KenSwinson.com

Author: Ken

  • New Woodcut – Sheep Dog

    I’m working on a new 6 color woodcut.

    Layer1

    carving back into the block for layer2

    layer 2 – hello yellow!!!

    Layer light blue

    Layer 4 – Grass

    Layer 5 – purple

    The finished print!!!

    This was created using the reduction technique–where each color is printed from the same wood block–effectively destroying the block with each layer. It’s impossible to print more- available in a limited edition of 20.

  • New Woodcut – Goat In Cornfield

    Printmaking season is in full swing! I’m working on my SECOND woodcut of the season.

    Layer one of the print–a light blue for the background

    Layer 4 – reveal – Light blue, light brown, dark blue and now medium brown

    the penultimate layer—just one more time through the press

    The finished woodcut!!! Goat In Cornfield!
    The printed image is 8×10″ printed on 11×14″ heavyweight, acid free, 100% post consumer recycled paper. Limited Edition of 17

  • New Woodcut – Cat With Camera

    Printmaking season is in full swing! I’m working on my FIRST woodcut of the season.

    Layer one of the print–a light green for the background

    Layer 2 – a light orange

    here’s a timelapse as I work through the block–cutting a little bit more for each layer

    The final block doesn’t have much surface left- reduction woodcuts are so unique because it’s impossible to go back and print any more.

    The finished woodcut!!! Cat with camera!
    The printed image is 8×10″ printed on 11×14″ heavyweight, acid free, 100% post consumer recycled paper. Limited Edition of 22

  • New Reduction Linocut – Peace Cat and Bird

    New Reduction Linocut – Peace Cat and Bird

    I just finished editioning (23 – a nice prime number!) my latest reduction linocut. Since reduction printing is such a unique technique, I wanted to share a few of the steps of the process:

    for the first layer, I carved the white parts of the design, then inked the block with the lightest color.

    After carving away the area where I want the lightest ink to show (from the same block) I re-ink with the SECOND lightest color, and put the print through the press for a second time.

    Between each color, I clean the block off, and carve again to create the block for each layer of color

    Here’s layer 3. Hot off the press!

    By the end of the process, there isn’t much left of the block–just whatever you need for the final layer of ink

    This technique forces the print to be a limited edition, because the process destroys each color block as the print develops.

    This print is a limited edition of 23: printed on a heavyweight, acid free, 100% post consumer recycled paper.

  • Community Scratch Block Casting Project Dedication

    Community Scratch Block Casting Project Dedication

    Last year, I was honored to have been invited by the Charles T Cotterill Foundation to create a design for a scratch block casting project for downtown Maysville.

    The project was led by Jeremy Colbert and executed by his staff and students at the University of Kentucky Sculpture and Metal Arts department

    The carving for the art was done by hundreds of Mason County students: from Mason County Intermediate School, and St. Patrick’s School.

    My idea for the artwork was: the space where the art is displayed is a gateway

    when visitors come to Maysville via boat-the tunnel is the gateway to the city; which is illustrated on the East wall.

    when people from Maysville walk to the river – the tunnel is a gateway to the RIVER; Ilustrated on the West wall.

    Art brings community together!

    It’s been wonderful to work with this amazing group of people.

    Maysville has been an inspirational and supportive community that allowed me to live my dream of being a full time artist. It’s been an honor to be a part of such a cool art project in my home town!

    Thanks again to the Charles T. Cotterill Foundation and all who made this project possible!

  • New Reduction Linocut – Bear on Bike

    Reduction Linocuts are a fun way to print with more than one color, using just one block

    Layer 1 of the print-the block is on the far left, the ink on the right, and examples of the print in the center

    You have to do some planning. For the first layer, you carve the white areas away, then print with the lightest color.

    Layer 2 – the print with (now with 2 layers) in the foreground, the block is further in the distance

    Then you carve the block again, removing all the areas where you want the light color to remain.

    Continue the process until the design is finished!

    Prints using this technique are extra special, because the block for each color is destroyed as part of the process–creating a limited edition that can not ever be re printed.

    All that remains of the block after printing the third and final color

    Would you like to add one of these cuties to your art collection?

    Click here for more information

    This edition is limited to 25 prints – so get one now before they all pedal away!

  • New Reduction Linocut – Pig In Corn

    It’s been a while since I’ve made a reduction linocut, but this idea of a cute little piggy in a cornfield was stuck in my imagination, and I had to get it out.

    this technique is fun, because it lets you make prints with more than one color–using just one block.

    the final layer–all that’s left of the block is the black design

    after printing each layer of color, I carve a little more from the block to create the next color’s layer. The process destroys the block as you work, making these kinds of prints a special limited edition. There’s no going back if you make a mistake or want to print more.

    This print is an edition of 15. If you’d like to add one to your collection, click the image below for more details and information on how to order.

    Reduction Linocut by Kentucky artist, Ken Swinson. The design is a pig standing in a corn field with a house in the background.
    Limited Edition Reduction Linocut $35 – Click image to order
  • New Reduction Linocut – Pig

    It’s been a while since I’ve made a reduction linocut, but this idea of a cute little piggy in a cornfield was stuck in my imagination, and I had to get it out.

    photo of a work in progress reduction linocut

    this technique is fun, because it lets you make prints with more than one color–using just one block.

    photo of a reduction linocut block with only the last layer of ink remaining
    the final layer–all that’s left of the block is the black design

    after printing each layer of color, I carve a little more from the block to create the next color’s layer. The process destroys the block as you work, making these kinds of prints a special limited edition. There’s no going back if you make a mistake or want to print more.

    photo of a reduction linocut pig print with a press in the backgroud

    This print is an edition of 15. If you’d like to add one to your collection, click the image below for more details and information on how to order.

    Limited Edition Reduction Linocut $35 – Click image to order
  • Just arrived home after a week at Arrowmont!

    I just got back home after a wonderful week at Arrowmont School of Art and Crafts: ‘considering the teapot’ with Yoko Sekino-Bové.
    I need some time to process everything I learned, but in the meantime, here’s a snapshot with 5 of my projects from the workshop.

    These pots have been fired once, but still need to be glaze fired.
    stay tuned and I’ll share more once I get settled back into my home routine.

  • Kiln Firing 15 July 2024

    We just took some brand spankin’ new pots out of the kiln

    Hand thrown porcelain lidded Jars

    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with deer and acorn sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with multi colored horse and flower sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with fox and flowers sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with pig and corn sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with multi-colored bunny rabbit and flowers sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with multi-colored chicken and rooster sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with multi-colored goat and flower sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson

    click the arrows or swipe to see all 7 Jars

    Painted Porcelain cups

    another new technique–no carving into the clay, just brushwork on the surface

    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with multi-colored horse and flowers blue pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with multi-colored cherry pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with green and purple flower pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with cobalt blue leaf pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain tumbler with turquoise leaf pattern
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with green and purple flower pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain teacup with turquoise and cobalt flower pattern

    click the arrows or swipe to see all 7 cups

    Sgraffito – classic and multi colored

    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with sad cat looking at cell phone sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • Handmade, wheel thrown porcelain cup with flower decoration
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with deer sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with multi-colored cardinal sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with squirrel and acorn sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with multi-colored fox and chicken sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with House with Oak leaf sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with multi-colored goat and flower sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with multi-colored Horse and flowers sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson

    click the arrows or swipe to see all 9 cups

    I don’t ship pots, so you’ll have to come see them in person! I’ll be out of town from July 20-29, so I hope to see you before or after that time!