Mentorship is the fastest way to go from where you are today, to where you want to be! Learn How Mentorship Works or join this mentors group below. Not sure what stage you are? Click here for descriptions.
Mentoring Aspiring & Emerging Artists Not sure if you’re an emerging artist? Find your stage here.
MEDIUM: Oil Paint | Acrylic Paint | Watercolor Art | Graphite Art SPECIALTY: ✔ Generalist
I never really intended to make art a career it just keeps happening. Maybe it’s living in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and being surrounded the spectacular landscape. Maybe it’s that my mom was always in the kitchen painting wicker baskets of bright fruit with Chianti wine bottles, or may it was all the doodles and drawings that adorned each and every page of my math book. But some how, art has now become my career.
Since my childhood, drawing and painting have always played an important role in my life. A big part of me never really left kindergarten. I still live for the “Hey Mom, look what I made!” I think exhibiting in galleries is just a bit of an extension of that. Canada couldn’t be a better place to live. But for me as an artist, the close proximity of the prairies, foothills and mountains of Alberta makes my home province a never-ending dream. I’ve been lucky, and have painted in many countries, but to me there is still nothing more beautiful than a cold beer and a hot Calgary summer sunset.
Art is not a living; it’s living the art.
Doug’s EXPERTISE
Listed below are this Mentor’s specialty skills. Join this group if you want to grow in these areas.
Specialty: ✔ Generalist
Technical:
Z
Colour and Composition
Z
Technique Demos
Z
Supplies and Tools – what to use, where to save, and where to spend
Z
Studio Setup for Art Production
Z
Providing Art Critiques
Z
Teaching How to Self Critique
Z
Understanding Art Materials
MARKETING & BRANDING:
Z
Shows and Exhibits
Business:
Z
Pricing Artwork
Z
Approaching Galleries
Z
Running your art business the day-to-day
Z
Studio Time Management
Doug goes above and beyond, generously sharing all his techniques and knowledge.
Doug has a real depth of knowledge that he shares willingly and with lots of humour.
Doug is always so upbeat and always has a great lesson to share with demos or slide shows and pdfs for our reference. I appreciate the effort he puts in. Also, it’s a fun group but also lots of learning going on!
Doug shares so many gems. Even though I have been in the industry as long as he has, I learn things I did not know.
Doug is so amazing. So much information in that head of his.
I’m amazed at Doug’s ability to look at a painting and instantly make helpful suggestions.
Doug is so generous with his time and his teachings, thank you.
I always learn so much from Doug – his brain is a treasure trove of art knowledge.
Doug gives such excellent feedback on every member’s work and is able to quickly and concisely offer pointers to make each artists’ work shine.
Doug is so knowlegeable, especially regarding materials! He knows a lot about everything. He is so funny, yet serious and exudes enthusiasm and passion for this course
Doug is amazing. He has a talent for explaining complex concepts in accessible terms. Very helpful and inspiring!
Doug’s wealth of knowledge is wonderful.
Doug is fabulous mentor. So full of usable information and presented in a fun and interesting way.
Doug has so much knowledge and is excellent at imparting it to his mentees – he knows pretty much everything about everything to do with painting and very willingly shares
Always love Doug’s lessons. Learn something new each time.
Doug has so much knowledge and explains it really well. Great examples too.
Always fun and enlightening with Doug!
Doug is so knowledgeable and so funny! He knows how to explain things very well.
Doug Swinton has so much to share.
Doug is a wealth of knowledge with a teaching style I can relate to.
Doug is fabulous mentor. So full of usable information and presented in a fun and interesting way.
JOIN NOW
select your mentorship group
If the group you're interested in has a waitlist, you have the option to join another group to get started. When your group opens we can transfer you over.
Emerging
Mentorship Membership
$ USD87/Monthly Membership
Next session: December 23, 2024
On the 4th Monday of every month 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM MST Mon
GROUP IS FULL Join the waitlist to receive an email when a spot becomes available.
Not your timezone? Click below
Emerging
Mentorship Membership
$ USD87/Monthly Membership
Focus on painting the clothed & nude figure. Samples below.
Next session: December 17, 2024
On the 3rd Tuesday of every month 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM MST Tue
Not your timezone? Click below
Emerging
Mentorship Membership
$ USD87/Monthly Membership
Next session: December 21, 2024
On the 3rd Saturday of every month 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM MST Sat
Not your timezone? Click below
Emerging
Mentorship Membership
$ USD87/Monthly Membership
Next session: December 24, 2024
On the 4th Tuesday of every month 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM MST Tue
GROUP IS FULL Join the waitlist to receive an email when a spot becomes available.
Not your timezone? Click below
Emerging
Mentorship Membership
$ USD87/Monthly Membership
Next session: December 03, 2024
On the 1st Tuesday of every month 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM MST Tue
Not your timezone? Click below
MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST
Doug Swinton has the enviable reputation of being one of Canada’s premier outdoor painters. Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Doug depicts the foothills and mountains of the Canadian Rockies with powerful movement, light, and bold colour.
Doug’s knowledge of art and his willingness to share this knowledge with his art students has earned him a reputation as an outstanding artist and instructor. His classes include topics such as color theory, composition, life drawing, and outdoor, or “plein air” painting.
Since he grew up watching his mother paint, art has always been an important part of Doug’s life. However, he says, “I never really intended to make art a career...it just keeps happening.” There seems to be no doubt, that with his love of painting outdoors, the close proximity of the prairies, foothills and mountains of Alberta make his home province, perfect for this talented man.
Doug Swinton’s work can be found in private and corporate collections in Canada and the United States, as well as Europe. He was one of twenty-three artists invited to exhibit at the prestigious “Hockaday Museum of Art” in Kalispell, Montana in the show, “A Timeless Legacy: Peace Park 2018”. His exhibition piece, “High Waterton Range” was purchased for the Hockaday’s permanent collection.
"How do you describe my art? That’s like trying to hit a moving target. Just when I think its going one direction ever elusive leopard slips away and changes its spots. Slathering thick viscid paint on a freshly unwrapped canvas is sensual and venereal.
"For me it’s always been more about the doing than the end product. It’s like being at a live concert. The energy that comes from the doing is a highly powerful thing. I also get board very easy so I tend to flit from subject to subject. As J R Tolkien said, “not all that wander are lost”. No matter what the subject, it’s always the same, the most amount of information with the least amount of brushstrokes." ~ Doug
FREE eBOOK: Secrets You Won't Learn In Art School
✔ Where creative BLOCKS come from, how to identify them, and how to quickly move forward
✔ What not to be a SLAVE to (this feels counter-intuitive to most artists)
✔ Two things to focus on that improve the VALUE range making your art more interesting
Plus 16 other tips from successful Master Artists that you won't learn in art school.