Ray Swanson (October 4, 1937 – December 17, 2004) was an American painter of the American West, especially Native Americans.

Ray Swanson
BornOctober 4, 1937
DiedDecember 17, 2004
EducationNorthrop Aeronautical Institute
OccupationPainter
SpouseBeverly Anderton
Children1 son, 1 daughter

Early life

edit

Swanson was born on October 4, 1937, in Alcester, South Dakota.[1][2] His grandfather was an "amateur painter,"[3] and his brother Gary was also a painter.[4] Swanson graduated from the Northrop Aeronautical Institute in 1960.[1][3]

Career

edit

Swanson began his career as an engineer in California, and he opened a gallery in Oak Glen, San Bernardino County, California, in the 1960s.[3] In 1973, he left California to establish the Christian Academy of Prescott in Prescott, Arizona, in 1973.[2] He later moved to Carefree, Arizona, where he opened a studio.[1]

Swanson became a professional painter of the American West, especially Native Americans. His paintings depicted the lives of the Hopi, Zuni and Navajo tribes.[2] He often painted on the Navajo Nation reservation.[2] Swanson's paintings were not caricatures of Native Americans but realistic depictions, and they were thus "positively received by the Indian community."[5]

Swanson was a member of the Cowboy Artists of America from 1986 to 2004.[1] He won a gold medal from the National Academy of Western Art in 1975.[6] His work was added to the collection of the Phippen Museum in Prescott.[3]

Personal life and death

edit

Swanson married Beverly Anderton; they had a son, Steven, and a daughter, Pamela.[2] He died on December 17, 2004.[2] His funeral was held at the Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, Arizona.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "Ray Swanson". Cowboy Artists of America. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Tropiano, Dolores (December 24, 2004). "Late artist never got to see painting hang at show". Arizona Republic. pp. S1–S2. Retrieved February 9, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d "Ray Swanson (1937–2004)". Phippen Museum. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  4. ^ Wilson, Maggie (May 19, 1975). "Their subjects are in boondocks". The Arizona Republic. p. 14. Retrieved February 14, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Lengel, Kerry (October 16, 2005). "ABCs of the CAA". The Arizona Republic. p. 55. Retrieved February 14, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Gold Medal". The Arizona Republic. July 13, 1975. p. N5. Retrieved February 14, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.