21 Under 31: Young Artists to Watch in 2015

Utah

Tyler Swain, Four Leaves, oil, 20 x 16.

Art Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts in drawing and painting from Utah State University.

Style: I prefer a pretty classical approach to painting, building up layers of paint with a tight rendering. I have heard my work described as contemporary realism.

Creative Spark: I draw inspiration from the beautiful things I see in everyday life—fruit on the trees, flowers in the garden, and wild berries on hikes. I also love going to museums and art galleries.

Second-Choice Career: I have been playing the drums since I was about 10, so I have always thought that being a professional musician would be pretty awesome.

Other Passions: Drumming, snowboarding, hiking, cooking, and relaxing.

Best Advice Received: My dad always told me that if you are willing to work hard at doing what you love, you can always figure out a way to make a living at it. That has been one of the guiding principles for my life.

Biggest Fear: Feeling trapped in a dead-end job. Also snakes.

Mantra or Motto: “Don’t believe me, just watch.”

Favorite Studio Music: Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Black Keys, Dave Brubeck.

Favorite Work by Another Artist: Works by Chris Young, David Dornan, Ron Richmond, and any of the Dutch still-life masters.

Future Goals: Paint for the rest of my life. Travel the world.

Price Range: $475 to $3,350.

Representation: Terzian Galleries, Park City, UT; FourSquare ART, Mesa, AZ; Howa Gallery, Bountiful, UT; Logan Fine Art Gallery, Logan, UT.

Featured in the September 2015 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
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