Artist Profile for Greta Swaim

Greta Swaim's first work took 2-1/2 years to complete and was an ongoing series entitled Searching a Woman's Story. Swaim has had three one woman shows, several group shows, entered many national juried shows and won several First Place, Best of Show and Second Place ribbons.

Swaim's classical art training began in Canada. Receiving a scholarship from the Vancouver Art Museum, she continued her studies at the Art Institute. The artist, however, considers herself self-taught. Having studied, read and painted extensively since moving to Holden Beach NC in the summer of 1992 she has developed her own genre'.

Swaim's work is held by many discriminating collectors in the United States and Canada. Her work can currently be seen at the Franklin Square Gallery in Southport, North Carolina, Erl Originals in Winston Salem, North Carolina and Budding Artists, Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.

My current series has evolved from Plane People/Head Lines to pure Linear Expressionism and, at times, Linear Impressionism. My artistic vision, though still sometimes cubistic, has become much more Abstract and Linear. I find my paintings are responding more to music. Moreover, visions of geometric Sails have become very dominant. My Muse is, at present, "Line" and I work without a Score, improvising as I go - an Intuitive stream of consciousness that leaves Shapes and Ideas to suggest Themselves.

My Muse is at present "Line" and I work without a Score, improvising as I go... an intuitive stream of consciousness that leaves shapes and ideas to suggest themselves.

The current series is entitled "Muse and Meditation" and is comprised of complex layers of color and line pulling the viewer in and holding them spellbound.

An addition to my series is a sub-group I call "Participation Paintings". They stand alone or in groupings of 2 or more and invite the viewer to compose their own artwork as some rotate in all directions and are joined with my trademark "line". The dimensions on all paintings vary from 5" x 5" to 60" x 48".