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K. Neil Swanson:Searching for a Sense of BalanceBy Terri Mason
It's a lifelong search to find his place in the world through art. The dichotomy of prairie and mountain, forest and meadow, life and spirit parallels the symbolism of his work. The connection to his hardscrabble Saskatchewan heritage echoes in the almost quilted appearance of his land and valley floors. Yet, it is his palette that ties it all together. "That's what I'm always trying to figure out - the interconnectedness of the world and nature," says Swanson.
In an art world of heightened realism, Swanson's distance from his subjects is unusual. "That's the forest world. It goes back to when I was a kid. I follow tracks a lot - they tell stories. I don't have to see an animal to put one in a picture, I just have to follow his tracks and get a sense of his presence. It's better if I don't see him. I'd rather not run into animals because it's often awkward when humans and animals make contact. Most of them will hear you coming long before you see them, so they step off the trail and watch you go by and you never know they're there. People always say, 'I went to the mountains and I never saw any wildlife.' Well, probably lots saw you."
Another muse is abstract expressionist Cy Twombly. "I'm surprised - very few people know who he is, but I read the other day that he's the fifth richest artist in the world. I think you have to put up about five mill for a piece. There's a lot of symbolism in his work and I appreciate that." Yet, the most influential artist in his life is not surprising considering his bold use of colour and freedom with his subjects. "My Dad was a painter, and he didn't have any training. He probably wouldn't even know who the Group of Seven was; he just painted. He did some wonderful, impressionistic landscapes that were just magical. His clouds and trees were original. I always saw his homemade paint kit around with all his ancient brushes. I grew up knowing that painting was something you could do."
"I've been approached about three times to illustrate books but unfortunately, the projects fell through. One of these days, I want to combine my paintings with the stories that inspired them. They are 'creation' stories - I grew up with stories like that." His work seems to be a quest - each canvas adding another step. "I'm always looking for that sense of balance. We can get so far removed from nature - I know so many people in Calgary that haven't been to the mountains in twenty years. When I go out there I try to figure out; who are we on this planet? "I think I must have got this image from a kids' book. I picture the planet as this round ball with kids standing on it. I think that's why I like to get up high - I climb mountains freehand - scrambling - because every ten feet the view gets better. That's probably why no one will go hiking with me anymore - I keep going up. I almost feel that I can see the curve of the earth. I'm always looking for that. I'm just trying to figure out our place on it."
What if Swanson found the key to balance? He laughs. "If I found it, they'd never believe me anyway." K. Neil Swanson's art is at the Stephen Lowe Art Gallery in Calgary; Canada House in Banff; Artym in Invermere and Gallery 421 in Kelowna. |
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Through his Calgary studio window, Neil Swanson searches the sky. Cirrus clouds streaking the horizon reflect the sunset and splashes across his canvas. These are the colours he's been waiting for since dawn; the golden hour of intense, saturated hues.
With a little prompting, Swanson expands on his explanation. "When you think about it, survival is amazing in the wilderness. Imagine the hard life animals have. Their heightened awareness of what's going on around them - they're aware of everything. I think that comes out in the paintings. When you come from the city, your senses are usually pretty dull. You might think you're Grizzly Adams for a day, but compared to animals..." 
His art influences run the gamut from the expected to the unusual. He cites Canadians Emily Carr and the Group of Seven. Who was his earliest influence? Dr. Seuss. Swanson laughs, slightly embarrassed at his confession. "I still marvel at his trees. He creates an enchanted forest. I wanted to write too, so he's an influence that's never left me."
Swanson's search for meaning extends to storytelling, and he riffles through his pages to hand me the legend behind his painting Lake of the Seven Spirits.
Our conversation has come full circle. Yin and yang. "You take something and you have to leave something to pay homage. The Natives understood that. The only time things don't work is when there is no give and take. I think most of us would like to find that balance. An artist goes out of their way to figure out this balance. I've got a thousand more paintings to go, to try and figure it out."