PAINTINGS BY RENEE SWITKES

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TESTIMONIALS

"My husband and I love to wake up to these three pieces that we acquired from Renee Switkes. They brighten our living area with color and joy. It was a pleasure buying from Renee. She delivered the art all packaged and protected in beautiful boxes. It was a delight to open them and see the art."

Rinat G.

"Our family is blessed with one of Renee’s beautiful paintings. We purchased one last year to adorn my office. Every morning I get to view that beautiful art piece and its gives me that shot of inspiration and vigor that I need to be my best. It also helps that the artist is one of the most generous and supportive persons I have ever met."

Richard S.

"I bought one of Renee's paintings as a reward to myself for hitting a business goal. I am in awe of painting style. It's so realistic and vibrant. I couldn't find the right place for it in my office and rushing one day I set it on the wall behind the chair I sit in. The next time I jumped on a video call I noticed it was perfectly placed behind me. My client on the other end of the video call gets to see a beautiful piece of art and I see it as well. it is a perfect reminder that if I set my mind to it, I can reach my goal and it will result in beautiful things. Now I've got my mind set on the next painting I want from her, I just have to reach the next goal I've set. I can get used to this."

Tracy C.

Renée Switkes

Californian born, Renée Switkes graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Preparation for Teaching and Minor in Studio Art. She enjoys teaching the love of art to children of all ages.  When she is not teaching she is in her studio painting.

In the early years after college she enjoyed exploring abstract art and mixing colors.  As motherhood joys came along she found there wasn’t time to paint, teach, and raise a family so she put her paints away while her kids were young.  Now that her two children are more independent she has returned to her passion to paint.

Renée’s current focus is painting detailed flowers using acrylic paint on stretched canvas.  She loves color, light, shadow, and the shapes created by these.  She enjoys going to places like the San Jose Municipal Rose garden, local nursery, and Fioli to take photos of flowers.  She will then choose a photo that inspires her, manipulate it on the computer.  Then she uses the photo for reference for painting the flower on canvas. 

Each flower is unique and only shines its beauty for a brief time but by painting it gives the flower a forever presence.

SAMPLING OF PAINTINGS SOLD

Influences

Renée paints flowers because of two important people who inspire her: Phyllis Semple and Georgia O’Keeffe.

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Painting flowers is special to Renée because it is a way to connect with Phyllis Semple who encouraged her to go to college and to pursue her passion for art.  Phyllis took away Renée’s self doubt and filled her up with encouragement.  Phyllis loved flowers and had wonderful gardens.  Renée enjoyed spending time with Phyllis in her garden.  Phyllis suddenly passed away and painting flowers is one way to remain connected to her.

Renée loves Georgia O’Keeffe’s art and that she was an independent woman who did not let the ideas of others squash her own unique ideas and that she was able to be successful despite traditional mindsets.  So like O’Keeffe, Renée paints flowers as the single subject and up close, but unlike her, Renée likes to focus on light, shadow, and details.  

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Each flower painted is another flower to connect with Renée’s most inspirational people.

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