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Thomas Swanston Landscape Paintings

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
Flying Past Blue: Contemporary Abstract Gold Leaf Painting
Flying Past Blue: Contemporary Abstract Gold Leaf Painting

Flying Past Blue: Contemporary Abstract Gold Leaf Painting

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...

Category

2010s Contemporary Thomas Swanston Landscape Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Fugue Triptych
Fugue Triptych

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...

Category

2010s Contemporary Thomas Swanston Landscape Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Sunset Glow
Sunset Glow

Sunset Glow

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...

Category

2010s Contemporary Thomas Swanston Landscape Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Farewell
Farewell

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...

Category

2010s Contemporary Thomas Swanston Landscape Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

A Glimmer of Green Hope
A Glimmer of Green Hope

A Glimmer of Green Hope

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...

Category

2010s Contemporary Thomas Swanston Landscape Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Maybe One Day
Maybe One Day

Maybe One Day

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...

Category

2010s Contemporary Thomas Swanston Landscape Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

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Thomas Swanston landscape paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Thomas Swanston landscape paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Thomas Swanston in acrylic paint, gold leaf, gold 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 landscape paintings, so small editions measuring 24 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Greg Ragland, Cobi Moules, and Kevin Kearns. Thomas Swanston landscape paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,900 and tops out at $25,000, while the average work can sell for $4,500.