Our January, Artist of the Month is Catherine Swinford, a very talented artist who takes us on a journey through the woodlands, with faeries, elves and nature.

Cate, thank you so much for joining us and taking time to answer a few questions about your life, family and work allowing us to get to know the individual behind the artist.



Please tell us about where you live, your likes, dislikes. Can you ever imagine living anywhere else and if so where?

I live in a very rural area in North Carolina with my family. Even though the little village I live in is very small (only about 200 people) there is a lot of traffic here because it is located between two larger towns. I have only lived here for a couple of years and I feel that I am still seeking the “right place.” I want to travel and live in other places before I settle entirely. I would love to be in or near mountains.

I like animals and the deep woods, things that are natural and earthy. My favorite foods are chocolate and apples. I like to drink coffee or tea. I don't like fried or greasy things.


From where do you draw your inspiration; how do you choose the subjects of your work?

You've probably noticed that all of my work centers around nature and fairy tales. We come from nature. It is a part of who and what we are, though we may have forgotten. In the same way fairy tales and folk tales represent the oldest of our oral traditions and tie into natural, primitive themes; many of these stories predate writing in their respective cultures, so they are a very important part of who we were before we became 'civilised.' I like to revisit these themes in my work because it is a return to the innocence of humanity, and we should never let any experience rob us completely of our innocence, neither as individuals or as a species.


Do you have a favorite artist?

I have a few major influences, though I would hesitate to call out any single artist as my favorite. I am a big fan of Brian and Wendy Froud. The Brothers Hildebrandt made an early impression on me, as did Wendy Pini in the Elf Quest comic book series, and the Rankin & Bass productions of The Hobbit and The Last Unicorn are without a doubt the most beautiful works of animation I have ever seen. Add to these the classics such as Da Vinci and Michelangelo.


When did you first recognize your love of art?

I began drawing when I was about three (so says my grandmother). I cannot remember a time when I didn't love art.


When you aren’t painting, what do you do for fun and relaxation; your hobbies.

I also crochet, try to keep a respectable garden, and I love to game. I play a good deal of World of Warcraft, but I also like console games. The Fable family of games is probably my favorite.


Tell us a little about your family (married, children, pets, etc).

I am as good as married with one daughter. She has a number of pursuits, but art is one of them. I have four cats whom I adopted and a few others who have adopted us. We run a kind of soup kitchen for cats in our backyard.


Who has been your greatest support in pursuing your artistic career?

Without a doubt that would be my husband. He is my greatest supporter and is the person who urged me to make a career of it. Now that my daughter is older she is very proud of her mom and we are very supportive of one another.


If you had not chosen art as a profession, what would you be doing instead?

I spent some time dancing, and sometimes I wish I had kept it up. I love to act and sing. Right now I am also writing and intend to pursue voice acting.


Do you have a favorite medium when working?

I tend to prefer colored pencil, but I dabble in watercolors and acrylics from time to time.


Of all of your artwork, do you have a personal favorite?

I tend to prefer my fairies, and my Eyes of the Swamp has personal significance to me.


How long does it normally take you to complete a piece from start to finish?

A line drawing may take me fifteen minutes or three hours. It depends on the complexity of the drawing and how much erasing and reworking I do. From there color/paint may take anywhere from an hour to several hours.


Share some of your favorite things: Music, Foods, Movies, Books?

I like many kinds of music. Peter Gabriel and Pink Floyd have probably gotten the most play time, but I enjoy everything from classical to jazz, rock to rap, and lots of atmospheric music because it is beautiful and doesn't distract me if I am writing. My least favorite is probably country, but even there I have a few songs I like.

I love the works of Jane Austen and am a really big fan of Orson Scott Card. I read a lot of history, mostly medieval, and of course I love all the Harry Potter books and movies. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are eternal favorites (can't wait for the new movie!)


Which artists, past or present, most inspire you, and why?

I don't think Michelangelo ever felt that he was quite as good as he wanted to be or that he ever accomplished quite what he wanted to. Those and other qualities of his life are easy for me to identify with. I feel that Brian Froud is able to communicate his perspective on nature and spirituality very well to his fans, and I would like to someday feel that my art is that effective.


Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet and talk with over dinner.

There are a few celebrities that I find intriguing, clever, and even brilliant, but I think I would have to choose Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th (current) Dalai Lama. What conversation with a celebrity could be as fulfilling as that? If I could bring back one deceased person for dinner and a conversation it would be Carl Sagan.


Is there a particular charity or cause that you participate in or work with?

I give to nature conservancies when I can and I plant about twenty trees per year. I rescue cats, and do my best to support local non-kill shelters. What I plant in my own yard I do with birds, butterflies, and other insects in mind and I do not use pesticides beyond the minimal application of organic deterrents. I try to give as much as I can and take as little as possible without going to extremes.


Lastly, would you like to leave a personal note to your fans and/or aspiring artists?

First, to fans, thank you for being on the same wavelength as me, for receiving what I'm sending. I hope I continue to do whatever it is that has made you a fan. Second, to aspiring artists or aspiring anything, it has been said that it takes roughly 10,000 hours of work at your chosen craft to achieve mastery. It sounds like a lot, but you can begin now and the internet is open to everyone. You will never know what you can accomplish until you begin, and that applies to everything – not just art. There are many things said about Justin Beiber, for instance, and he is not among my favorite celebrities, but his youth and his success all stem from his belief in himself (and very likely the support of friends and family) as well as strategic use of social media. There is a lot to be learned from stories like his.



 Catherine Swinford
Catherine Swinford's tubes are licensed through Artistic Dreams Imaging. 

To view all of Catherine's work and other items, please visit her website:  http://inthestillwood.com

©Contents of this site copyright to Artistic Dreams Imaging and may not be reproduced without permission. 2010-2011










Please Sign Guestbook