Liz Lemon Swindle

Liz Lemon Swindle has a deep, abiding faith that she feels blessed to share through her art. A lifelong Utah resident, she studied fine arts at Utah State University. She worked for several years as a set designer and painter for the Osmond Studios television production company. As her family grew, she saw the need for a more flexible career and decided to focus on oil painting. In the early 1980s she tutored under renowned wildlife artist Nancy Glazier and soon after established her own impressive reputation as a wildlife painter, participating in shows at major galleries in the central and western United States. In October 1988, she reached a turning point when she submitted a portrait of children to the National Arts for the Parks competition and received the coveted Founders’ Favorite award. However, Liz was increasingly discontent, feeling artistically and spiritually unfulfilled so in the early 1990’s she devoted herself to the topic closest to her heart: her faith. In 1999, Liz embarked on the ambitious Son of Man project, which features close to seventy paintings of the life of Jesus Christ. The Greenwich Workshop Press published Son of Man: The Early Years, Son of Man: Miracles of Jesus and Son of Man: King of Kings. Liz begins in book research and discussions with historical consultants. She stages elaborate photo shoots, where her direction allows the image in her mind’s eye to become captured onto film, providing an indispensable resource in bringing her vision to life on canvas. Models for her photo shoots come from all walks of life, and although most casting takes place by word of mouth. “It’s fun and rewarding to get people involved in the project, and they walk away having felt a part of something bigger than themselves,” Liz says.“The Son of Man project is all I am involved with now, and I turn down any other projects. I almost resent going to bed at night—I can hardly wait to get up in the morning to paint.”