SWOON is a NYC-based street artist known for her large-scale drawings using wheatpaste techniques and stencils. Her works often depict everyday people in their communities. She creates wood block prints from her sketches of city residents, then adheres the prints to public walls using wheatpaste to capture the authenticity and daily routines of city life.

1. SWOON
history
SWOON is a NYC based street artist WHO CREATES
large-scale drawings using wheatpaste techniques and
stencil work. Her works often feature people IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES going about their DAILY
routines.
SWOON attempts to capture the authenticity of a city by
representing THE PEOPLE within THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
SWOON creates large wood block carvings in her studio
from her sketches and field drawings of folks she
encounters in the city. She typically prints the image
with ink on butcher paper in her print making process.
The artist will then create a wheat paste mixture of flour
and water to adhere her prints onto public walls or
surfaces.

2. ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
T
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Space
L Value
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3. AESTHETICS
Swoon has a stylized approach in her work. Her lines are very
gestural and are created by making revisiting lines. The artist uses
design elements such as line and texture to support her style. These
approaches make Swoon's work very recognizable.
Swoon's technique and style is an approach that reflects the raw and
gritty feel of the streets. Her work strives to represent the unpolished
and chaotic characteristics of a city...her city is New York!
Swoon built her stylized path by experimenting the urban roots of
NYC. There is always something happening on the streets in New
York City. NYC is often described as a living organism. It's alive!

4. Image of a Mexican girl after her Quincerria. The skulls symbolize the tragic amount of women who
have disappeared in Mexico without any government investigation. SInce 1993 370 women have been killed and
hundreds more have disappeared.

5. CRITICISM
STUDENT QUESTIONS
● What are some positive aspects of street art? Some negative aspects?
● After looking at some of SWOON's work, what do you think motivates her to create art?
● Discuss art accessibility: the idea of art for everyone in public places vs. art in private galleries.

6. STUDENT STUDIO PROJECT
Create a public piece in your community
● Go out in your community and practice field drawings.
● Draw people who are familiar or folks who are unfamiliar. Maybe it's your barista, the mailman, someone
having lunch in the park or the expression of the person who tripped off the bus.
● Choose your strongest drawing and recreate the image on large scale paper. Think of the
image doubling or tripling in size. Imagine your drawing mural size on a huge wall where everyone in your
community can see your work. Think of where in your community your work would have a positive impact.
Make a list of why it is important to display your work. Include a brief description about the character with the
final image. Talk to business owners and members of your community about possibilities of where to display
your work. Show them your drawings and discuss ideas. Think big! Why not?
● Networking and talking with people in your neighborhood is a great place to start. Be aware that networking
with people in your community is a powerful resource that feeds future opportunities

7. RESOURCES and LINKS
art not crime - portland based artist collective encouraging public art
portland street art - flickr page with rad portland street art photos
public art murals program - resource for those interested in making
legal public art
our city dreams - documentary that features Swoon and 4 other female
NYC based artists

8. Swimming Cities of Switchback Sea (Hudson River, 2008) and the Miss
Rockaway Armada (Mississippi River, 2006-2007)

10. Caledonia Dance Curry
(SWOON)