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
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
$8,200
H 38 in W 56 in D 1.5 in
Wild Running Horse Rustic Mixed Media Painting Canvas 38x56" Equestrian Art
By Irena Orlov
Located in Los Angeles, CA
One of a kind Mixed Medium on Canvas Artwork: Original abstract mixed media work on canvas, which combines new media - digital original hand painting, printed on canvas, then hand painted with acrylic, 3D painting, ink, acrylic gels, texturing mediums, and varnishes over-painting. This body of work focuses on a combination of texture, color, and composition. Each piece is manipulated with a unique surface finish of textures. Irena Orlov’s artwork begins spontaneously and gives expression to personal creativity and insight. Each piece is unique in design. SPECIFICATIONS: - Fine art canvas - Professionally hand stretched over 1 ½" deep wood stretched bars. - Gallery wrapped in sustainable FSC certified wood. - Wire Installed. The edges are painted so there is no need for additional framing. The artwork is ready for display. Artist Irena Orlov. Signed. Certificate for authenticity. About an Artist: Irena Orlov is a Los Angeles-based contemporary multidisciplinary visual artist whose work uses a combination of both traditional and new media. In a blending of traditional and new media, Irena Orlov developed special techniques which continue to give her art a unique look and aesthetic. While the majority of her works are done with mixed media, she also creates with acrylic, oil, pastel, watercolors and pencil. Much of her art has been implemented in renowned hotels, wellness and corporate settings across the world. Exhibitions and Collections: 2021 Resorts World Las Vegas 2021 Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI 2020-2021 ACA ART Comes Alive 2020, Cincinnati 2020-2021 Artsy “Digital Winter Exhibition 2020 – 2021”, Art Screen TV 2020 GALLERIA IL COLLEZIONISTA - ROMA, CHRISTMAS ART EDITION 2020 Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI 2020 Shibuya Station Exhibition Tokyo III, 2020 2019 Art Comes Alive, ACA 2019, Cincinnati, Ohio 2019 Blink Art Artist Showcase, Cincinnati, Ohio 2019 WhyNotArt, Pasadena, CA 2019 Salal Credit Union, Cafe, Washington 2019 Parcus Gallery, Berlin, Germany 2019 Voyager, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Artworks installed: Spa, Staterooms, Suites, Lounge 2019 Apartment Building, Stairwell, Wilson Mountain view CALIFORNIA 2019 Oasis, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Artworks installed : Bed Spa Staterooms 2019 Leasing Office, Lake Meadow, Chicago Illinois 2019 Freedom Spa Staterooms, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Miami 2019 Freedom of the Seas Royal Caribbean Cruise Line 2019 Parallax Art Fair Kensington, London, UK 2019 4th Annual Jockeys & Juleps Derby Party Fine Art Auction, Southern Reins 2019 Parallax Art Fair Chelsea, London, UK 2018 Red Dot Miami, R.E and Perseus Gallery, Spectrum Miami 2018 2018 Parcus Gallery, Berlin, Germany 2018 21st Beijing Art Expo, China 2018 Museum MIIT, Modern and Contemporary Art, Turin, Italy 2018 The Vatican's Chancellery Palace, Italy, 1st International Itinerary Art Biennale 2018 "Between Dream and Reality” 2018 Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, Member Artist Exhibit, Los Angeles, California 2018 Artexpo New York 2018 2018 Royal Caribbean Cruise Line 2018 Renaissance Asheville Hotel 2018 Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel, Reception 2018 UC Davis, Student Housing, California 2018 LA Mart, TEMPS on 2, Los Angeles 2018 European Intercultural Activity, The Museum of Art and Science, Milan 2017 The Art Festival at The Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo (di Castel Gandolfo -Musei Vaticani) 2017 The International Exhibition at the Art Italian Institute, Prague 2017 Marriott SFO, San Francisco, CA 2017 Stars of Art 2017, Galleria Sant'Andrea, Parma, Italy 2017 Stars of Art 2017, Galleria Farini Concept, Bologna, Italy 2017 Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, Member Artist Exhibit, Los Angeles, California 2016 Ritz-Carlton Osaka, Tokyo, Corporate Collection 2016 "Electron Salon", Los Angeles Center For Digital Art, Los Angeles 2016 “Contemporaries at Uffizi”, Florence: Palazzo Ximenes Panciatichi. Italy 2016 Arttour International. Spectrum Miami 2016 2016 Biennale "Palma d'Oro per l’Arte 2016" Monte Carlo 2016 Galleria Borghese, "Historical Prize for Contemporary Artists", Rome, Italy 2016 "Electron Salon", Los Angeles Center For Digital Art, Los Angeles 2016 Dwell on Design, Los Angeles Convention Center 2016 Tokyo International Art Fair 2016 Saatchi Art, Girlcrest Event/ Lloydcrest Estate, Beverly Hills 2016 "Woman's Art World" Museum of Marrakech, Casablanca, Morocco 2015 Awarded the International Art Award David of Bernini, Grand Gala, Italy Monumental Theatre “G.Paisiello” by International Education of Art and Human Rights Italia in Arte nel Mondo 2015 Awarded the Special Prize for Human Rights, Anne Frank Italy Monumental Theatre “G. Paisiello” by International Education of Art and Human Rights Italia in Artenel Mondo 2015 Hotel Monaco, Washington DC 2015 " Snap To Grid" Los Angeles Center for Digital Art 2015 Stanford University, Student Housing, Stanford, California 2015 1st International Noto Award - Unesco Heritage, "Convitto Ragusa" Museum - Noto, Sicily 2015 Premio Oscar dell...
Canvas, Varnish, Archival Ink, Acrylic, Digital, Mixed Media
$4,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 39.38 in W 39.38 in D 1.19 in
Pink Flamingo - landscape painting
By Jeroen Allart
Located in New York, NY
A farm stands before you on the horizon. A windmill majestically slices the blue sky. A bird, painted in taut brushstrokes, struts on a branch. These are tranquil images; horizon far...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Pink Weather
Located in Zofingen, AG
Two silhouettes stand steady on the bright yellow field, as if listening to the sky shift above them. The horizon holds its deep blue line, calm and certain, while a burst of pink ri...
Canvas, Acrylic
$425
H 11 in W 14 in
Echo Rider - Abstract Figurative Cowboy & Horse Acrylic 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, Paint, Acrylic
Sunset
Located in Zofingen, AG
A blazing red-orange sky stretches above the quiet earth as the golden sun melts into the valley. Below, a shimmering river winds through the landscape, reflecting the last light of ...
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
$1,169
H 31.5 in W 27.56 in D 0.79 in
Golden Rain. Series "Vibrations of the Earth"
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Golden Rain" is a celebratory allegory of fertility, light, and the joyful interconnectedness of nature. Two birds, like colorful guardians of the Tree of Life, meet at the heart of...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,167
H 27.56 in W 31.5 in D 0.79 in
Green Apples. Series "Vibrations of the Earth"
Located in Zofingen, AG
In "Evening Song," everything breathes with the warmth of day's end — a gentle light that envelops nature just before nightfall. Two birds, perched among fiery red and golden foliage...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,650
H 36 in W 36 in D 1 in
Silent Weight -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Fashion, Nude
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Silent Weight interrogates the conceptual and sociocultural dimensions of masculinity, examining the latent vulnerabilities imposed upon young men by systemic and interpersonal press...
Acrylic, Canvas
$1,500
H 31.5 in W 63 in D 0.4 in
Figurative Oil Painting on Canvas and Animals. "Magical Ecstasy"
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
This horizontal painting on canvas contains several layers of color, with textures and transparencies, representing a dreamlike scene where fantastic animals and humans in yellow and...
Gold Leaf
$3,434Sale Price|20% Off
H 39.38 in W 31.89 in D 1.58 in
Silver Inflatable Llama Acrylic Canvas Painting with Andean Mountain Landscape
By Sofía Cristina Jiménez
Located in FISTERRA, ES
Acrylic painting depicting a silver inflatable llama positioned within a high-altitude Andean mountain landscape, examining the interaction between artificial imagery and remote natu...
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
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