KenSwinson.com

Author: Ken

  • I could have a worse problem

    I told myself that once I got back from Arrowmont, i’d take a break from pottery and do more painting.

    “hows that going?”

    This isn’t everything–just one corner of my studio. There are more pottery works in progress. I think i have a pot problem, lol!

  • flower painting in Old Washington

    It’s been awhile since I’ve painted from life (direct observation-no photos).

    the underpainting

    I had a wonderful time painting with Old Washington’s Wednesday paint group.

    Flower painting is NOT as easy as you might think (at least not for me). Flowers can be mean, horrible monsters as models…with their seemingly simple and dainty translucent petals.

    finished painting

    It was fun! I got to visit with friends and I’m happy with the painting. Thank you Vicki Tichenor for the photo of me at the easel!

    Ken at the easel

    See you next wednesday!

  • Arrowmont inspired cups – Work In Progress

    I’m settling back in my studio after 2 amazing weeks at Arrowmont. i’m haven’t used any of the new techniques I learned yet, but my bear encounters inspired a new pattern for my cups and plates. Stay tuned! Hope to fire them soon!

    Thanks again for the opportunity to study at Arrowmont—I feel so inspired and ready to make more art!

  • Log Cabin Print Shop Update

    Being closed for almost 2 years during the pandemic has given us a chance to think about how we want to move forward with our program. Let’s start with a short re-introduction, with a rough draft outline of what we are offering right now.

    photo of the log cabin print shop
    The studio is in historic Old Washington. It was created to provide education and a FREE working space to explore the art of traditional printmaking.
    photo of Log Cabin Print Shop Interior- work space for printmaking
    The cabin has 2 rooms. The back room is a timberframe style construction primarily used to create prints. It has 2 tables and has had as many as 6 printers working in the space at once.
    photo of robert foose etching press at the log cabin print shop
    The etching press was designed and built by former University of Kentucky printmaking professor, Robert Foose. It works great for all sizes of woodcuts, linocuts.
    photo of Hanco and Gamblin printmaking inks
    We provide a range of colors in traditional OIL BASED inks. We provide them (and paper, and use of studio) free of charge to artists of any level of ability. In exchange, we ask participants to donate some of what they print to be displayed in our showroom at the cabin. We believe that printmaking is for everyone, regardless of financial situation. We are not a non-profit organization, this project is funded from personal money by the current administrators and contributions by friends, guests and showroom sales.
    photo of the showroom and small etching press at the log cabin print shop
    The main log cabin room is the home of our smaller early 20th century etching press. it is also a showroom of work created at the cabin.
    photo of book press with handmade book by dustin cecil
    This is primarily an artist-led project. As talented as our current artist-in-residence is. They do NOT have a talent for some of the administrative duties that an educational organization needs to grow and thrive. A few of our longer term goals are to offer more programs that compliment traditional print arts: like bookmaking and papermaking. We would also love to have some repairs/upgrades on the building so that we could offer a residency program for visiting artists. It would provide an opportunity for artists to get to know and work in our community. Please watch this space for developments, if you have any questions or suggestions please reach out to us!

    This is a COMMUNITY art project, so please share any thoughts about how we could be useful for you. if you know anyone that could benefit from the studio or help with our mission, please leave a message and/or forward to help us spread the word.

  • Print on Clay with Tom + Dave – Arrowmont Workshop

    I’m super grateful to be back at Arrowmont School of Arts and Craftsl for a printmaking (on clay) workshop with Thomas Lucas and David Todd Trost .

    look who was on the campus to greet us!!!! He/she/they will be the inspiration for my print on clay project!

    At the Arrowmont School of arts and Crafts in Tennessee-learning to make screens in the darkroom, then screen printing with ceramic glazes with master printer Thomas Lucas at a mind blowing print on clay workshop at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts . this is just one of many techniques we are learning.

    This workshop is a double feature, with TWO instructors. In addition to learning from a master printer, we also have David Todd Trost. Not only is he like a walking talking encyclopedia in all things clay (and professional wrestling), but he’s also an amazing teacher-he explains and demonstrates what he knows in a way that’s just as entertaining as it is educational. I learned so much, and am super grateful to have had this opportunity to learn from them.

    my table towards the end of the workshop
    my super talented and nice class at Arrowmont

    i’m back in the studio, testing on porcelain with some of the prints we made at master printer Thomas Lucas workshop…I’ve read all the books on printing on clay, and he has some refinements (that work better) to those techniques–and some new techniques I never even thought were possible. In all things ceramic testing is critical. one change in material (porcelain) can make a difference between success and failure.

    Fortunately, in class, we had the opportunity to troubleshoot, and tom helped me understand what each component of the inks are doing, so I can refine and adjust to make sure I get the best results possible with my particular clay/glaze/temperature combination. Thanks to Tom and Dave everyone at Arrowmont and those who made this experience possible. I feel renewed and am filled with inspiration. stay tuned!

  • Laundry Bear Woodcut

    I’m working on a new woodcut…based on a true story. Well, mostly true…ok, maybe some imagination in this one!
    Stay tuned to see the progress.

    Finished carving the block. Time to ink it up and print a test proof.

    it turned out great! Click the image below for a closer look and information on how to include it to your collection

  • Surface design with Adero Willard – Arrowmont Workshop

    A lot of you know I’m a self taught potter-never had formal instruction. Thanks to a good friend/patron, I’m taking a pottery workshop by Adero Willard at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee…my first pottery class!!!

    Already, the workshop has been a transformative experience for me -and the way I think about ceramic surface design. It’s been intense, working in the studio from morning until we are kicked out of at midnight.

    I have to process the firehose of information she is sharing with us before I share any pictures of the pots we are making, but look who came to join us for lunch today!!!

    I’ve never seen a bear in the ‘wild’ before. It was a magical experience! This place is an artist dream come true!

    I decided the bears were my muse, and I used it as a model for some of my pots during Adero Willard ‘s workshop. These are early pots from the workshop:

    An early pot from the workshop:


    At this point in the workshop, i was learning about layers, wax resist and slip trails using Amaco Brent underglazes. I was really curious about firing the underglaze and redware pottery at that temperature (cone 2)…it comes out very lovely! 

    More pots from the workshop:

    The main lesson (of MANY) that I took from the workshop was to be curious (what if?) and to experiment (try it!) while in the studio. While remembering to keep records and notes, so that we could duplicate the successful combinations, and avoid the not so nice ones.

    If you are familiar with my work, you know this kind of mark making is WAY out of my comfort zone. It wasn’t easy to loosen up and just work with pattern and colors, but it sure was FUN, once I got into it! Don’t worry, i’ll still make cute little bears,goats and bunnys, but there’s a good chance there may be some new pattern and colors in future work.

    a big thank you to everyone who made this wonderful experience possible!

  • We are going to have a hot couple of days here in Kentucky! 

    You’ll find me by the fan, in my studio–painting! 
    Stay cool everyone!

  • 18 April 2022 – Kiln Opening

    Some new porcelain pottery from my most recent kiln opening.

    • Green Leaf Spice Jar
    • Cardinal Spice Jar
    • Horse Bowl
    • Fox Bowl
    • Tiger Cup
    • Black Cats Cup
    • Horse Cup With Thistle
    • Horse Cup With Flowers
    • Green Leaf Cup
    • Green Dove Cup 2
    • Green Dove Cup 1
    • Green Tulip Cup
    • Green Thistle Cup
    • Green Leaf Cup 2
    • green Flowers Cup
    • Green Flowers And Bees Cup
    • Bird In Blooms Cup
    • Tulips Saucer
    • Thistle Saucer
    • Bee And Leaf Saucer
    • Bee And Flower Saucer
    • Red Leaf Cream Pitcher

    Come to one of my upcoming events to see them in person, or click/swipe the photos above for a better look at all the pots from the firing. Sorry, I don’t sell pots online-in person only.

  • An artist collaboration and opportunity to support Maysville Empty Bowls

    I have been experimenting with ways to print on porcelain. After firing, I sent my VERY FIRST porcelain test tile to the Kentucky artist, Greta Gundersen. She assembled a beautiful necklace with a black cord, silver beads, jump ring, clasp and few of my other handmade porcelain beads.

    I LOVE it! It’s beautiful and unique. Neither of us wear jewelry. It’s a fun and experimental work, and we don’t want to sell it. Greta and I thought we could give the necklace away as a way to help raise money and awareness for Maysville’s annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser.

    Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement by artists and crafts people in cities and towns around the world to raise money for food related charities to care for and feed the hungry in their communities.  Last year, Maysville’s Empty Bowls raised $7200 for the Mason County Food Bank.

    If you would like a chance to win the necklace and/or support Maysville Empty Bowls, You can use the ‘add to cart’ button to make a contribution. For every $5 contribution, we will put your name in the 14 April 2022 drawing for the Ken/Greta’s jewelry collaboration. (If you contribute $20, we will enter your name 4 times, etc.)

    This is just for fun. Neither of us are going to profit in any way from this. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to Maysville Empty Bowls.

    Thanks for supporting Maysville Empty Bowls, and good luck!

    UPDATE: we raised a total of $115 for Maysville Empty Bowls, and the winner of the jewelry was:

    Congratulations Sara! Thank you EVERYONE for supporting Empty Bowls!