Swahn, Janet
Janet Swahn (pronounced “Swan”) was born in New Orleans, La. where art is in her soul! With a family lineage of artistic flair, Swahn’s talent emerged from an early age as her father, Bob Shepherd, a renowned commercial graphic artist, was continually teaching to see the flow, color, space, and design in nature and everything around.
“My inspiration is the ‘Art of being content’. I am a content, grateful, and happy person, having a strong connection with nature. I feel privileged to be able to take so much pleasure from the smallest, everyday things. That’s where I get my inspiration, from all the beauty around me, all created by God for our enjoyment. When passion and commitment are driving forces, it’s all great fun and good things come your way.”
“For my paintings, I work with acrylic, mediums, and aluminum on linen canvas and board. My work is post-modern abstract expressionism, and my style is characterized by thick paint, large strokes, and expressive, colorful compositions. I am an autodidact in every respect of life, and I believe that, with self-confidence, willpower, and simple hard work, anything is possible.”
Swahn’s art style has developed naturally over 3 decades, and paintings have found their way into 30+ US states and 18 different countries (and counting). Paintings are free in style, highly energetic, flowing, textured, colorful and most creative. There is a strong influence of Picasso and Modigliani evident in paintings as styles evolved. "As my artistic career has progressed, I create unique pieces and collectors find them. My motivation comes from my collector’s enthusiasm. I am intrigued to see my pieces displayed all over the world, in various settings. I realize everyone else’s creativity as they display my paintings within their spaces.”
Janet has been in the fine art business since 1990, owning and operating galleries with partner in life, Rick Swahn. Her life journey has been quite adventurous. Janet was a state champion gymnast and while visiting parents in Las Vegas had chance audition that sent her abroad for 5 years performing in Tibor Rudas Productions as an Acrobat and Magician Assistant for Richiardi Jr. Janet traveled and toured the Bahamas, London, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Korea. “It was the best education. I experienced life living in different cultures and uncovered things that have forever shaped my life. And performing for a crowd of 1,000 people is super fun!”
Upon returning to America, Janet attended an art opening in downtown Gaslamp district in San Diego and another chance encounter, met Rick Swahn, thus began Janet’s career as an art dealer. Over the next 3 decades, together they have owned and operated galleries in San Diego, Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, Chicago, and Georgia, giving Janet valuable contributions and motivation to paint, explore and grow as an artist.
Janet enjoys the liberty of creating various subjects from abstract to expressionism but remains true to her own personal style in each creation. Paintings by Swahn are displayed in private & public installations in America and countries throughout Europe, Dubai, South Africa, Australia, China, Singapore & France to name a few.
Painting from her Studio in Eatonton, Georgia, she is most happy creating beautiful art for her clients. Swahn Art & Framing in Harmony Crossing is gallery showroom where clients can enjoy and collect her work and design frames to compliment!
“I believe in a life lived close to God, close to nature, and in being content, living in a peaceful home, moments spent together, in short: quality over quantity. By living my life in a positive way and passing this on to others, I hope to inspire people to do the same wherever possible. If we could all be a little bit friendlier and loving, do more for each other, and accept each other as we are, everything around us would immediately seem so much brighter.”
“My Dad told me when I was young, ’Find something you love to do that you can earn a living doing and you’ll never work a day in your life.’ If I am in my studio creating, it’s a happy day! I am blessed that I have a God-given talent and truly humbled and thankful to God, my husband, and all my collectors. My life is truly my dream come true!”
"ALL CHILDREN ARE ARTISTS. THE PROBLEM IS HOW TO REMAIN AN ARTIST WHEN YOU GROW UP" (Picasso)
SWAHN ART & FRAMING . 113 Harmony Crossing Suite 7 . Eatonton GA 31024 . 561.870.2888
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