SWAYZEart Fun4U

Published by arizonaswayze1942gmailcom

Artist’s Statement "Fine artists and painters are privileged to participate with the true Creator. In the process of arranging the elements of His creation into a meaningful composition, the artist can bring pleasure by touching and stimulating the depth of experiences and emotions of each viewer. I want my paintings to grip and capture each observer, stirring and releasing their individual thoughts and human experiences. My work is varied and embraces Abstract Expressionism, Nonobjective, and Stylistic Realism. Today, I paint with passion in whatever style most connects with my inner human spirit and has the best chance of stimulating the heart of the viewer. I attempt to do this by focusing on fundamental artistic principles of design and composition, the inherent qualities of the media, the beautiful colors, lights, and textures found in this world. My paintings may find their basic roots in arranged elements or landscape. Art for me will always be an attempt to capture light and textures in a pleasurable and contrasting power of paint and the media of choice. Although the themes and styles may vary, the very core of my painting is Spiritual. I believe that the true Creator has given each and every one of us an opportunity to participate with Him in His great creation. What we do with our talents and gifts will have eternal significance." Gordon Swayze was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1942. His father had just enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force to become an Aviation Cadet and eventually served a 30-year career in the United States Air Force. His parents were both graduates of the University of Washington, but an air force flying career would take this family around the United States and Europe. Gordon attended Rincon High School in Tucson, Arizona while his father flew B-47 strategic bombers out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. After graduating from Rincon's first class, Gordon packed his car and ventured up to Seattle in order to major in art education at the University of Washington. He graduated in 1964 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. The air force was an exciting career and Gordon volunteered for Special Operations as a Combat Control Officer. While serving between 1964 and 1978, he was stationed in Vietnam, Europe, Panama, and the United States. Gordon graduated from the Army Basic Parachutist's Course, the Navy Underwater Swimmer's Course, and the High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) Parachutist's Course. He became a qualified HALO Jumpmaster, but left the air force to enter Southern California College of Optometry. In 1992, he returned to active duty as Chief of Aerospace Optometry at Howard Air Force Base, in the Republic of Panama. It was while stationed in Panama that Gordon again embraced his first love... art! He started building a painting portfolio during his four-year assignment in Panama and then was reassigned to Davis-Monthan AFB, in Tucson, Arizona. Life was bringing him full-circle and in 1996 the US Air Force returned him to the beautiful Arizona Sonoran desert where his art interests were first stimulated. Gordon believes that his marriage to his wife, Marcelle, in 1993, was the overt catalyst that motivated him to pick up his paintbrushes and palette knives. He is presently retired from the air force and living with Marcelle in Tucson, Arizona, where he is developing his painting talent. Gordon Swayze 


 _______________________________________________________________________ PERSONAL: Born in Seattle, Washington on 13 March 1942 ________________________________________________________________________ EDUCATION: Southern California College of Optometry Therapeutics Management Course 1990 Southern California College of Optometry Doctorate of Optometry Degree 1982 Southern California College of Optometry Bachelor of Science Degree 1980 University of Washington Bachelor of Arts Degree 1964 ________________________________________________________________________ EXPERIENCE: Numerous optometry volunteer vision care programs in Panama and Mexico. Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force (Retired 1 May 1999) Chief of Aerospace Medicine Optometry Services (1992-1999) Combat Control Officer - Special Operations (1969-1978) -HALO Jumpmaster -SCUBA graduate US Naval School for Underwater Swimmers Staff Plans and Programs Officer (1968-1969) Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Field Test (1968) Weapons Control Officer (1964-1968) ________________________________________________________________________ PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: Air Commando Association (L-0752) Armed Forces Optometric Society (AFOS) American Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) Arnold Air Society Scabbard and Blade Tubac Center for the Arts (Life Membership) Santa Rita Art League (SRAL) ________________________________________________________________________ AWARDS: (Numerous military decorations, ratings, and awards available on request.) Headquarters Air Combat Command Optometrist of the Year for 1994 First place award in the Santa Rita Art League's "Fall 2000" juried art show Second place in the Santa Rita Art League’s “Fall 2001” juried art show ________________________________________________________________________ PUBLICATIONS: James E. Bailey, Gordon B. Swayze, and John C. Townsend, Sectorial Pigmentary Retinopathy Associated with Head Trauma, American Journal of Optometry and Physiological Optics, Vol. 60, No. 2 pp. 146-150, February, 1983. View more posts