Scott Swing is an accomplished sculptor and painter who moved to Grand Cayman shortly after his graduation from Anderson University in Indiana where he studied not art, but physical education.
Scott believes that his love of art began to flourish in his high school years when he was afforded the opportunity to study a wide variety of artistic mediums through which he developed a sense of freedom to experiment with his art.
While studying at university Scott worked as the art department shop assistant with the resident artist and department head, Ken Ryden, a well known Midwest sculptor who works primarily in bronze. His responsibilities during his time as shop assistant included building sculptural bases, canvas stretchers, shop furniture and display stands. He also assisted in show set up and worked in the foundry with Mr Ryden helping with casting. “I learnt a great deal about a wide variety of artistic mediums in the four years I was with him,” Scott says.
After moving to CaymanScott continued to enjoy using his artistic talents but it took several years for him to to really appreciate that nature was a fertile ground of inspiration for him and he began to develop his now trademark sensitive and creative sculptures blending a variety of natural and man made materials.
Scott as exhibited his sculptures and paintings at Full Of Beans on Grand Cayman and in 2010 was introduced to Nickola McCoy-Snell who immediately saw the artistic talent and skill inherent in his work and asked him to consider working with the her at Arteccentrix.
Although some of his work incorporates various corals, he only uses dead coral that has been washed ashore and provides anyone wishing to take his coral sculptures off island with a CITES permit allowing them to do so. His sculptures often incorporate wood, stone, glass, plaster, concrete and fiberglass, anything, in fact, that is sturdy enough to withstand carving and the results are certainly striking.
Far from being a one dimensional artist, Scott’s paintings, heavy on texture, tactile abstract art, employing thick application of paint and precise lines and angles demonstrate why the artist says he likes to think of his canvases as hanging sculptures as opposed to paintings. He is by no means confined to abstract pieces however, and his journeys into realism demonstrate his underlying love of texture and vibrant colour.
“Like many artists I love to use art as an outlet for emotions,” he says. “A good artist is able to convey those emotions through their work and connects with their audience on an emotional level. I think I achieve that in my work.”
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