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Author: Ken
Mefford’s Fort-old Washington, KY
the sketch of Mefford’s Fort in Old Washington, KY 
the finished painting! Plein air painting in Aberdeen and Ripley, Ohio- March 18th
I have been struggling with some of my studio work, and these little pleinairexcursions have been a great exercise in capturing a moment, color, light…and knowing when to stop…plus an added bonus of fresh air, and making art in public.
i love visiting ripley. Such a friendly little river village. Ripley artists Betsy Adams and Ron Ralston stopped by to see what i was working on (st michaels church)
The finished painting- St. Michaels Church-Ripley, Ohio 
Painting at the Rankin House in Ripley, Ohio New color in the studio!
What better way to show off some new paintings, than with a new color on the wall? My latest paintings are colorful. I’m hoping that navy blue is neutral enough to let the art shine!
A chilly day of painting in Old Washington, KY 31 March 2019
I have thawed out from this mornings painting (you can see it in my instagram or fb stories) . Now that its warmed up to 37 degrees, i thought id take my paints down the street for a second plein air painting. Todays a great day to be here because Robbin Lee Weingartner is hsving an open house in his studio–with Nicholas Denham performing live music.
working out the composition and values. I love my alpaca fingerless glove/mittens…its chilly out here! 
im ready to start mixing color!!! Trying to only use red yellow blue and white…to improve my mixing skills 
Our super talented Leah Frederick, stopped by!!! 
some color on the panel… 
taylors corner. Old washington, ky Printing With Friends at the Log Cabin Print Shop
I dont have a plan for a particular print, but the studio is open to the public, you are welcome to stop by and see what i end up making…or come to make something yourself. Ill be here until at least 5pm.
ive decided what to do. I usually dont work from photos, but–at the airport, they have a display of wood models of different riverboats that were used on the Ohio river. I took this photo to use as reference. Im going to start some sketches…it would be a good subject for a woodcut or linocut! 
heres my thumbnail sketch. I shortened the boats length, which is probably a big insult to anyone who really knows these boats, but i want it to fill the space without cutting a custom size block. 
i stained my linoleum with a light coat of acrylic paint. It helps me see the design better while i carve. 
to scale drawing of the boat. Ill trace this onto tracing paper, then (once the acrylic paint is dry) transfer the design onto my block 
i have traced the design, and im ready to transfer…but im still waiting for the acrylic to dry. I forgot to eat this morning, so im going to run home and eat while the paint dries (theres nothing sadder than a starving artist, lol!) 
back at the studio. Im trying to eat healthy, so i made spinach avocado egg and rice tacos. Hoping the paint will be dry by the time i finish lunch 
artist friends Betsy Adams and Nicholas Denham stopped by; print party!!! 
transferred and ready to cut 
our blocks are carved and ready to go through the press 
painting in the countryside
Yesterday was city painting, so today is countryside. I like the way the road winds up the hill and the contrast between the black barn and white house 
This painting and i have different ideas about whether it will be a landscape or vertical. It keeps telling me it wants to be landscape. I say, no, you are vertical. I think im going to win. Heres the composition worked out. Now time for color! 
im using some new colors… Having fun with the greens… Trying not to get too wild with the violet. Detail time 
finished!
I love the smell of oil paint and cows while im painting outside in the springtime!
next stop, minerva, ky. If you love old country churches they have a lot in this little town. The church in the background is from yhe 1830s, the church in the foreground is important because it was an early african american church. Sorry i dont know all the history about it, but hopefully, someone will chime in. 
i wasnt happy with my original composition, so i moved to a different spot, and came up with this vertical composition and value study. Its color time!!! 
i love this time of the day. The light is so beautiful, this painting is shining! 
Thats a wrap! Im having such a good paint day, id love to try the dover covered bridge, but the light is changing fast, and im hungry… Forgot to pack snacks! Old Washington Woodcut
You might remember, when a few months ago, I sketched Washington Hall, along with the row of shops on old US Route 62 in Old Washinton.
Sketching With The Ipad – on Old US ROUTE 62 -Old Washington, KY
I have finally finished carving the 9”x24” panoramic woodcut of the scene. My plan for today is to proof it, and then print an edition on paper.
just printed the rest proof. I am over the moon happy with how it looks!!! maybe a few more bricks around the horse?
carved some more bricks–to bring out the horse… let’s put it through the press and see how it looks!
I’m happy… now time to print on the “good” paper
anamacion con Sami y chelsea
hacemos este anamacion de conchas de la playa con Sami y Chelsea, las niñas de mi maestra de español Leticia Gomez Salinas
Fiesta de San Pablo Huitzo
Saturday, my friend, Jose took me to the small village of San Pablo Huitzo for the celebration of Huitzo’s patron saint, Pablo (Paul)
I visited San Pablo 3 yearso ago, to learn about the Universidad de la tierra (University of the earth). It is a great program. It alone is worth visiting the little village.
At the fiesta, we visited a fair with organic produce, livestock, handicrafts, textiles and a demonstration of a solar powered water pump.
Like most Mexican villages, in the center of town, there is a church and city building. Between the two was an elaborate structure. It is a firework display that a team of people spent months to build and plan…all for the big event of the fiesta.
The structure was not just covered with fireworks and moving parts, but also with lights, which illuminated the night, as we waited for the firework display.
After much bell ringing from the church, the priest started leading the congregation through singing vespers. Not far from the church is the city hall, where a rowdy group of young people played loud, toe tapping secular music, while people danced.
Jose and I were standing between the church and city hall. Some of the older people were complaining because the ‘barrachos (drunks)’ were making too much noise and racket…they couldn’t hear the music coming from the church.
I thought it was perfect symbolism. Paul is one of my favorite saints, because he had a dramatic change in his life…so much that he changed his name (he was originally called Saul—back when he was bad). I thought the barrachos dancing in the streets symbolized the life of ‘Saul’…the devoted people in the church represented ‘Paul’
I tried to take some photos of the firework display. In my opinion, photos of fireworks are never as good as enjoying them in real life. I put my camera in my pocket, and enjoyed the beautiful display. It was one of the most expressive firework displays that I have ever seen!
Shortly after the fiesta, I experienced a radical change that changed the way I think about things (not as dramatic as Paul’s conversion…but big enough for me). I thought San Pablo must have been watching over me.
Thanks Jose and San Pablo Huitzo for the wonderful experience!
Shoe Repair in Soledad, Etla
In Mexico, the simple things in life are big adventures. I spent the morning looking for the village cobbler (shoe repair). the first one I visited, could only sew tennis shoes, so he told me to go to the next street, where there is another cobbler, who can sew leather shoes…i was a little disoriented because I didn’t consider the dusty alley he was talking about a street, but eventually found the other cobbler–even though there was no sign.
I had to ask people in the street. it turns out, you go through a gate, into what looks like a residence and there is a window where you can tell a woman what you want done, and leave your shoes.
she is going to restitch the seams in my shoes, give them a fresh stain, and new insole. they will be ready on Friday and will cost approx. $3 USD. the last time I went to a shoe repair in cincinnati, the repair was twice as expensive as the shoes!!! one of the many things I admire about Mexican culture is the way they repair and reuse things… in the USA, consumerism rules, and it’s designed to be easier to buy another than repair when something is broken.
FYI. Here in Mexico, they also have people who do TV repair