Holly Newton Swift is a painter whose work represents the search for the interconnections between the natural elements and the experience of place. Relocated several times throughout the US, and finally moving to Minnesota with her husband Bill, she found locations on Lake Superior’s North Shore that she has returned to for over 20 years. These remote and pristine locations have been the most powerful influence as the subject of her work. Much of her work is done on location and later transcribed in her studio. A Native of Illinois, Holly received her Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Chicago. She has 30 years of teaching experience in Drawing, Painting and Design. She began her teaching career in Beaumont, Texas at Lamar University and has taught at Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Hamline University in Minnesota. She has been a visiting artist in the community offering workshops in painting and drawing in the landscape. Holly’s work is found in both private and public collections, including the Minnesota History Center, Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota Department of Transportation (Bemidji, MN), Saint Paul Ramsey Women’s Clinic, Macalester College, Hill Country Arts Foundation (Texas), and Izumi City Hall, Japan. She has completed artist residencies at Voyageur National Park (MN), Hill Country Arts Foundation, and Grand Marais Art Colony (MN). Holly is one of four artists featured in the film “Painting the Place Between” directed by Kristin Lowe. Image Credit: Scott Streble "I have always identified as an artist - in high school and beyond. I moved to Chicago and became a guard at the Chicago Art Institute, which included two free classes each semester at the School of the Art Institute. Growing up in a small town in Illinois, it was my dream to go there. When I turned 32, I wanted to make art my career so I decided to get my masters degree at the Art Institute of Chicago. Right after finishing my master degree in Fine Arts, Bill was transferred to Beaumont, Texas. Fortunate for me, Lamar University had a very good art department and gallery. At that time there was only one woman teaching in studio classes, so they were very happy to have me join the faculty. I gained so much experience learning about southern culture and teaching a broad curriculum. Moving several times over the years, I met many artists and began to exhibit my work. I guess it was one thing that I could do that people noticed. So that gave me encouragement. In high school, when I realized I could go to the art room instead of study hall, I was in heaven. I wanted to learn everything. Painting and drawing is a language that can express feelings and emotions in ways that are very different from words. I became excited to explore different materials and applications as a way to tap into my responses to the world around me. Exploring the possibilities of this language has become a way for me to learn and understand what it is I am seeing and experiencing. In graduate school, I loved the work of Georgia O’Keefe; her life of traveling alone to a place and making it her own inspired possibilities for me to travel and be in nature as my source."