CARROLL SWAYZE
2373 Donovan Road, Englewood,
Florida, 34223
(941) 266-6434 ~ SwayzeArt@msn.com
~ www.carrollswayze.com
I have been an independent
artist my entire life. My mother was a writer who wrote the television
show "Taxi" among other notable projects. She owned
a coffeehouse in the 60s and my step-father was a gay theater
director, so musicians, actors, writers and artists surrounded
me from the moment of my birth. My sisters and I have been sung
to sleep by famous musicians and we had lots of lessons in art
by many well-known N American artists of the day. My mother collected
people, not nick-knacks so we had a very interesting early life.
I started painting when I was 8 years
old and did my first outdoor art show, The Allentown Art Festival
in Buffalo, NY, when I was 14. I worked my way through high school
painting and selling my work at shows as well as starting my
own commercial art business painting signs, logos, designing
album covers for bands and backdrops for theaters in the area.
After two years in the Fine Arts Department of York University
in Toronto, Ontario, I decided to continue my artistic studies
at a new school at the time, The Ringling School of Art &
Design, in Sarasota, Florida, and moved south where I studied
painting and printmaking.
I have always been a painter. I started
working in oils, moved on to India inks, then watercolors and
finally acrylics. Soon after moving to Florida I bought my first
etching press and started working in Intaglio Etching Hand Painted
with Acrylic washes. At that time the outdoor art fair circuit
was young and thriving and the American economy was healthy.
With a full show schedule and monthly gallery orders, being a
real printmaker allowed me to maintain my artistic integrity
and continue to offer original art to the public.
I believe in original art. As artists,
our solitary natures find us spending a great deal of time alone
in our studios working to create new and exciting artwork while
striving to maintain our own individual styles. I believe that
the independent artist who toils to create original art in their
studio is special, unique and unusual and should be protected,
nurtured and supported as treasures.
I believe in education. We need to work
to reeducate the public as to the importance of original art
in everyday life. Artists are thinkers and dreamers and I believe
their work enriches the lives of everyone who comes in contact
with them.
I have always lived by the beach, surfing,
fishing, diving, and snorkeling. I got my first boat when I was
seven years old and I was raised to understand that we are the
caretakers of our fragile environment. I have always been passionate
about the ocean. My subject matter reflects my love of the sea.
I have maintained my studio here in Englewood/Boca Grande area
for over 40 years now and have developed a good reputation as
a fine artist being very involved in all aspects of art in my
community.
I was on the steering committee, which
saved, restored and created The Hermitage Artists Retreat, an
international artists retreat connected to the Greenfield
Foundation, in what was my Mothers old house on the beach.
I was on the board of directors of the Englewood Art Center when
we raised the money to expand and build what has become one of
the most vibrant community art centers in the area, now operated
by the Ringling School of Art & Design.
I was chosen as one of ten North American
artists to participate in the first ever outdoor art festival
in Japan, the Yokohama International Open-Air Art Fair in Yokohama,
Japan, in October of 2009 and experienced an amazing cultural
exchange that enriched my life immensely.
I was granted an artists residency
on Seahorse Key (April 2016) sponsored by the Cedar Key Art Center
and the University of Florida Marine Lab which culminated in
a month long one man show at the Cedar Key Art Center.
I teach art to the home-schooled children
of three counties. I teach an adult fun art class for beginners
where we experiment with many different medias in the hope of
finding one that feels good to my students, so they will continue
to create art. I teach Kids Art Adventure Camp in my studio every
summer to reach the children in my community. I sponsor many
programs in the schools and in my studio to help keep original
art alive and I am honored to have a scholarship named for me
in our local high school, Lemon Bay High, sponsored by our Rotary
Club.
I just retired as the Chairman of the
Board of Directors and the Communications Director of the National
Association of Independent Artists, a trade organization whose
mission is to strengthen, improve and promote the artistic, professional
and economic success of artists who exhibit in art shows. We
are committed to integrity, creativity, and the pursuit of excellence
and we advocate for the highest ideals and practices within all
aspects of the art show environment. I wrote and published a
book called How to Run the Best Art Show. I remain on the advisory
board of the NAIA.
I recently published two coloring books
with my images in them. One has my poems, and one is a cookbook/coloring
book and includes my great family recipes.
I am the director and producer of three
small boutique style invitational art festivals in the Englewood/Boca
Grande area where I hand pick a select group of original artists
to come to Florida and exhibit and sell their work.
The Swayze Studio is a 5-acre eclectic
piece of Old Florida and I welcome visitors throughout the year
to my property to relax, enjoy original art and live music. I
have a stage on my studio property and host music and art events
throughout the season. I am a supporter of live music and the
artists who create it (especially blues) and contribute to the
musical arts as often as I can.
I am 64 years old, I am well-traveled,
and Ive raised three sons and have four grandchildren.
I have been a working artist my entire life and I have an enormous
amount of life experience that I am proud to share. I am well-spoken,
and I am not at all afraid to speak in public. Ive seen
the early years of the art show movement, and with 50 years of
outdoor art shows under my belt, Im pretty sure I could
win Survivor if theyd just let me play because I know I
can build a dry shelter with my eyes shut. Ive experienced
the ups and downs of the economy over the years and I have struggled
to stay the course, maintaining good work ethics and standards
along the way. I believe that art is important in everyday life
and I strive to continue the adventure.
~Carroll Swayze
~Carroll Swayze
CONTACT
Carroll Swayze
2373 Donovan Road
Englewood, Florida, 34223
(941) 266-6434
SwayzeArt@msn.com
Email: Carroll
Swayze
© 2019 Carroll Swayze
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