KenSwinson.com

Author: 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!

  • Supporting the Preservation of Federal Hill with Art

    Making block print notecards with my dear friend, Barb Clarke. The cards will be offered as part of a fundraiser on may 11 at federal hill in old Washington. The historic property will be open to the public with tours and activities.

    I also made some cups

    and donated this original oil painting

    All proceeds will go toward helping with the restoration of the building. Hope you can make it!

  • Cincinnati Art Club Sketch Group 30 April 2024

    I’ve been studying the portrait and figure on Mondays at the Cincinnati art club…drawing from life (no cameras, transfers, technology or ai). I don’t really want to do portraits, but I DO want to keep improving my craftsmanship as an artist. With the human form, measurements have to be right—they aren’t forgiving like trees or other shapes in nature.

    charcoal drawing of woman

    I didn’t achieve a 100%likeness but it’s close. looking back at my sketches since joining the group, it’s amazing how much I have improved. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity.

    If you think you have ‘plateaued’ as an artist, I encourage you to keep pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. There is always something new to learn.

  • First Irises – plein Air 29 April 2024

    The evening light is so pretty–and dramatic. Lighting up these seasonally early irises that popped up in my yard.

    as if flowers aren’t already hard—oh the translucence of the sun shining through

    Here’s the underpainting – i have to work fast while the sun is setting–no time for a composition sketch

    I am looking towards the sun, so color choices are really tricky, but I think i have something that will work

    oh my gosh!!! that was crazy and fun!!! Painting while looking towards the sun–talk about a chaos palette!!!

    First Irises 2024
    6×8″ oil on board
    Painted by direct observation:
    no photos, technology or Ai used

  • Poppies – Plein air 28 April 2024

    To celebrate a beautiful morning, I’m going to try and capture the vibrance and joy of these poppies. I’ll work from direct observation: no photos, no technology, absolutely zero ai.

    i scratched out a simple composition…I like the cluster of poppies in the foreground, then tall blades of grass, and poppies in the distance. A bee is floating between the different flowers. stay tuned to see if miss b makes the cut

    All my big panels are in my studio, but I was lucky to have some little 6x8s laying around in my car. For this underpainting, I’ve used my biggest brush -to keep from getting lost in details…on my smallest panel size. it might not make sense right now, but color is what will hold this painting together…that’s the next step!!! Stay tuned!

    Maybe it would be easier to work from a photo. the flowers are Constantly moving, blowing with the wind…and then the SUN moves too1-changing everything. But there is nothing like being outside + a part of the world I am trying to capture with paint.  I *think* I have a color scheme worked out, but it keeps changing: at this point, I’m going to trust my eyes, and go with it!

    the wind decided to obliterate one of my models!!!! oh the carnage!!!

    Well, im truly a Sunday painter! What a nice way to start the day! In nature with my paints (and Facebook friends!!!). Hope you all have a great day! Pop goes the poppy!! 6×8 oil on panel