KenSwinson.com

Author: Ken

  • Clay studio update – 16 June 2024

    It’s pottery season, so I’ve been busy, here’s a little peek at whats been happening in the clay studio:

    I’ve been experimenting with new ways to decorate the surface of my pottery. In particular, I want to carve designs and have more than one color

    a group of work in progress porcelain pottery cups. The forms are upside down, four are trimmed, three are untrimmed
    work in progress forms without handles in various stages of trimming
    4 work in progress cups: a goat, bear, deer and fox eating cherries from a tree

    these work in progress cups have painted patterns (3 coats each) and then are carved for more details

    two unfired porcelain cups with a cardinal and bear picking cherries

    More designs with this technique. I have started to carve into ‘unpainted’ clay in hopes of a variety in the surface once glazed

    a photo of eight hand thrown porcelain cups. The handles are rather well attached, considering the artist has spent the last year or two improving his cup handles. There is a wheel in the background.

    I just finished assembling these cappuccino or soup style cups. Looking forward to decorating them. The interior is wide enough, there is an opportunity for some artwork!

    We are at the beginning of a heatwave here in Kentucky, a great time to work inside and make pots, so stay tuned!

  • Old Washington Paint Group – Larkspur

    Todays model for our paint group in Old Washington was an old watering can with Larkspur. It’s always fun to paint with a group–not just for the company and feedback, but also to see how each artist interprets the subject.

    3 artists holding paintings of larkspur
    Ken Swinson, Taliah Rey + Dawn Kincaid (left to right)

    For this painting, i tried something a little bit different: compressing the values, and only using 3 colors: prussian blue, quinacridone magenta and cadmium yellow light + titanium white. I’m really happy with how it turned out!


    This is painted from life and direct observation: no cameras, transfers, computers, ai–I think it would qualify to go in my ‘plein air’ gallery. Will decide once it’s dry and framed 🙂

  • Cincinnati Art Club Sketch group 10 June 2024

    I’ve been drawing from life at the Cincinnati Art Club. I don’t particularly want to draw portraits or figures for my studio work, but the human form is a great way to fine tune my craftsmanship. Working from life (no cameras, computers, Ai) makes it even more of a challenge.

    Im noticing that the figure is a bigger challenge for me than a portrait. There are so many things to get right in a figure–one thing slightly ‘off’ and it throws the whole drawing off.

    beginning of a charcoal drawing of a man

    The measurements were so ‘off’ from the first session, I decided to wipe the drawing away and start over

    work in progress photo of a drawing of a man

    in the second session, the measurements were a little better, but I’m struggling with foreshortening: when parts of the body go forward or back into space

    work in progress of a charcoal drawing of a man

    at the end of the third session, i stopped trying to get every measurement perfect, and get the drawing together.

    work in progress drawing of a barefoot man sitting

    at the end of the final session, I wasn’t completely happy with the figure, but it was a great learning experience!

  • Website Updates

    I have had some feedback that my website needed some attention, and the job is so overwhelming to think about, I have’Quietly’ been making some updates to the website.

    Most recently: A gallery of plein air paintings from this spring, which you can see by clicking below

    I also added photos of the pottery from my most recent kiln firing. Click below to view:

    I recently made a commitment to log out from social media -and to check in only one day each week. My goal is to spend more computer time working on this site-and less hanging out on the socials.

    I’m actively working on the site, so please feel free to comment with suggestions of what you would like to see on this website in the future.
    Thanks for all your support and hanging in there with me!
    Ken

  • First Kiln Firing of the season- 7 June 2024

    After a short break, it’s pottery season again!
    To celebrate, here’s a gallery showcasing the first batch of pots—most designs are inspired by my cherry tree-and all the critters who ate the cherries while I wasn’t looking.

    • Bear Picking Cherries Cup 2
    • Chickens Eating Cherries Cup 2
    • Pigs Eating Cherries Cup
    • Birds Eating Cherries Cup
    • Bear Picking Cherries Cup 3
    • Dogs Eating Cherries Cup
    • Chickens Eating Cherries Cup
    • Goat Eating Cherries Cup
    • Bear Picking Cherries Cup
    • Horse Cup
    • four views of a porcelain bowl. There is a bear picking cherries on the exterior. Red cherries on the interor.
      Bear Picking Cherries Bowl
    • Porcelain bowl with bear bird and cherry sgraffito surface design
      Cherry Picking Bear Bowl-bird exterior decoration

    swipe or use arrows to see all the pots

    These cups are all thrown on a wheel with hand carved designs and food/microwave safe porcelain, priced at $50 each. Bowls are $70. Unfortunately these unique pieces are available by in-person sales only.

    If you are interested in seeing these (and more) in person, they will be on display at my studio in Old Washington: 2111 Old Main Street, Maysville ky 41056 from 10-3 on friday and saturdays. or at Final Friday at the Pendleton Art Center in Cincinnati, OH

  • Photos by Deni Stanev

    Always fun to live in a small artsy town! Was asked to make some pots to help with a video project for the city this morning. The wonderful Deni Stanev Photography was on the job, and she shared these photos so I could document my ‘community service’ for the day!

    thanks so much Deni for the photos! and thank you Katelyn Bailey for inviting me to be a part of your project!!! I’m looking forward to seeing the finished video!

    you can see more of Deni’s Photography at her website: https://denistanevphotography.com

  • Cherry Picking Bear cup – work in progress

    I know better than to celebrate a pot before it’s been through the kiln BUT I’ve had a bumper crop in my cherry trees this year, and I want a photo of my new design with it’s inspiration before the bears eat all the cherries!

    Hope you all are having a great day!

    oh, pottery break is officially over—stay tuned!!!

  • Spring Pentaculum 2024 – Arrowmont


    I was honored that Mark Errol invited me to Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts for their #springpentaculum2024 . My idea for the residency was to spend the week studying the ‘boneyard’; a library of unglazed pots that have been left behind by previous instructors. When I took this photo, i had just arrived and had a combination of ‘imposter syndrome’ and being a child in a candy store: so many beautiful ceramic objects to explore!!!

    It’s impossible to summarize all the growth that I experienced during that week with a social media post, but I’ll just say, the magic of Arrowmont is something you need to experience in person.

    I learned a lot about throwing last week at Arrowmont and made a ”few” New forms. I tried to give as many as I could away, but still have these to deal with. They have been fired once, so I can’t use the underglaze techniques Im familiar with. Time for glaze experiments!!!!

    A quick plein air study of the ‘boneyard’ at Arrowmont. They have an impressive collection of unglazed pottery that was made by previous instructors–it’s a learning tool for future students (like me!)

    More important than the things I learned was the amazing artists I met and now consider friends!
    A million thanks to Mark and Arrowmont for this opportunity!

  • Lucky Kentucky Derby Cup

    it started with this post on social media:
    I can’t make any guarantees, but we can all agree, whoever owns this handmade porcelain cup will most likely have the winning horse at tomorrows Derby. If nothing else, they will have a beautiful handmade and functional work of art.

    Followed by Kristina Cox being the big winner and owns the lucky horse cup! Thank you so much for your support, and best luck with tomorrow’s derby!!!

    I ‘might’ have been bluffing, but it turns out, the Kentucky Derby cup had magic powers all along!!

  • Painting With Friends – Federal Hill – 1 May 2024

    painting from life – step 1 – work out the composition and values: no colors

    step 2 – figure out what colors you want to use, and get them all on the painting- light is changing fast, so you want to capture the moment

    step 3 – work out details and keep painting until its finished, OR the light has changed so much its nothing like the painting

    every days a good day when you paint 
    -Bob Ross

    every day is even BETTER when you paint with FRIENDS!!!
    -Ken and Dawn Kincaid

    Dawn’s painting
    Federal Hill
    8×10”
    oil on canvas

    My painting!!!
    Federal Hill
    6×8”
    Oil on Canvas

    We chose to paint Federal Hill to bring an artistic flair to the upcoming event to help raise funds to restore the historic property.
    Some work local artists (left to right)
    Sue Ellen Gorman, Dawn Kincaid, Ken Tucky Swinson + Ruvonna Bevard. Hope you can come see the paintings on 11 May at the event!