Rogoway's

 Michael Swearngin

Michael Swearngin's interest in the American Cowboy began at a very young age. He was born in Olathe, Kansas, the first stop on the north end of the Santa Fe Trail just outside of Kansas City. As a youth, Michael's grandfather taught him the heritage of the cattleman and rancher. Michael's family moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1973, where he began his art career. Spending sixteen years in the Southwest influenced him to work to develop the rich colors of the Southwest style of painting. Michael's interest in contemporary southwest art and the fading heritage of the American Cowboy combine to form the core of his images. His watercolor paintings create unique imagery inspired by the rugged spirit so vividly seen in the cowboy. He is inspired by local cowboy clinics and cowboy youth camps which instruct students about horsemanship, ranching and prepare them for life and the sport of rodeo. Every image he paints is a precise moment in time -- you can feel the energy and motion. In addition to his action pieces, many of Michael's paintings depict the serenity of cowboy life -- resting along the fence after a long day or the bond between father and son. Michael chooses vibrant colors and compositions with emotional impact. He uses rich bold colors to draw the viewer into his paintings and aspires to move each of us to reflect upon our own experiences and enrich the lives of others. The high contrast in his highlights and shadows give his images a sharpness that is contrasted by his soft dissolving watercolor washes. In 2002, Michael won second place in the category of oil/acrylic at the ArtWalk fundraiser in California. He won Best of Show in the Indio California Southwest Art Show in 2005. Most recently in 2008, the prestigious Booth Museum of Western Art, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute, purchased Michael Swearingin's "Cowgirl And The Vaquero" for their permanent collection in Cartersville, Georgia, just outside Atlanta. He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he continues to develop and expand his painting career.