About the Artist

Watercolor painter MARILYN SWIFT is an exhibiting artist member of The New England Watercolor Society, The Copley Society of Boston, Academic Artists Association of Springfield, American Artists Professional League, Hudson Valley Arts Association, Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society, Rockport Art Association, and the North Shore Arts Association. Her work has won many awards and is found in private and corporate collections in the Untied States as well as in Europe.

Marilyn was born in Connecticut, graduated with a BA degree from the College of New Rochelle in New York. Since 1974 she has lived and worked in Gloucester Massachusetts.

Most of Marilyn's inspiration comes from direct outdoor observation. In her painting she attempts to capture the essence of her subject, the captivating light, mood, or mystery -- like a passing glance that remains in memory, rather than laborious detail. Both the immediacy of watercolor as well as its illusive qualities combine to make watercolor Marilyn's preferred medium of expression. Yet, she also paints in oils and acrylics.

To stimulate her visual awareness, Marilyn travels often, both in the USA and abroad. In 2003, she painted in Provence, France; and in 2001 worked during a month-long artist residency in Brittany at La Vignette. She has also painted in England, Italy, Ireland, and South Africa.

Her work was selected for publication in Best of Watercolor Volume 3, Watercolor Expressions, and Monhegan, The Artists Island. Her pen and ink drawings illustrate A Taste of Gloucester: The Fishermen's Wife's Cookbook and Rockport's Motif #1 Cookbook.

Marilyn is a popular teacher, juror, and demonstrator.

Marilyn Swift's work is currently represented by galleries on Cape Ann and in Maine. She invites the public to her Studio each June and October during the Cape Ann Artisans Open Studio Tour www.capeannartisans.com. Her Gloucester Studio is also open year round by chance or by appointment. Call 978-283-6319.

Marilyn has been an award winning artist since 1967, when she won a prize in the very first professional show she entered, straight out of college.

AWARDS (partial listing of recent prizes)

2009		Marjorie Romyns Memorial Award, Rockport Art Association
2008		Honorable Mention, Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society Annual Membership Exhibition
2008		Third Place, 11th Biennial North American Open Show, NEWS, So Shore Arts Center, Cohasset
2008		Rebecca Jill Wells Memorial Award, Excellence in Watercolor, Rockport Art Association
2008		Janice Z. Ulan Memorial Award, Excellence in Watercolor, North Shore Arts Association
2008		Regatta of Cotuit Award, NEWS New England Juried Exhibition, Cotuit Center for the Arts
2008		Lynn Cantor Memorial Award for excellence, Rockport Art Association, Winter Group Show
2007		Marianne Carpenter Memorial Award, CT Plein Air Painters Soc. Annual Membership Exhibition
2007		Kitty Parsons Memorial Award, Rockport Art Association
2007		Edythe Ghen Memorial Award, North Shore Arts Association
2006		Winsor & Newton Award, Salmagundi Club 29th Annual Exhibition
2004		Merit Award, New England Watercolor Society Show, Guild of Boston Artists
2003		Genevera Underwood Award, Rockport Art Association
2003		Third Place Award, New England Juried Show, NEWS, Attleboro Museum
2003		RAA Winter Group Show Award, Rockport Art Association
2002		Frederic & Elsie Reinert Memorial Award, North Shore Arts Association
2002		RAA Spring Group Show Award, Rockport Art Association
2001		Sally Carson Memorial Award, Rockport Art Association
2000		Stow Wegenroth Award, Rockport Art Association
2000		Amee B. Davis Memorial Award, RAA