Unlocking the Magic of Wildlife Through Art

12/13/19 • 32 min

Trevor Swanson is a renowned wildlife artist who works with oil on canvas, board and metal. He was born into a family of painters and first picked up a paintbrush as a child. In college, he pursued art classes but never scored above average. Undeterred, Trevor began taking lessons from his father and uncle and hasn’t stopped painting since.

In this episode, Susan and Trevor discuss the influence his family had on his artistic style, how they taught him to see colors in a new way and the importance of learning through trial and error. Trevor describes his deep love for nature and the joy of being alone in nature to capture magical moments for the purpose of sharing them with others. Trevor also shares stories from the intersection of nature and preservation, and where art comes into the picture.

Tune in to hear Trevor’s crazy tales from his adventures in nature, including being kicked by a buffalo in Botswana.

Tune in to hear Trevor’s crazy tales from his adventures in nature, including being kicked by a buffalo in Botswana.

Previous Episode

Creating artistic masterpieces, one generation at a time

Robin Branham has been a part of the Celebration of Fine Art for 25 years and is sought out for her large-scale paintings that range from abstract to figurative to still life, and yet each of them remain quintessentially Robin. Her son, Colin Branham, shares her passion for creating and painting eye-catching abstract works with dramatic colors and shapes. This fall, host Susan Potje traveled to Southern California and joined Robin and Colin at in Malibu to find out more about their visions and techniques, and take a peek at their studio.

During this episode, Susan learns more about how art has impacted the lives of three generations of Branhams, and how each has learned to find their own voice through their unique experiences. Robin and Colin also describe the harrowing days preparing and living through the recent fires in Southern California, and why they decided to stay in their home and do all they could to protect their land from what could have been a devastating loss.

Next Episode

Honoring the Buckaroo Spirit Through Multiple Mediums of Art

Curt Mattson was raised in the horse business, which explains his fascination with the buckaroo lifestyle of contemporary and historic horsemen and horsewomen. This lifelong passion drives his work as an artist, as he brings cowboy art to life through sculpture, watercolor, pencil and oil painting. Today, his award-winning works can be found in private collections and renowned museums across the world. This year marks his eighteenth as a visitor favorite at the Celebration of Fine Art.

In this episode, Curt shares how he made the leap to pursue life as an artist and what continues to drive him to uncover the authentic relationships between horses and humans. He also divulges which piece of his art is his personal favorite, which piece became a turning point in his career, and key lessons his mentors have taught him over the years.

Plus, Curt talks about the importance of museums and how it helps visitors develop their eye for art. Click the player above to listen to their conversation in its entirety.