As well as being one of the foremost figure artists of the second half of the 20th century, Ryno Swart is a founder and leader of an important new figurative art movement in South Africa. In his often intimate images, there is a sense of truth and of respect that gives depth, dignity, and beauty to his work. As a teacher, he shared the ideas and concepts that formed his own art and philosophy over many years. These teaching activities led him to an unceasing exploration of the techniques and the underlying meaning of the artistic process. Central to his personal artistic philosophy is the principle of vision. As music communicates directly to the ear, so does painting relate to the eye, which has its own intelligence. His central tenet is:

Paint exactly what you see. Then learn to see.