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Category: PAINTERS
Martin Swan was born in 1951 in the Isle of Wight. On leaving university Martin concentrated on becoming a professional artist. Having originally established a strong reputation as a landscape painter he is increasingly recognised as a marine artist. He has a particular interest in the Solent between the wars and the great yachts that sailed there during that time.
Martin has exhibited extensively in the island, along the South Coast and in London, in 1987 he was featured in the BBC2 Arts Programme "Painters". In 2002 and 2003, Martin has exhibited in Auckland, New Zealand to coincide with the America's Cup.
Formerly a watercolour artist, Matin now paints mostly in oils.
Some paintings are painted in situ. These direct, somewhat sketchy paintings are usually tidied up in the studio later on. But sometimes not.
Other, more studio bound paintings, begin with doodles, using drawings, colour sketches and photographs as source material. If the subject is historical, he uses other artists’ drawings and paintings (perhaps of similar boats), deckplans, old photographs, verbal descriptions, anything that gives him an idea of what the thing looked like. Marin also draw on my photographic archive of seas and skies.
With the doodles Martin tries out various compositions, looking for different ways to use the material. When he has got something he likes, Martin produces a half-size drawing, which finalises the composition and establishes correct proportions. This is copied full-size onto the canvas and painting begins.
My painting is a fairly direct and simple process. I block in the drawing with colour in a loose, sketchy way, eliminating the white of the canvas so I can better judge how the colours work against one another. When this is dry I go over it more carefully, adjusting colour if necessary, bringing the painting to a point of near completion. Finally there is touching up and highlighting.
Sometimes, I like to underpaint with opposite or complementary colours. When dry, I overpaint using a trowel to apply a layer of thick paint, but leaving gaps through which the underpainting shows. The effect is to heighten the colour and produce interesting textures. That, anyway, is the hope.
And if I like it, I sign it.
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The Art of Martin Swan
- Martin Swan VPRSMA | Royal Society of Marine Artists - Mall Galleries
- Marine paintings by Martin Swan RSMA - artmarine
- Martin Swan Paintings & Artwork for Sale - Invaluable
- Martin Swan - Artists Harbour Gallery
- Martin Swan RSMA - Artist Showcase - Isle of Wight Arts
