About Artist Kelli Swan

Contact Kelli by email at:

Mailing Address:

120 33rd Street NE;
Canton, Ohio 44714
(330) 933-5013

Kelli Swan specializes in the beautiful and striking effect of graphite illustration. Her detailed pencil drawings depicting various themes have won many awards in prestigious juried art shows. In addition, her drawings have been published on magazine covers, special event program covers and in a variety of publications. Kelli’s original works reside in collections in Germany, The UAE and The United States. Educated at the University of Akron in Ohio, she received her BFA with Summa Cum Laude honors.

Kelli draws her inspiration from a life-long love of animals and nature. Fascinated with drawing at an early age, she was already winning art competitions in Jr. High School. High School brought more awards, as well as a special devotion to her artwork. She participated in extra-curricular art classes and was receiving commissions by the age of 16!

Using a variety of pencils, Kelli creates depth and movement through the use of perspective, rich tonality and numer of rendering techniques. She begins with research and photograph studies of her subject(s). Next, she explores various creative approaches with a series of rough sketches. These sketches are refined and ultimately lead to a final line-composition. Then, the final rendering begins. It can require 100 hours or more to complete a large pencil drawing.

Kelli owns and operates Cygnet Graphics, the company through which she publishes and sells her work. Commissions are accepted and further information is available through the Custom Drawings page.

Kelli’s favorite interests include reading, hiking with her dogs, yoga, meditation and peaceful times with friends. Her favorite blessing on this earth is being in the presence of nature.

Artist Biography and Statement

“I am fascinated by the simplicity of a pencil. It is one of the most basic of tools, and yet it can be used to create images of great complexity and depth. To take that which is simple and basic, and to create with it something moving and inspiring is a personally enriching experience. To me, this creative process is a reflection of life. We all possess very basic tools, and what can be created with these tools is incredibly complex, moving and full of potential.”

- Kelli Swan

Photos courtesy of Sharon Shanholtzer Photography

2007: Cover Artist for the 2007 HorseFest Program - Lake FarmPark, Kirtland, Ohio
2007: Cover Artist for the 2007 Working Dog Weekend Program - Lake FarmPark, Kirtland, Ohio
2006: Art Featured on Label for Black Knight Wine - Brigadoon Winery, Tripoli Wisconsin
2006: Cover Artist for the 2006 HorseFest Program - Lake FarmPark, Kirtland, Ohio
2006: Cover Artist for the 2006 Working Dog Weekend Program - Lake FarmPark, Kirtland, Ohio
2005: Cover Artist for the 2005 Western Montana Fair - Racing Condition Book
2005: Cover Artist for the 2005 HorseFest Program, Lake FarmPark - Kirtland, Ohio
2005: Cover Artist for the 2005 Working Dog Weekend Program - Lake FarmPark, Kirtland, Ohio
2004: Cover Artist for the 2004 HorseFest Program - Lake FarmPark, Kirtland, Ohio
2004: Featured Artist on the cover of March (Equine Affair) issue of the Horseman's Corral magazine
2002: Featured Artist on the cover of April (Equine Affair) issue of the Horseman's Corral magazine
2001: First Place 2D-Traditional, Art in the Park, Medina, OH
2001: Featured Artist on the cover of Feb, Mar, June, Aug & Sept Horseman's Corral magazines
2000: Merit Award, Mayor's Fine Art Show, Brecksville, OH
2000: Award for Excellence, Shaker Square Arts Festival, Cleveland, OH
2000: Judge's Choice Award, Mt. Gretna Outdoor Art Festival, Mt. Gretna, PA
2000: Featured Artist on the Program cover for the All American Quarter Horse Congress 2000
2000: Best of Show & First Place Category, Alliance Artfest, Alliance, OH
2000: Featured Artist on the cover of January & June Horseman's Corral magazines
2000: Featured Artist on the cover of Uckele Equine Products Summer/Fall Catalog
1999: Featured Artist on the covers of Feb/April/May/Dec Horseman's Corral magazines
1999: Honorable Mention Award - Yankee Peddlar Festival, OH
1999: Featured on the cover of Uckele Equine Products Catalog
1998: Mayor's Choice Award, Brecksville Art Show, OH
1998: Drawings featured in 2 national ASPCA promotional brochures
1998: Drawing featured fall issue of the ASPCA Animal Watch Magazine
1998: Commissioned by the City of Brecksville for a series of historic city portraits
1998: Featured Artist on the covers of 7 issues of The Horseman's Corral Magazine
1998: Featured Artist on the April issue of The Chronicle of the Horse
1997: 1st Place/Category "On Paper," Pt. Clinton Festival of the Arts, Highland Pk., IL
1997: Featured Artist on the cover of the The Horseman's Corral Magazine (April, May & June)
1997: Featured Artist on the cover of Uckele Animal Products catalog
Best of Show, 1996 Fairlawn Art in the Park, OH
Best of Show, 1996 Strongsville Art on the Commons, OH
2nd Place, 1996 Artigras, FL
Award of Distinction, 1996 Deerfield Beech Art Festival, FL
1st Place, 1995 Alliance Art Fest, OH
Featured Artist, 1995 Palm Beach Art Fest, FL
Featured Artist, 1995 Aventura Art Festival, FL
Award of Merit, 1994 Brecksville Art Festival, OH
2nd Place, 1994 Fairlawn Art in the Park, OH