Thinking About It

This one is about making choices. The choice could be a very brave one and worth the risk or one of the stupidest

decisions ever made.

North Atlantic surfing is not for the faint of heart.

24 x 36 Acrylic on Canvas

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Book Club

24 x 36 Acrylic on Canvas

The name "Book Club" has a quaint ring to it, like "Garden Club" or "Ladies Guild". My book club, however has a much deeper meaning to me. It has been a lifeline of friendship and companionship for the members of the group and myself.

Life in a "resort" area in the off-season can be a lonely and isolating experience especially if you have young children at home. Book Club has helped me to feel more a part of a community of people who chose to live out here by the sand and water. One of my friends from Book Club wrote a song for/about us. It is a wonderful portrayal of the importance of friendship in our lives. I was inspired to make a painting for/about them.

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The Opening

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Artist Statement

Moira Birch Swiatkowski,
a Massachusetts native received her BFA from University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.
She has lived and worked on
Cape Cod since 1994.
Her work has appeared in several group shows and can currently be seen at the W. H. Lutz Gallery in Harwichport, Massachusetts.

Moira Birch Swiatkowski
Artist Statement

Lucky enough to live and paint on Cape Cod, I am constantly amazed by our natural world and the mighty Atlantic Ocean that surrounds us. I am also amazed by how many people feel such a strong emotional connection to the Cape. Through the years I have been observing family, friends, strangers and even myself as we interact with the beautiful landscapes and seascapes.

My bright and colorful paintings capture the human response to nature at a specific time and place. Each image has a different color palette and mood depending on the seemingly endless variations in the landscape of this place I call home. The time of day, the weather, the time of year or even which beach I am at affects the color of the sky and water.

The human response has as many variables as nature, such as the person’s age, life experience and mood. I take all of these things into account as I create a new piece.

The beach is a constant source of inspiration for me that never disappoints. I could go to the same beach everyday and see something new in the sky or the water or myself.

I love living by the sea. I love having the opportunity to express all the ranges of beauty and emotion to be found here through my paintings.


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Lucky picture

OK, here's a picture that my daughter did. She's more prolific than me.

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Lucky

No picture this time, sorry.
I figured it was time for an update even without the pics.

I have been doing my best to crank out the paintings despite the "real world" responsibilities that come with family, the house and the holidays. We had a lovely time in December, parties and all. We even went out in the blizzard to celebrate the new year.

While waiting to go out on New Years I was IMing with a friend of mine who lives on the other side of the Atlantic. We were discussing new year's resolutions. I told her that I was going to keep it simple. My resolution was to put up an art show this year.

While on the computer, I checked out a link from one of my Pacific friends about "luck". It was about a study that showed that lucky people are really just more observant of opportunities when they come about. For example, a lucky person would find money on the ground whereas an unlucky person would never expect there to be money on the ground and would pass it by.

A couple of days later one of these opportunities (thanks, MDB) came along. I had two days to gather up all my work, write an artist's statement and hang the show.

So it's January 5, 2009 and I have completed my resolution. My husband thinks I should make a new resolution to finish painting the trim in our house. I don't know about that but I do know that I am keeping my eyes wide open in 2009. Maybe I'll find some money on the ground.