LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
In 2004, when my father passed away from lung disease, he left me a legacy of beautiful photographs. Dad worked for the Department of the Interior for over forty years, but his true passion was photography, especially black and white. Brookside Gardens in Silver Spring, Maryland, is a place he was fond of visiting for leisurely walks and taking photos. Among the many he took there over the years were two color shots I especially admired. One was a single bird of paradise, and the other was a field of tulips. Each inspired a painting and both were included in my first body of work, Joseph’s Garden.
My brother talked of producing a “coffee table book” to commemorate Dad’s lifetime of photography. Unfortunately, that idea never materialized, but it did move me to generate my body of work, Like Father, Like Son. This time it was my father’s black and white pictures that stirred the deep feelings from which my paintings came. Dad often expressed his wish that I use my God given talent to the fullest. He helped me understand that not everyone is blessed with the ability to do what they truly love. His beautiful photographs and his faith in me have united to provide profound inspiration.
This exhibit reveres my father’s memory and honors the spirituality and love of beauty he found in this world and instilled in me. In many instances, the viewer would see my painting beside the photo that inspired it. Sometimes my version is true to the image Dad captured. Sometimes my painting reflects as much the sentiment as the subject. In all cases, I’ve tried to convey the sense of mystic joy and serenity the pictures made me feel. I hope all who view this collection will take as much pleasure in seeing them as I did in creating them.
BIO
Joseph Swenarton was raised in Washington, DC, by parents who encouraged him to draw and paint and where he studied art at Montgomery College.
Joseph's father, a gifted amateur photographer, was drawn to the beauty in life. He taught his son that sharing joy and good fortune with others is as essential to being a true artist as talent. Joseph contributes a portion of all sales to selected charities. He also donates paintings and volunteers his time to community fundraisers.
In 1985, Swenarton moved to Key West, Florida, and began using vibrant colors to translate its tropical beauty. His first major body of work, Joseph’s Garden, was comprised of the stunning florals and landscapes he painted during the next six years. Joseph relocated to Naples, Florida in 2001, where he devotes his time to painting, providing interior design services and supporting organizations that share his commitment to helping others. Swenarton’s works have been exhibited at The Wave Gallery in Key West, The Schacknow Museum of Fine Art in Plantation, Florida and Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in Chelsea, New York. He is currently represented by
Sweet Art gallery in Naples. Joseph’s art has been featured
in “Living Artists – 14th Edition” and “Art Acquisitor”.
His serene landscape, The Peaceful Path, was ranked in
the “Top Ten Works of the New Year” (2005), an online
juried competition hosted by Guest’s Gallery.
The list of fans and buyers of Joseph Swenarton’s paintings keeps growing. Many collectors own several works and some have commissioned customized art. Swenarton is especially honored to have among his patrons former Miss America, Leanza Cornett, and Emmy-award-winning journalist and host of “Entertainment Tonight”, Mark Steines. Joseph says, “My paintings are a gift. I am blessed with a talent to create, a passion to use and refine that ability and a deeply spiritual empathy with the beauty of life. My art comes from a process that starts deep within me and ends up on canvas as pure emotion. Painting is what I was born to do, my purpose in life. My mission is to share my good fortune with others.”
Studio at 2172 J & C Blvd, Naples, FL 34109-2001.
Contact at sfwest@aol.com or (239) 821-8806.