My name is Michael Swaim and I have been and will be drawing all my life !
When I was young, I spent every waking hour drawing the cartoon characters I saw on TV -- like the Road Runner (my all time favorite). When I create cartoons, I step into these magical worlds of my youth. I may start an illustration with just a germ of an idea. As the illustration unfolds, though, the idea grows and evolves seemingly on its own. I have traveled far and wide in the world of my cartoons. I truly enjoy developing the natural tension among those characters. Learning from one of the greats, I often create characters like Wile E. Coyote (I can relate to him, often feeling like him) and the Road Runner (always choosing the road less taken, outsmarting the Coyote and only falling if and when he looks down). For me, the art is the humor and the humor is the art. Every time I pick up a pencil to draw, I drift away, if only for a limited time, into the strange, surreal, wonderful world in which these characters dwell.
When I am doing a more traditional illustration, humor frames the story. I start with the heartbeat and develop the characters as the author envisions them to be. I am separate from the author in that I am Mike Swaim and have my own artistic vision, but I understand that I am bringing someones creation to life. In that understanding comes an appreciation for how, if done right, the two dimensions of words and pictures may add up to a three dimensional work of art.
When I paint, it is a 100% labor of love and devotion. I prefer to work with acrylics because they enable me to feel as though I am breathing life into my subject. When taking a journey with acrylics, it takes me longer to complete each work, but it feels as though I am moving faster than I do in other processes. In this realm, my subjects tend to be those of the natural world. Animals and wildlife of all forms, especially birds and dinosaurs, inspire and fascinate me. When I see a bird, I sense the harmony of that bird with his environment. His purpose is clear to him. There is no struggle.clear, simple, alive, but intricate at the same time. There is incredible detail in nature if we take the time to look. The peace for me in this experience is in stepping into that harmony and breathing it in. My acrylic work sometimes takes me months to create, but the joy is always present.
Mike Swaim lives and works from his home in Atlanta, Georgia with his lovely wife Shauna, their three dogs Oliver, Pandora and Milo and Zore their cat. Although Mike has been professionally illustrating for over 30 years, he has recently decided to make it his full time passion. Please feel free to learn more about Mike and the projects on which he is working at www.swaimart.com.
