Oil Painters of America and American Society of Marine Artists

An artist whose life has been guided by many creative pursuits, Tom developed his self-taught painting methods by experimenting with various techniques and by studying the great works of Van Gogh, Hopper, Gaugin, Cezanne and Monet. The work of these artists provided the influence and inspiration that has guided Swimm on his own personal artistic journey. 

Born and raised on the East Coast, he had a successful career as an advertising commercial artist in New York, then resettled in southern California with his wife and son in 1982. 

His paintings soon became recognizable for their exceptional use of light and color- a style that he continues to develop with each new work. To quote the artist: “Light is the most important aspect of my work, offering the ultimate challenge and reward. To capture its elusive qualities on canvas offers great personal satisfaction, and it’s what I thrive on artistically.”