Cloudscapes by Toni Swarthout

PANTONE 11-4201 against Toni’s artwork.

Clouds are having a moment.

Just look at Pantone’s announcement for their Color of the Year 2026, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer. Described as a blank canvas of sorts, this “lofty white serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection.”

Nashville artist Toni Swarthout’s latest body of work embraces similar themes. While these canvases are anything but blank, they do foster the calm, reflective, and tranquil environment that Cloud Dancer is intended to promote.

Layers of oil create transcendental images through loose, delicate brushstrokes. Toni’s cloudscapes embody the inherent human longing to look upwards towards the skies. Despite the lack of physical ground in the composition, these works make the viewer feel incredibly grounded and connected to the cosmos. Though impermanent, the ubiquitous nature of clouds (and our constant urge to gaze up at them) further this notion of quiet contemplation and connectivity – a notion that Toni evokes masterfully.

These paintings are expressive yet simple. Atmospheric and optimistic. They’re fluffy. They’re fabulous. They’re now available for purchase through Gregg Irby Gallery. ☁️

September Sky (above) and Hugs from Heaven (below) in our Atlanta gallery.

Toni Swarthout in her studio. Pictured with Hugs from Heaven behind her.

American born artist Toni Swarthout has worked for decades as a contemporary abstract painter. She paints in a series format, demonstrating her ever-evolving and distinctive style. Based in Nashville, TN, Swarthout is a self-taught artist, approaching the canvas in an uncensored, unlimited creative process. Her works offer the viewer the opportunity to experience art from a grounded place while, at the same time, guiding them through the unfiltered experience of creating.