Kerima Swain

Artist Statement

I paint to capture the "awe and wonder" I find in the world around me. My creative path began with childhood drawings in Taiwan and has been shaped by a life of observation, eventually leading me from a career in graphic design and art therapy to a deep, personal dedication to oils. To me, art is a way of documenting the specific soul of a place—whether that is the familiar silhouette of Mount Diablo, the iconic, shifting skyline of San Francisco, or a scene from my travels abroad.
My work often explores the space between representational, impressionism, and abstraction. I am deeply moved by the way light and the changing seasons transform our environment. I find inspiration in the quiet, fleeting moments that often go unnoticed: the rare sight of snow on a local peak, the vibrant green of the hills in late winter, the notorious fog drifting through the city, or the delicate presence of wildflowers in a field. Whether I am working in my studio or painting on location, my goal is to translate the immediate essence of these subjects into my work. Through this process, I hope to invite others to pause and experience the vibrant energy and quiet beauty of our shared world.