Katrina Swanson
Katrina Swanson
I grew up watching my mom paint landscapes and seeing my dad draw little sketches that he would do on any little scrap of paper. I was so envious of their skill that I wanted to sketch and paint too.
After high school I couldn’t afford to go to college for art so I went to a local community college and studied Commercial Art. At the college I was exposed to design concepts, different mediums and great historical artists. I really loved some of the American painters like Edward Hopper, Richard Estes and Davis Cone.
Soon after completing school my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and I took some time off to be with her. During this time I wasn’t working so I had time to refine my realistic style and teach myself to paint with watercolors. I had to teach myself to be patient and methodical. Over time I was able to achieve great color and depth with them. Over the next few years I was showing in local galleries and shows.
I was painting flowers and still lifes during those years but decided to change my main medium to Oils in 2003. I had a learning curve with oils but it forced me to look for different inspiration. Over time I began painting more urban scenes like my series of Omaha’s Old Market. Over the last few years I’ve done a series of Night scenes, neon signs, like La Casa and Bronco’s Hamburgers and retro items. I still paint florals on occasion and have a series of small 12 x 12 and 12 x 24 paintings of flowers.
I’m currently working on a series of 48″ x 36″ paintings of candy, bicycles, gumball and toy machines. You can check out the series under my Paintings in Progress section.
I show my work at several local galleries. Anderson O’Brien Gallery in Midtown features some of my retro work &, Gingers’ Hang Up, 8455 Frederick Street features my Old Market and floral paintings. The Burkholder Project in Lincoln, NE. features my images of Lincoln. I also have a series of tree and leaf paintings in Stowe, Vermont at the Robert Paul Galleries.
I have several paintings in collections across Nebraska. Wayne State College, UNO Mammel Hall, Think Whole Person Healthcare, Hillcrest Health Services (Millard) and the UNO Engagement Center.
Five of my paintings were commissioned by Wayne State College under the Nebraska 1% for art program and now are in the permanent collection at the College Center branch in South Sioux City NE. The college displays a collection of two-dimensional artworks by artists from Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. Artworks were selected for subject matter reflecting the College Center academic learning environment and the surrounding communities.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Community Engagement Center (CEC) Art Committee selected the painting “Drive Thru” to be placed in its permanent collection.
Think Whole Person Healthcare- Selected several works for their permanent collection
Hillcrest Health Services- Selection of prints