The power of the natural world for multidisciplinary artist Susan Swartz

Tell us what you do and your beginnings.

I am an American painter working with mixed media. I have always been interested in art. When a high school teacher recognized that I had artistic ability he encouraged me to pursue it. Once I entered college, I knew that I wanted to make a career out of it.

During this time, male artists were primarily featured in galleries and museums, so I worked as an art teacher and continued to paint. When I first began painting, I was focused on realistic portrayals – I always wanted to depict and honor nature in my work and the first area that allowed me to explore that was landscape work. This work resonated with collectors who value pieces dedicated to realism in nature as the subject matter.

I was honored to be chosen as the Environmental Artist for the 2002 Olympic Games and featured in the book Painters of the Wasatch, a collection of works by artists dedicated to capturing the physical appeal and inspiration of nature.

But fifteen years ago, my art forever changed after Lyme Disease and mercury poisoning nearly killed me. I was left in a hyperbaric chamber for 40 days fighting to survive and I never expected to paint again. Miraculously, I recovered and immediately changed how I saw my artwork and the world around me.

Nature healed me. I looked to nature and its elements to strengthen my body, spirit, and immune system. I adopted a diet rich in restorative, healing foods, which I credit for my recovery. I eventually began incorporating these organic elements into my work, which has led me to where I am today.

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