KenSwinson.com

Category: printmaking

  • Cardinals – Woodcut

    I want to learn more about the different species of birds that live and travel through Kentucky, and decided to learn through woodcuts.

    It’s appropriate to start with our state’s official bird: the cardinal!!!

    The first layer (left) is a very pale green, with the stars and whites of the bird eyes—feathers, etc carved away.

    The second layer (right) is the light brown of the female cardinal.

    layer 3 (left) is a light red followed by a deep red in layer 4 (right)

    the design really comes together in layer 5(left) when we add a green
    and is finished (!!!!) with the 6th layer: BLACK

    These are all hand inked with archival oil based inks, then printed with a hand cranked etching press.

    THIS EDITION HAS SOLD OUT! – Thank you everyone for your support!
    The image is approx 6″x12 on an 8×15″ 100% PCW recycled paper and was printed in a limited edition of 18.

  • Bearing Fruit – New Woodcut

    I’m super excited to share my latest woodcut: ‘BEARing Fruit’

    Layer 1 on the left
    Layers 1 and 2 on the top right
    The woodblock on the bottom right

    I have been working on better and more precise cuts in the wood. This size 5×7″ has been a good exercise in my craftsmanship.

    Inking and printing layer 3

    Drumroll please…………

    The final woodcut!!!

    Hand inked and printed with an old fashioned press, this 4 color reduction woodcut uses oil-based archival inks and acid free 100% PCW recycled paper.

  • Birds And Blossoms limited edition linocut print

    printmaking studio with handmade wood etching press

    It’s nice to be back home and in my studio (with my rusty/trusty press!

    carved linocut of birds in a flowering tree. ready to ink

    I just finished carving a spring inspired linocut, and am ready to print

    cotton paper with an embossing after going through the press

    I’m printing with a slightly different technique; using cotton paper and etching blankets.
    This creates a beautiful embossing on the back of the paper after going through the press.

    Just in time for spring!
    Birds and Blossoms

    Limited Edition (45) block print with dark blue ink on 100% cotton paper.  Hand printed with an old fashioned press.  Signed and numbered edition of 45.  Artwork is 6×8″  on an  8×10″ sheet of 100% acid free cotton paper.

    There is a some slight variation with the ink color and texture, this is due to the handcrafted nature of printmaking, and part of what makes prints special.

    Free Shipping to the USA

  • Human Rights Portfolio exhibit at IAGO Oaxaca

    A quick walkthough of the SOS Art Human Rights Portfolio. Sorry about the glare on the artwork and rushing through the exhibit. Although i was there at a slow time of the day, i still did not want to be a distraction to the people enjoying the show. Hopefully the video gives you an idea of the presentation and the space for the exhibit.

    This Portfolio of Woodcut Prints on “Human Rights” is a project of SOS ART in collaboration with Taller Burro Press in Oaxaca, Mexico. It consists of 25 prints by 12 artists from Oaxaca and 12 artists from Cincinnati, each addressing one of 12 human rights, and the 25th print, the title page, created by an artist from Cincinnati.

    The purpose of the portfolio was to challenge artists to create images and messages around human rights through a collaborative process across different cultures; also to raise funds for both SOS ART and Taller Burro Press for their current and future projects.

    you can read more about the project, and take a better look at the artwork here:

    Derechos Humanos • Human Rights Portfolio

  • Have Guitar Will Travel – bear on bike version

    I’m a little sad to announce that I finished my FINAL LINOCUT (#12) for stay in Mexico. They take at least a week for the ink to dry, and I don’t have much time left here in magical Oaxaca.

    I’ll still be creating for the rest of my time. Stay tuned for some more colored pencil drawings soon.

  • Crows And Corn

    Handprinted linocut on kozo banan fiber paper

    With only two weeks left of my residency in Oaxaca, I have reopened my website’s gallery and would like to offer you the opportunity to support my work by adding one of the prints from this project to your art collection. Pre-orders are now open on my website and I will ship them out during the first week of April.

    Thanks everyone for your support!

  • A Shady Place – linocut

    A Shady Place

    Handprinted linocut on handmade paper

    With only two weeks left of my residency in Oaxaca, I have reopened my website’s gallery and would like to offer you the opportunity to support my work by adding one of the prints from this project to your art collection. Pre-orders are now open on my website and I will ship them out during the first week of April.

    Thanks everyone for your support!

  • Have Guitar, Will Travel – linocut

    Have guitar, Will Travel

    Handprinted linocut on handmade paper

    Created in an improvised studio while visiting Mexico.

  • Good Morning Kiss – block print

    new block print:
    good morning kiss

    handprinted linocut created in an improvised studio while visiting Mexico.

    Hope you are having a good start of the week!

  • Midnight Snack – Pig in Cornfield block print

    Just finished proofing my latest linocut—a happy pig having a midnight snack!

    Thought you might enjoy a peek at my minimal/travel print studio setup.

    Midnight Snack- handprinted linocut on handmade paper

    Hope you all are having a great weekend!