Rod Swade
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Rod discovered his gift for drawing and painting in March of 2009 when he left the frozen tundra of Kenosha Wisconsin to celebrate his father’s 75th birthday in sunny and warm Southern California, in his home town of Torrance. While there, Rod enjoyed visiting family and friends and the beach life.
One day, his Mom said, “I rarely get to see you, why don’t you come spend time with me at my art class at El Camino College?” So being a good son, Rod gave up the sun and sand to hang with his Momma. To date, Rod had never drawn a stick, let alone participated in an art class. Once Rod arrived at his mom’s art class, she said, “why not draw something, like the photo of your son, you keep in your wallet?” Without much enthusiasm Rod was set up with a canvas and a stick of charcoal. An hour later, an accurate image of his son appeared on the canvas. Rod discovered he had a hidden talent; he could draw and draw beautifully. Discovering he had a gift to draw was life changing. Rod decided right then and there that he wanted to study to become a professional artist. He flew back to WI sold everything and moved back to his home town, where he studied privately under the tutelage of a living master, Lance Richlin. Richlin took Rod’s raw talent and showed him the art of “seeing” and knowing how to re-create still life, photographs, live models, anything that was before him, with excellence. After completing intensive training in Richlin’s art school, Richlin told him “You have achieved everything I can teach you Rod, now go make art” so, Rod moved back to WI and started his own business, Rod Swade Originals. Since 2011 Rod has been a successful, professional fine artist. His clients are from all over the United States. Rod specializes in what is called “Hyper Realism” where from a flat piece of paper he creates three dimensional images with woodless graphite. He takes great pride in re-creating images provided by clients, using his natural talents and all the hard-won lessons taught by Richlin. Rod’s influences are Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Vermeer, Caravaggio and of course, Lance Richlin. In WI Rod’s work has been compared to Kenosha’s legend, George Pollard. Rod says, “art for me is my sanctuary. When I sit down and start to work on my art, I become one with my art and the rest of the world disappears. Art is my way of giving back to the world, art is my gift to give to the world.” |
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