The artist has travelled extensively throughout the world, immersing himself in the local culture and people, while drawing on his knowledge of world art history to create his canvases. Born in Montana, Switzer studied at the Otis Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles before proceeding with various fellowships, working under prominent artists and travelling from areas as diverse as China and Russia, Mexico and Italy. Eventually he and his family moved to the Homer, Alaska area, where he continues to study the surrounding landscape in all its majesty.