68
Arts
February 1 – 14, 2014
www.SanTanSun.com
Chandler artist discovers her award-winning calling BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
Some folks find their creative talent when they’re young and others stumble upon it by accident. Although she had always been creative, Chandler artist Julie Swinton Fisher didn’t realize until later in life how talented she really is. Recently, her painting entitled “Beginning of the Thaw” took second place in a juried competition at SunDust Gallery and Art Center in Gilbert. Swinton Fisher discovered she had a knack for painting some years ago when a co-worker at a law firm where she was employed in Michigan saw her doodling. The co-worker invited Swinton Fisher to an art class where she was immediately hooked. “It was really exciting. I went and thought, ‘I’ll try it,’ and it was just coming so easily and my first painting was gorgeous,” Swinton Fisher recalls. Although she had always liked to sketch, sew and macramé when she was younger, this was the first time she did any painting. “As an artist, I am trying to capture the spirit of my subject by concentrating on MIKE LUKAS: Lukas is known for never giving the same performance twice. Submitted photo
light or shape,” Swinton Fisher states. “My paintings are rich in color and I use glazing, dry brushing and layers upon layers of color until I get the desired effect.” She primarily chooses to create using oil on canvas and occasionally completes some works in acrylic. Her subject matter is varied. “I paint whatever grabs me at the moment,” Swinton Fisher says. “I take a trip down to the Florida Keys and go underwater with my camera and then I come home and paint underwater scenes. I’m driving down the road, I see a beautiful sunset and I jump out of the car with my cell phone and snap a photo and then that weekend I hit the canvas... whatever inspires me.” Swinton Fisher also enjoys donating her artwork to various nonprofits and organizations including 4H, Arizona Bass Federation and the Chrysalis Academy for autism. In turn, these organizations auction her paintings to raise money. “I recently made it into the lightspacetime.com catalogue for the ‘Seasons’ competition,” states Swinton
Fisher. “My painting can be seen at their website. They sent me an award for ‘Outstanding Art’, a press release, and other materials to assist with promoting my work.” Swinton Fisher’s artwork is for sale at juliefisherfineart.artspan.com and she also has an ETSY store. She also has selections in Scottsdale art gallery, Xanadu’s online gallery. It was a dream that Swinton Fisher was able to realize. She yearned to have her work showcased in a Scottsdale gallery. Her recent placement at the juried competition at SunDust Gallery and Art Center is a nice boost for Swinton Fisher’s work. “She got juried into our recent January competition and she did well,” says SunDust Gallery and Art Studio manager and art instructor Peggy Derrico. SunDust Gallery and Art Studio is conducting monthly juried competitions and Swinton Fisher plans to take part in future contests. “The next competition is based around Valentine’s Day,” states Derrico. “Artists can
submit up until the first part of February. Visit us at our website and that will give you the whole protocol of what you need to do to enter the juried competition.” SunDust Gallery and Art Studio is located at 207 E. Williams Field Rd. For more information, visit sundustgallery. com. Lynette Carrington is a freelancer for the San Tan Sun News. She can be reached at lynette@santansun.com.
THE ARTIST AT WORK: Chandler artist Julie Swinton Fisher proves that it’s never too late to discover and pursue a new talent. Submitted photo
Comic makes multiple appearances during festival Comedian Mike Lukas will make multiple appearances throughout the Valley as part of a stand-up comedy festival Feb. 19-23. The dates include a performance in Chandler at Iguana Mack’s. Lukas is the only comic The Outliars book because his act is centered on improvisation. He never tells a joke the same way twice. Viewing his act twice in a row is a special treat,
giving a glimpse into how he changes based on audience responses. Tickets are $20. Those purchased in advance come with two free passes to see the Outliars, a free Outliars T-shirt and a raffle ticket to win a chance to open for Paul Brittain from “Saturday Night Live” April 18-19. Show schedule: 7:30 p.m. Thu., Feb. 20, at The Outliars Comedy Club in the Speakeasy
Comedy Lounge, 5101 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, featuring Lukas; 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Fri., Feb. 21, Outliars Stand-Up Scottsdale, 6820 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale, featuring Lukas; 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Sat., Feb. 22, at the Outliars Comedy Club Glendale, featuring Lukas; 7:30 p.m. Sun., Feb. 23, at the Outliars Comedy Club Chandler, 1371 N. Alma School Rd. in Iguana Mack’s, local showcase.
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