KenSwinson.com

Author: Ken

  • Plein air painting/meet up Ripley ohio

    Greetings from the river village of Ripley, Ohio! There’s no rain, but today’s forecast is cloudy. Still lots of pretty scenes to choose from. Stay tuned!

    I decided to paint some of the flowers in Roses memorial garden. Joined by Northern Ky and Ohio artists, Ivanka lempitskiy, Jackie Braden and Margie lakeberg
    I really like the sign at the entrance to the garden. It got cropped from our group photo, but it really set the vibe for the day!
    These flowers caught my eye…maybe they will be in today’s painting?
    I also like the house with Pickett fence…
    a rough sketch…still trying to decide: house, or nah?
    The underpainting
    laying down some colors…
    my new painting buddy!!! Refuses to model unless I have tuna. I left my tuna at home–next time!
    more color and details…
    the finished painting!
    a time lapse of the finished painting

  • Downtown Maysville, plein air 25 April 2021

    I’m spending the next couple of days working with an artist friend who is JUST getting started with plein air painting. I don’t have step by step progress photos to share, because i wanted to be able to give them my full attention. This is the scene they chose for our first lesson/demo. We almost delayed the session because of fog, but i’m glad we didn’t! The scene was perfect for a paninting! Stay tuned!

    Here is my finished ‘demo’ plein air painting. For our session, we only used 3 colors 2 earth tones (yellow ochre and burnt sienna) and ultramarine blue –and then Titanium white.

    this is a big (to me) canvas panel (18×14) I was supposed to be the ‘teacher’ but I think i learned more than the ‘student’. I really enjoyed the bigger surface…and using only 3 colors really pushed my color mixing.

    sorry the painting is out of focus, ill share a close up so you can better see the details next

    Here is my finished ‘demo’ plein air painting. For our session, we only used 3 colors 2 earth tones (yellow ochre and burnt sienna) and ultramarine blue –and then Titanium white.

    this is a big (to me) canvas panel (18×14) I was supposed to be the ‘teacher’ but I think i learned more than the ‘student’. I really enjoyed the bigger surface…and using only 3 colors really pushed my color mixing.

    sorry the painting is out of focus, ill share a close up so you can better see the details next

    here’s the finished ‘demo’ plein air painting.

    This one is big (18×14″) -out of my comfort zone–but was a lot of fun to make.

    It was created with only 3 colors (burnt sienna, yellow ochre and ultramine blue) — and titanium white.

  • Plein air painting Augusta, ky 22 April 2021

    Today I’m in Augusta, ky. A little river village very close to my heart. It’s been difficult picking a spot to paint, but I decided on this scene on 4th street.

    I’m interested in the porch with rocking chair, flowering trees, hill in the distance while looking into the morning light.

    There’s a lot here, and I’ll have to use my artist eye to edit the scene and put it all together into a painting. This will serve as a great example of how painting from life lets you do things a photo can’t

    I have a rough rough sketch…this scene is going to be tricky, but I can do it!!! Let’s start painting!!!
    I used a muddy mix of ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and cadmium yellow to work out the composition and values. Now it’s time to start laying in the color. I’ll have to work fast, because as the sun rises, all the colors change.
    I’ve laid some morning colors on the panel…time for details, and building up more colors
    I got lost in painting, and forgot to give you all an update. Even with editing, there is so much in this scene…busy little 4th Street. Time to pull it all together and get some lunch!
    This site was really close to my artist friends, Deb and Brad’s house. Lucky me, ran into them, and got to catch up, and got some tips on how to finish the painting.

    It’s nice to see friends again…especially other artists. what a treat to get a nice photo of ME while at work on a painting?!!!!

    photo by Brad Wooldridge
    Here it is! Spring morning on 4th street – Augusta, KY
    This was one of the trickiest paintings I have made. It was such a busy scene, and I had to make a lot of choices about what to keep and what to ignore. Unfortunately, the rocking chair on the porch (that initially made me want to paint this view) did not make it into the final scene.

    Click above to see close up photo with more deatails- and more information about the painting!
    Thanks for watching!

  • red tulips – plein air painting – 22 April 2021

    it’s a grey day…might even get some rain. For today’s painting, i decided to try to capture these red tulips. They are bright and cheerful, and aren’t going to last much longer. From an artist perspective, I like the way the stems are starting to droop.
    here’s my sketch…to work out the composition–now time to set up and paint!!!
    I’m blocking in the shapes with a muddy mix of ultramarine blue and burnt sienna. also working out the dark and light relationships in the composition..
    See the white specks in front of the black car and red truck? I’m painting flowers in SNOW FLURRIES. I’m not cutting my ear off, but I do want some acknowledgment for my dedication to my craft 🙂
    #kentuckyWeather
    I never know what will pop up in my flower garden!!! Chuck and Mary Lou Keller 🙂
    slowly but surely building up colors to capture the moment…
    It’s still cold out there…had to come inside to warm my hands up. A good opportunity for an update! We are close to the finish line.
    tulips take a bow – oil on panel 8×10″

    Art and beauty are everywhere you look. Even on cold, cloudy snow flurry days. Get out there and enjoy!

  • Iris Plein Air Painting – 20 April 2021

    you all will not believe what popped up in my garden today?!?! irises!!!! They are early for Northern Kentucky!They are in a funny spot, and it’s impossible to get a good photo with the distracting background. This session will be an example of how a painting filters and interprets a scene through the artist’s eye in a way the camera cannot.

    after doing a little bit of pruning, and changing my perspective, i have a rough sketch (to work out my composition) now it’s time to paint!
    I blocked out the basic shapes with a yellow ochre and burnt sienna…the warm yellows will make a nice contrast to the purple irises.
    Color Time!!! Using my broadest brush (a #10 flat bristle) I laid out the basic shapes and colors…now time to push paint around until it looks right…
    i Just cracked open one of my FAVORITE colors…a radiant turquoise…I’m trying to mix colors (not using ready mixed colors), but this one is so bright and saturated with color, right out of the tube. Warning: once i start painting with it, you’ll see this color in EVERYTHING i paint– until it gets out of hand and we have to have an intervention
    I’m still using a pretty wide flat brush (#8 bristle). I had to step away because there is some BEAUTIFUL brushwork in the painting right now. I don’t want to lose it when i go down to the #4 flat and working on the details…I put the tube away, but might need a few more areas with radiant turquoise?
    I’m so close to finished…just need to think about those last minute details.

  • Overlook at devou park

    I’m in the city today and thought I’d try to capture the view of the skyline from devou park.
    I’m trying to squeeze a lot in here , but I think it is going to work. Here’s my sketch to work out the composition.
    Some rough rough shapes worked out….now, time for the details
    More details…time for color! I need to hurry, as the sun is rising and changing everything
    Laying in the sky and river colors…trying to pay attention to the atmosphere
    The light is so different from when I started ..at this point, I’m ready to wrap it up and get those last minute details
    I’m calling it finished!!!

  • The log cabin print shop- Plein air painting 18 april 2021

    I’m painting Plein air LIVE. Keep watching this post for updates as the work is in progress!

    Today’s Plein air painting will b at the log cabin print shop. This location has a special meaning to me, because it is our community printmaking studio!
    My sketch for the painting.
    I’ve worked out the composition and values in an orange brown color.
    Color time! I’m trying something different today…more toned down colors. Im a little freaked out at this point. I don’t mix colors this way, but will see what happens!
    I’m unhappy with where this is going…going to wipe the panel and try something different.
    A clean slate…let’s try again!

  • Plein Air Painting – Lewis County 16 April 2021

    Today, i had the intention to go to Lewis county to paint the Cabin Creek Covered bridge.
    I’ve painted the bridge before, it’s a picture perfect scene, but I was in the mood for something a little bit different.

    Around the corner from the bridge, was an interesting curve in the road. I decided to paint it instead

    My thumbnail sketch
    blocking out basic shapes with a muddy mess of colors leftover from yesterday’s painting
    working out the dark and light values- still using the muddy paint
    starting to add color. I’m trying something different…usually I am a color lover, but I wonder what would happen if i keep my colors toned down?
    blocking in the colors – trying to keep it toned down, but the red bush wants to shine bright pink–im going to let it!

    building up colors and details
    i think its finished!!!

    the original is available for sale. I will update with a better studio photo once it is dry (in about a week)

  • Plein Air Painting in Fleming County, KY

    I’m visiting some good friends in fleming county, ky. Their home has one of the prettiest views i have ever seen…i seriously could just paint from here for the rest of my life. Watch this album for progress as I paint

    I’m visiting my friends Rick Cain Sharon Cain and Rachel S. Wirrig in fleming county, ky. Every time I visit, i tell them their home is like being in a painting…today, I’m going to try to paint this part of their view. Stay tuned for work in progress.
    Thumbnail sketch of my view…I’m interested in the winding road crossing the creek, and the yellow field, and the mountains, and the barns…ok, I’m interested in all of it!!! Time to start painting!
    I had a little bit of a setback….left my jar of solvent at home!!!!! Fortunately, Rick Cain made a trip to the hardware store, and Sharon Cain had a mason jar i could usthank you both! Now i have some of my darks and lights in muddy paint,. This painting will be a challenge, because it’s partly cloudy with wind…meaning the darks and lights change every few minutes as the clouds move!!! Stay tuned!
    Starting to add colors….
    More clouds have moved in, so the scene is a little flat….no wait!!!! The sun is back!!!! ….no there it goes again!!!! Well, i keep painting…it’s beautiful no matter the weather!
    Its finished!!!! Plein air painting- rick and sharon’s view. Oil on panel.
    What a wonderful day!!!! I had a great time painting and catching up with good friends. Thank you again for all your support, friendship and giving my art such a beautiful home!!! Stay tuned, Rick is going to make the frame for their new ken swinson painting (it’s going to look great!)

  • Plein Air Painting – cherry tree in my backyard 13 April 2021

    I’m going to make a Plein air oil painting of this cherry tree. In true Plein air tradition, i wont use photos…but observe from life. This photo is just to show you all what I’m working on. Stay tuned for work in progress photos!
    There’s a lot of pretty blooms in this view, but the cherry tree will be the center of attention for this painting. I have a very rough thumbnail sketch to work out the basic composition. Time to start painting!!!
    I used the leftover paint from yesterday’s session to make a muddy color, and rough out the shape of the tree. Next I will add a few more details.
    Starting with COLOR!!! First the colors in the background…will start on the tree and cherry blossoms next
    Flowers flowers everywhere!!!! And i just saw my first butterfly!!! Life is good! Hopefully I can capture the joy of this moment in the painting!
    So close….i wrestled a little bit with this one, but now I’m happy with it again. Going to take a step back, then just a few details left