KenSwinson.com

Author: Ken

  • New Pottery – LIVE VIDEO

    New Pottery – LIVE VIDEO

    Hey everybody! I haven’t made any functional pots since October, but this morning, I opened my kiln and have a fresh batchl!!! I’m really excited about this one, because it’s my first time firing porcelain.

  • We will get through this together-linocut

    My latest linocut!

    This will be a greeting card to share with friends and family who might feel alone right now.

    i assume all kentuckians know where this phrase comes from. for those who don’t, every day, our governor addresses the state for an update re: covid 19. He always starts saying this, then encourages us to say it together. his demeanor and team spirit has calmed me down on more than a few moments during this anxious time.

    I know that a lot of people are experiencing economic insecurity right now, and would enjoy this image, but can’t buy a card right now. I would NEVER encourage digital printing of a hand printed work of art, but these are serious times. If you would like to download a high resolution copy of this art to print and share (for personal use only) follow this link.

    https://www.kenswinson.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GetThroughThisTogether.jpg

    Below is the step by step process:
    A rough sketch for today’s linocut. This will be a greeting card to share with friends and family who might feel alone right now.

    sketch of birds and text: we will get through this together

     I used my iPad to do some fine tuning on my design. Now I’m ready to transfer it to a block for carving.

    ipad layout of birds with text: we will get through this together
    design on linoleum block-ready to carve
    design transferred, and ready to carve!
    starting to carve a linoleum block print

    Carving. I included my finger in the photo to give you a sense of details and scale. I’ve been carving a lot of wood lately, compared to it, the limo cuts lite butter!

    half carved linoleum block print with hand in beside it
    a little bit over 1/3 done
    linoleum block print work in progress with governors speech being played on a cell phone
    YOU ALL KNOW NOT TO TRY CALLING ME BETWEEN 5 AND 6 PM. carving during the governors update
    carved block of linoleum- birds with text: we will get through this together
    Carving Done! Time To Print!

    multi colored woodcut with text: we will get through this together

  • Dishwasher bunny

    I’m about to start the 4th in my dust bunny series of bunnies spring cleaning. Today’s woodcut is dishwashing!

    woodblock on table with knives and cup of tea
    the design is sketched out on the block. Time to start carving!

    This is the first indoor scene. I have been using a similar pattern to represent clouds, but for this scene, I’ll use the same pattern to represent soapy dishwater.

    close up photo of woocut details
    soapy water?!
    woodut work in progress with knives in background

    Almost there!!! Still some details to carve, then I’ll be ready to print!

    carved woodcut of bunny washing dishes

    Not sure what I was thinking when I gave this dust bunny modern appliances. THEY took more carving than the rest in of the design. Ok, let’s take it to the cabin to put some unknown paper!

    test proof in brown of bunny rabbit washing dishes
    the test proof!

    Overall, I’m happy with it. I might have made some different choices (no modern appliances) in parts of the design, but it’s still cute as a button, and will be a good addition to my army of dust bunnies, who are going to do all my spring cleaning for me!

    Time to print!

    brown woodcut of bunny rabbit washing dishes
    laundry bunny

    you can support my work and add this to your collection by ordering below.

  • Blue Bird – sculpture update

    Sculpture update: my little bird has gone from a white dove, to a red breasted robin, and now appears to becoming a blue bird. Just goes to show that sometimes the art tells me what it wants to be…especially on april 1st.

    sculpture of blue bird

    Hope you all are healthy and well. Stay home and make art if you can.

  • LIVE VIDEO cold finish clay sculptures

  • Throwback to good times at the cabin

    A throwback to life, not so long ago, but before social distancing: printmaking at the log cabin print shop with Purdue University’s Black Cultural Center. Thank you Rene Thomas, for the photo, and Regina Lang for bringing the students to our community! Hope we can “flatten the curve” and see each other in person soon!

    log cabin filled with students, doing a printmaking activity

  • Kiln Opening bisque redware sculptures

    Last night, i did a bisque fire with the kiln. Look what came out on one piece!!!

    artist holding goat shaped sculpture from kiln

    Category: potteryPosted on  by K

  • Printing Garden Bunny at the Cabin – LIVE

    I left my tripod at home, but im going to try to share a little bit of one handed printing in the studio. Hope you all are social distancing and enjoying the spring weekend!

  • Settling into a new routine

    Today is my 14 day quarantineadversary! I’m finally settling into a new routine, which includes Nicholas Denhams 1pm sing along! Today I sat on the porch, carved a woodcut while listening. im Grateful to live in a small town with so many creative people!

    knives and a woodcut of a bunny rabbit in the garden. with a musican performing on a cell phone

    Categories: printmaking, studio life

  • Carving a woodcut on the porch LIVE

    Im enjoying the front porch with buddy and lulubelle. Going to start a new woodcut, am also trying something new. Watching comments from my ipad. If it works, i can see and answer your comments as they come in.