By Patricia Duran
Downtown Raton is impressive for almost every visitor getting off the Southwest Chief. Many visitors have passed through mountains, deserts, and plains pondering the great Wild West, its history, and inhabitants.
Located on Historic First Street is a handful of locally-owned shops, restaurants, and businesses, including that of Carl Swanson's Gallery located at 210 S. 1st St.
Stepping inside the gallery, it is as if your imagination on the train ride in was painted on every canvas hanging inside the building.
From buffalos to indians, and from mountains to familiar sights locals can point out, everyone is welcome to view Carl's art, calling ahead of course.
Carl Swanson was born on January 25, 1947 in Williamsport, Indiana. Carl believes it to be a significant day because it was the same day Al Capone died. When he was five years old, Carl's uncle moved him and his mother to Raton.
Carl realized his artistic abilities in the first grade, however, at the time, there wasn't an art program in the middle school or high school.
All throughout his life, he painted as a hobby, but worked as a heavy equipment operator in Raton.
Carl retired in 2013 and devoted his time to painting 19th Century Trans-Mississippi art in wildlife and historic themes. Carl explains this is his favorite time frame because it is the last frontier and close enough in the recent past to still be etched into our minds.
"Frederic Remington, Charles Russel are artists that inspire me, as well as Dino Corney of Folsom, New Mexico," says Carl. "Dino is awesome for his graphite portrayals of contemporary ranching themes."
In 2016, he painted a large 75-foot mural of a train in downtown Raton for the Raton MainStreet organization. Afterwards, he was approached by local business owner Wallace Sharts who was impressed with his skill and helped him start his own gallery.
Thus, Carl Swanson Gallery was born in 2018. However, shortly after, Carl's wife, Margaret, whom he was married to for 47 years and had four children with, got sick and passed
away.
"I couldn't do much with it and then the covid lockdowns started," said Carl. It wasn't until after the pandemic in July 2021 that Carl was able to open the gallery to the public.
"I did fairly well (the rest of 2021) selling my art."
In late 2022, Carl worked on a plan to sell his art online and commissioned a couple of business owners to help him take pictures of his art and build a website.
Over the years, Carl has won several first place awards and a couple best in show awards at the International Bank Art Show.
Typically, it takes Carl three hours to paint in either acrylic or oil a small study, or an entire week or more for a large landscape, wildlife, or historical piece. In his spare time, he likes to whittle on wood or build custom wood frames for his paintings.
"I want everyone to know visitors are always welcome at my gallery," says Carl. Visitors can watch Carl paint and browse his large collection of pieces.
Support local business owners and stop on by the Carl Swanson Gallery in downtown Raton or visit CarlSwansonGallery.com for a virtual view of Carl's art.
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