Current Works of Art in Progress
Please consider following Renée on Instagram if you would like to see works in progress. She usually posts photos as she creates two or three times each week. Instagram: artbyreneeswitkes
#26 Dahlia; Delight 12x12
#28 Dahlia; Joy 12x12
#31 Dahlia; Innocence 12x12
#24 Rose; Dramatic 12x12
#23 Dahlia; Illuminate 12x12
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#14 Rose; Reveal 12x12
#15 Rose; Dance 12x12
#17 Rose; Blaze 12x12
#27 Dahlia; Inner Strength 12x12
#29 Dahlia; Distinction I 12x12
#33 Blue Hydrangea; Seeking Happiness 12x12
#36 Dahlia; Distinction II 12x12
#35 Pink Hydrangea: Thirst for Life
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.
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"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.
Sampling of Paintings Sold
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Bio of the Artist
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. Currently you can find her sharing her love of art at three locations: Stanford Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital with Kids & Art Foundation, a school in Campbell, and a school in Sunnyvale.
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. Her current focus has been 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 or local nursery to take photos of flowers during sunset or early morning. She then will choose which photo inspires her and draws it out before painting it on canvas.
Influences
Renée paints flowers because of two important people who inspire her: Phyllis Semple and Georgia O’Keeffe.
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When Renée was 18 years old Phyllis and Ted Semple, parents of high school friend, offered for her to stay in their home when her mom suddenly moved out of the area. Phyllis 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 in 2011 leaving a big hole in Renée’s heart and to fill it she finds ways to connect with Phyllis, one being flowers and the other cooking meals with lots of color.
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Georgia O’Keeffe is a famous painter known for her large paintings of flowers and bones. Renée learned about O’Keeffe in a college art history course. Renée loved that O’Keeffe was an independent women 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.
Each flower painted is another flower to connect with Renée’s most inspirational people.
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