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  • Goddard Bridge – Plein Air Painting

    It’s a hot sunny day, but I still can’t help stopping at the picture perfect Goddard Covered bridge in Fleming County, Ky.

    panoramic photo of the  historic goddard bridge in goddard kentucky

    It’s been awhile since i’ve made a plein air painting. This is a perfect opportunity!

    pen sketch of the historic goddard covered bridge in goddard kentucky
    ive got my sktech done…let’s start painting!
    plein air underpainting of the goddard bridge in goddard kentucky
    underpanting…now time for color!
    plein air oil painting of the goddard bridge with actual bridge in the background of the photo
    Goddard Bridge – oil on panel
    4 1/2″x6″
  • Here, Birdy Birdy

    I just finished this portrait of my cat, his name is Here. He’s a sweet cat, but unfortunately, a birder–he’s also lazy, and will try anything to keep from having to work so hard.

    The original is a 24×30″ acrylic on canvas. Because of the size, If you live within 100 miles of Maysville, KY. I will hand deliver your painting. if i need to ship by USPS, there is still no charge, but the canvas will be removed from the canvas, and shipped in a tube. UPDATE: the original has found it’s forever home

    Prints are also available if you or someone you love is a cat/art lover.

  • I don’t take photos on the best days at the print shop

    Have you ever been so engaged enjoying a moment that you forgot to take your camera out to ‘document’ the experience? That’s what happened this Saturday at the Log Cabin Print Shop!

    elephant notecard on traditional press by artist rachel bollman
    Rachel Bollman printing with the old time cast iron press

    I love it when it happens, but wish I had more pictures to share the day after.

    artists alycia larsen and dustin cecil printing at the log cabin print shop
    Alycia and Dustin printing with the big Wood Foose press

    We had a full house with 4 people cranking art through both of our presses!

    artist rachel bollman putting ink on a block print
    inking linocuts

    Ripley, OH artist, Rachel Bollman crossed the river to print with us.

    elephant linocut by artist rachel bollman
    Rachel Bollman

    From Carter County, KY artist, Dustin Cecil

    linocut printed hankie by carter county kentucky artist dustin cecil
    Dustin Cecil

    brought his artist friends Alycia (the geography lady)and Blake from Philidelphia

    linocuts by alycia and blake larson
    Blake and Alycia

    Thanks everyone for printing with us at the log cabin, we had a great time!

  • Beehive linocut – update

    I didnt finish carving last week’s linocut, so today at the log cabin print shop, im going to finish and print my beehive linocut.

    photo of linocut with beehive design carved and carving tools to the right
    Almost finished carving… Just a few more details
    linocut of a beehive design with black ink
    Inked and ready to go through the press!
    animation of an artist using a traditional press in a log cabin
    Going through the press
    test proof of beehive linocut. ink and brayer visible in photo
    Thank you

    That’s a wrap!!!
  • New greeting card-beehive

    Good morning!!! Thanks everyone for coming out last night for final friday.
    Today, im printing at the log cabin print shop from noon-5pm.

    While doing my morning porchsitting/birdwatching, i started this design for a new greeting card.


    I was born in Utah, the beehive state. During my formative years as a young artist in kentucky, Luciano Moral , and the original beehive tavern in augusta were a big support and influence of my work.I have a few friends who are beekeepers, and i am learning about how important our pollinators are. This tuesday, there will be a talk about pollinators at the caza sikes gallery…part of Ursula Roma s wonderful mind gardens art exhibit.

    ipad with sketch of beehive- created with the app procreate
    using ipad as a lightbox to trace a design onto tracing paper
    I dont always draw with an ipad, but one advantage is that it doubles as a lightbox, and makes it easier to trace my design for flipping and transferring to the block
    close up photo of detail of a bee for a linocut
    UPDATE i have not carved as fast as i could, because some of the nicest people came to visit! I did just finish my first bee.its the cutest little thing. I put a pushpen in the photo to give you a sense of scale

    Keep watching this post for updates on the print. Or stop by. Ill be printing from noon-5pm.

    photo of linocut with beehive design carved and carving tools to the right
    UPDATE this is all i was able to carve today. Might come back to the studio and finish tomorrow. Thanks everyone for stopping by!
  • Repurposing an old paintbox

    My friend and neighbor gave me an old paint box that was missing a few screws.

    french easel modified to hang on a wall with canvas backdrop

    I decided to take the easel part from the reat of the box, then mount it on my wall… Yhat way i get adjustable easel features, without legs taking a lot of prexious space in my studio.

    painting of yellow dog with bees and flowers hanging on wall by ken swinson

    The easel can hold a pretty large canvas for example, this 28“ tall canvas fits with room for even larger! (pay no attention to the unfinished painting on the wall)

  • Honey bear

    Its open print day at the log cabin print shop. You are all welcome to visit and make prints with m3 from noon until 5pm. Today im carving this honeybear. Hopefully in time to print it too!

    woodcut of a bear holding a beehive 2/3rds complete
    woodcut work in progress of a bear holding a beehive
    Finished carving the bees and blossoms…now time to carve the bear!
    carved woodcut of a honeybear. ready to print!
    Finished carving. Time for ink!

    Stay tuned for updates!

  • open print day at the log cabin print shop

    photo of the log cabin print shop. a printmaking co op in old washington kentucky
    photo by Jim Turner

    Every Saturday the Log Cabin Print shop in Old Washington, KY is open to the public.

    artist ken swinson with photographer, chuck moore and daughter at the log cabin print shop
    photo by Dustin Cecil

    Last week we had a great turnout: Cinci photographer, Chuck Moore came with his daughter, Kennedy.

    artist ken swinson giving printmaking instruction at the log cabin print shop in old washigton kentucky
    photo by Chuck Moore

    Carter county multi media artist, Dustin Cecil, came to print on all sorts of different surfaces; paper, fabric, vinyl, boxer shorts, etc

    photo of carter county artist, dustin cecil at the press

    We even had a couple of suprise guest artists, our neighbors; Deb and Fred from Virginia!!!

    ken swinson at the log cabin printshop with deb and brad in old washington
    photo by Chuck Moore

    We love it when photographers come to visit.

    interior photo of the log cabin print shop in old washington kentucky antique press in the foreground logs and artwork in the background
    photo by Chuck Moore

    I’m usually too busy working with ink to to take any good photos, thanks to Chuck, we have some great images to remember the weekend. Thanks Chuck!

    printmaking at the log cabin print shop in old washington kentucky
    photo by Chuck Moore

    You can follow more of his work on the instagram: Chuck Moore

    and remember, if traditional printmaking looks like something you would like to do, you are welcome to stop by for a visit. The studio is free and open to the public every Saturday from noon-5pm

  • Georgetown, ohio Grant’s childhood home

    Today i came to Georgetown, Ohio with a goal of painting US Grant’s Childhood home.

    plein air sketch of grants home in georgetown ohio
    The childhood home of US Grant

    After sketching the front view of the home, i decided that the light wasn’t right for a painting, so i walked around, looking for a better view.

    sketch of grants home in georegetown kentucky
    The back view of the house

    The back of the house had much more interesting light, so i sketched it out, and was surprised that the composition wanted to be a panoramic.

    plein air underpainting of grants home in georgetown ohio
    The values and composition worked out for the painting

    I decided to ignore the bright blue sky, and emphasize the orange bricks and yellow light bouncing off everything

    plein air painting by artist ken swinson of grants home in georgetown ohio

    Not only did i get a good painting, but i also met quite a few really nice people, like Vince and Bobbi Shelton, a retired couple (celebrating 50 years of marriage) who are traveling to see all the different homes of the different presidents.

    two visitors from out of town visiting the grant home in georgetown ohio

    They have been to all except, Obama, Ford, Reagan, Nixon, both Adams and Kennedy…isn’t that a cool project!?!

    UPDATE i stayed long enough, the light is where i wanted it, so im going to make my original painting. Stay tuned for updates as they happen

    plein air setup of grant's home in georgetown ohio
    plein air underpainting of grant's home in georgetown kentucky by artist ken swinson
    Composition and values worked out…time for color
    plein air painting of grant's home in georgetown ohio by ken swinson
    Finished! Us grant’s childhood 4 1/2×6″ oil on wood panel
  • 3rd Grade Field Day at the Mason County Rec Park

    Yesterday, My friend Vicki and I were asked to help with our 3rd grader’s field day, by providing an art activity. Since it’s the end of the school year, We decided to make a thank you book to give the teachers. We talked to the students about the different things they are grateful for, then made paintings!

    It was fun! I don’t film other people’s children without their parent’s permission, but still made a few instagram/facebook stories to share while it was happening. I put them together in this short video for my friends who aren’t on social media.