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  • 2 Foxes Under The Stars – Woodcut VIDEO

    I’ve been printing, printing, printing this week at the cabin. Our first open to the public event at the LOG CABIN PRINT SHOP is coming up THIS WEEKEND. We are giving a FREE ACTIVITY: use our old-fashioned press to make your own Christmas card.

    If you can’t make the trek to Old Washington, I’ll also be at my studio at the Pendleton Art Center, THIS FRIDAY for FINAL FRIDAY.

    Yup, a busy week ahead. Videos about art and printmaking on social media are fun, but but the EXPERIENCE IS EVEN FUNNER to see and print in real life. Come see me if you can!

  • Printmaking Updates

    Sometimes I get so excited about the ‘latest’ project, I forget to show you all the finished work.

    Here are a few updates of the latest prints.

    woodcut notecard with us map and 'greetings from Historic Route 62'
    My latest greeting card: GREETINGS from Historic Route 62
    artist holding large woodcut of two foxes in the woods under a star
    The test proof of my 2 foxes under the stars woodcut.

  • New Large(r) woodcut

    I have been trying to work larger with my woodcuts, and for some reason (the holidays) I have been spending a lot of time making tiny little greeting cards. They are fun, but not helping me get closer to my goal of making big woodcuts.

    So last night, I started a new woodcut.

    animation of artist carving woodcut

    I stayed up late into the night, and am still cutting this morning

    my goal is to have it finished today or tomorrow…provided my hands don’t cramp up

    close up animation of artist carving woodcut

    stay tuned for more soon!

    PROGRESS REPORT:

    woodcut of two foxes sitting in forest under a star

  • Greetings From Historic Route 62

    I am working on a project about US Route 62, and wanted to make greeting cards that I can mail to friends while traveling the historic highway (1930)

    US Route 62 design on wood block, ready to be carved
    Once I traced the design onto the block it was time to start carving
    work in progress- lettering for US 62 Woodcut
    I’m not sure what I was thinking with all the details in the words…careful cutting.

    work in progress photo of US ROUTE 62 woodcut Halfway carved
    Got those tedious little letters carved…now to cut all the way around the USA
    Work In Progress photo of US ROUTE 62 woodcut
    everything is cut, except one importand detail…
    work in progress photo of US Route 62 Woodcut
    US Route 62 – from Niagara Falls, NY to El Paso, TX!!

    Will carve later this evening and update with photos of the finished print.

    GREETINGS FROM HISTORIC US ROUTE 62

  • A New Star – Christmas Card designs 2018

    Now that Thanksgiving is over, I can share my latest designs for this year’s Christmas Cards!!! They are still wet, and drying, but I will have them available on my website early next week.

    FUN FACT: this video was made entirely with my phone and tablet. I’m getting ready to take a trip, where I won’t have access to a computer and I wanted to see how much editing I can do using only mobile devices

  • bear in the woods – woodcut

    i was busy with some other projects and did not get to print today, but I DID get to carve another candidate for this year’s Christmas card.

    woodcut of bear holding a heart with printmaking knives on the side

    I liked the bear in yesterday’s card so much, I thought it deserved its own design. hopefully, I’ll get to print both tomorrow.

  • Christmas Card 2018 – carving

    you might remember last years Christmas card. it was of barnyard animals sitting under a bright, new star. see it here.

    today I started my 2018 Christmas card. I wanted to stay with the new star theme… but with woodland animals!


    uncarved wood block for printmaking
    The design is drawn on the woodblock and ready to carve
    work in progress of a woodcut christmas card
    First, I carved the stars and doves
    work in progress woodcut of chirstmas card
    More carving to make the stars twinkle, and to bring out the shape of the tree
    work in progress woodcut christmas card
    The bear has a face now!
    carved woodcut for christmas card printmaking
    The carving is done.

    I’m going to print it tomorrow afternoon, and will share print pictures of the final woodcut.

  • 2 color sheep woodcut – VIDEO

    This video walks you through the process while I make a 2 color/2 plate woodcut from an existing 1 color woodcut design. The original layer is used as a key block, to guide the cutting of the gray, background layer. Instead of using a complex system to line up the 2 layers, I just eyeballed it and registered the plates by hand.

    If interested, i’ll update this post with purchase information once the prints are dry (1,2,3 days from now)

    UPDATE 1 : i don’t want to give you the wrong impression that my tests are always successful…i just don’t always include them in the videos. Here’s a look at the REAL first try through the press:

    animation of sheep printmaking woodcut being revealed

  • Artwork featured in Energy Insurance Agency’s new Cincinnati East office

    Energy Insurance Agency, just opened a new office in Cinncinnati East, and used my artwork for the reception area.

    ken Swinson paintings of cincinnati framed and on display

    I see my artwork in a studio setting all the time, but its a special treat to be able to see my artwork in it’s forever home.

    ken swinson cincinnati paintings framed an on display over a desk

    Here are some photos from their grand opening.

    artist ken swinson paintings of cincinnati framed and on display with still life of flowers

    Thank you Energy Insurance Agency for supporting local art in your new office!

    artist ken swinson paintings of cincinnati framed and on display at reception desk

    If you are in the Cincinnati East area, give their office a visit, to see the art and office in person. They are happy to help any size business, small or very large, with coverage options including business insurance, employee benefits and bonds.

    they serve customers all across the country, so even if the office isn’t close, you can visit their website: www.energyinsagency.com for more information.

    thanks again Energy Insurance Agency for supporting my work.

    photos courtesy of Carrie Glover

  • background layer for a 2 color woodcut

    printmaker ken swinson using a traditional press to print sheep poster woodcut

    today, I’m at the Log Cabin Print Shop, printing the background layer for a 2 layer woodcut.

    ill update with a finished picture as soon as it’s complete.

    UPDATE : layer 2

    animation of traditional printmaking woodcut technique of sheep