
$750
H 7.09 in W 9.85 in D 0.79 in
Porcelain kitten Figurative Oil Painting, Expressive Palette, 18x25 cm, New
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful painting by Malka is from her latest body of works called "Figurinot" - Whether portraying human figures or porcelain and ceramic sculptures, Malka grants each subject...
Canvas, Acrylic
$695
H 10.63 in W 10.63 in D 2.37 in
Crismon Chat Red Bird, realist and minimalist animal painting, oil and gold leaf
By Anastasia Gklava
Located in Dallas, TX
"Crismon Chat Bird" is a realist painting depicting a determined red bird perched on a tree branch. The painting is graphic and glorious. Anastasia has painted half the canvas with r...
Gold Leaf
$425
H 14 in W 11 in
I've Been Everywhere - Abstract Vintage Inspired Figurative Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jesse’s imagery often merges playful and gritty elements, blending floral patterns, vintage-inspired designs, and bold outlines with a touch of whimsy. His artwork exudes a sense of ...
Acrylic, Canvas
$3,777
H 29.53 in W 17.72 in
Bleeding Sky by Rene Gonzalez - painting, forest landscape, night, foxes, animal
Located in Paris, FR
Bleeding Sky is an acrylic on canvas by artist Rene Gonzalez, depicting a group of foxes huddled beneath a tree, taking refuge from a celestial downpour of shooting stars. Dimensions...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,934
H 27.56 in W 27.56 in D 1.58 in
Pink Inflatable Dolphin Animal Acrylic Painting with Tropical River Landscape
By Sofía Cristina Jiménez
Located in FISTERRA, ES
Acrylic painting depicting an inflatable dolphin form situated within an Amazon forest river landscape, articulating the relationship between artificial imagery and natural environme...
Canvas, Linen, Acrylic
$12,500
H 36 in W 36 in
Panthers in Jungle Oil Painting Surrealist Art Gustavo Novoa Green Dark Mirror
By Gustavo Novoa
Located in Surfside, FL
Gustavo Novoa (Chilean, born 1941) Original Oil Painting on Masonite (that was how it was catalogued at Doyle. It might be acrylic paint) Green Dark Mirror Hand signed G Novoa lower...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,615
H 15.75 in W 11.82 in
Silk Flutters in the Woods by Rene Gonzalez - forest landscape with butterflies
Located in Paris, FR
Silk Flutters in the Woods is an acrylic on canvas by artist Rene Gonzalez, portraying butterflies dancing above a water puddle in a spellbinding nocturnal forest. This unique piece'...
Canvas, Acrylic
Through the Clear Afternoon Sky
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting is in excellent condition and has only been shown in a gallery setting. Please note that given the characteristics of the silver and gold leafing the work will photogr...
Gold Leaf
Returning Progress
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting is in excellent condition and has only been shown in a gallery setting. Please note that given the characteristics of the silver and gold leafing the work will photogr...
Gold Leaf
The Fog of Time
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting is in excellent condition and has only been shown in a gallery setting. Please note that given the characteristics of the silver and gold leafing the work will photogr...
Gold Leaf
Fullness
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting is in excellent condition and has only been shown in a gallery setting. Please note that given the characteristics of the silver leafing the works will photograph and ...
Gold Leaf
Morning Vapor
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Bozeman, MT
Thomas Swanston was born 1956 in Annapolis Md., Naval Hospital. He graduated from Hobart & William Smith Colleges 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts, with studies in London and at the Stud...
Linen, Mixed Media
Going to the Edge of the World Again
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Bozeman, MT
This painting is rich in texture. Golden, rusted and silver geese fly along the gritty blue, turquoise sky. Deep cerulean blue tree tops stand in the foreground. Thomas Swanston was...
Mixed Media
Coming In
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Bozeman, MT
This is a square painting with a stunning sunset on it. The sky starts as a deep blue and fades into yellows, oranges, and pinks until the sky touches a purple mountain range. Geese ...
Mixed Media
Sweet Morning Light
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Bozeman, MT
It is a tall, vertical painting. The painting's medium is acrylic paint and silver leaf on linen. The birds' silver silhouettes fly across the dream acrylic background. Thomas Swans...
Silver
Through and above Farmland I & II
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Bozeman, MT
This is a diptych painting. The painting's composition is birds flying across the two panels on a a blue-gray background. You can see faint traces of gold underneath the oil paint. T...
Silver, Gold Leaf
Deja Through
By Thomas Swanston
Located in Bozeman, MT
This a stylized bird painting created through materials and silhouetted birds in the composition. The birds fly through a gray background, but the birds them selves are actually gold...
Silver, Gold Leaf