We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kathleen Swaydan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kathleen below.
Kathleen, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
Confidence and self-esteem do not come easily or quickly. Both are the results of hard work, peer acceptance and time. The hard work is putting in the time to create, practicing a skill and improving on that skill. I’m a studio artist. I have been creating art for as long as I can remember but it wasn’t until my late 40s-early 50s that I truly acknowledged my creative ability. I joined art associations, participated in art fairs and put myself “out there” so I could experience the ups and downs of exposing myself and my art to the art community. It takes time to build confidence, something I’m still working on every day.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Having had a professional career in advertising then bookkeeping, the next phase in my professional life is being an artist. I’m a rather traditional painter of still lifes and landscapes. With my still life paintings, I try to create a composition that evokes emotion and entices the viewer to look closer. My landscape paintings are generally of areas local to where I live. My collectors appreciate having a painting of a scene that reminds them of home.
My art is currently on display at the Pasadena Museum of History in the Pasadena Society of Artists Centennial Exhibition through September 14, 2025. It is an honor to be included in this juried exhibition along with 99 of my art colleagues. On June 20th, I will be participating in the Sierra Madre Art Walk, in November I will be participating in the Creative Arts Group Fall Art Fair and in December I will be hosting an Open Studio at my Studio in Altadena, CA.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities I believe helped me on my career path are self-motivation, experimenting with new mediums, and staying true to myself.
Whatever journey you are beginning, get involved with other like minded groups, institutions, people. The synergy created by being around people who are following a path similar to your own is invaluable in learning how to navigate through your career choice.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
I’d say the number one obstacle or challenge I am facing it trying to stand out in the art community. There are hundreds if not thousands of artists in the Greater Los Angeles area. Finding the right niche is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Persistence is key. Not giving up on myself may be the most important thing I can do to move my career along.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://KathleenSwaydan.com
- Instagram: kswaydan
- Facebook: kathleen.swaydan
Image Credits
Still life with Orange and Marbles, original oil painting on linen panel
The Meadows, original oil painting on linen panel
Family Portrait, original oil painting on linen panel
Gabrielino Crest Trail Stream, original oil painting on linen panel
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
