KenSwinson.com

Category: printmaking

  • Log cabin print shop 1-18-2020 john p parker house

    I’ve finished carving the John P Parker house linocut. I started it last week. Its a small linocut 4 1/2×6″, so it was a challenge getting the small details.

    carved linocut of the John P. Parker house in ripley ohio
    Cut and ready to ink!

    Time to proof. Will update with the result!

    putting ink on a linoleum block print
    Update 1:inking the linocut
    first proof of a linocut notecard of the john p parker house
    Hot off the press!

  • Log Cabin Print Shop 1-11-20

    animation of cabin on windy day

    Its warm, but windy today at the log cabin print shop.

    sketch of the the john p. parker house in ripley ohio

    Today, im going to make a linocut of John P Parker’s house. A few days ago, i made this sketch while in Ripley, ohio.

    different sketches of the John p. parker house being developed into a linocut

    I made a few adjustments to the design, and now, im ready to start carving!

    work in progress carving linocut of the john p parker house in ripley ohio

    Saturday’s carving progress

    Stay tuned for updates!

    Update: See the finished print here

  • Log cabin print shop 1-4-20

    Last week was busy at the cabin. The cabin was filled with artists, so i didnt get a chance to do any personal printing. The holidays are over, and its a rainy saturday. I expect it wont be as busy, so my goal is to carve this linocut.

    preliminary sketch of dog with bone for linocut
    carved linocut of dog holding bone - ready to ink

    almost finished carving!

    animation of ink being rolled onto linocut of dog holding a bone

    Inking the linoleum block

  • Harriett Beecher Stowe – American Hero

    A long time ago, a teacher named Harriett Beecher came to Old Washington to visit. She later became famous for her book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which depicted the cuelty of slavery. Her book was a big influence in the USA’s shift in attitude away from slavery. Part of the inspiration for ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ came from her experiences here in Kentucky, and across the river in Ripley, Ohio.

    Sketch of Harriett Beecher Stowe for linocut
    my sketch for the linocut – Harriett Beecher Stowe

    It’s inspiring how Harriett used her talent to help social progress in the USA. I wanted to honor her with a linocut.

    Harriett Beecher Stowe Notecards hanging to dry
    notecards

    I wanted to portray her with a halo, a quill in hand, her book in the other

    I thought they’d make good notecards. They are a fun way to share art with your friends, and Harriett would probably appreciate seeing us write letters using ink and paper

  • Peace on Earth-from the Log Cabin Print Shop

    partially carved linocut and sketch of a cabin with star over it with text that says peace on earth

    I’m working on a new linocut greeting card for the holiday season.

    carved linocut of cabin with star - ready to be inked

    Peace on Earth is always one of my favorite themes

    notecard of log cabin with star shining over it includes text: peace on earth

    The finished print!!

    drying rack with log cabin notecards

    A batch of hand printed greeting cards, hanging to dry. Wil be ready later this week. Look out for them, and hope you are all having a happy holidays!

  • Bunny Rabbit Block Prints – Work In Progress

    My sketch for a new linocut-a happy bunny with carrot

    sketch of a bunny in front of a house, holding a carrot

    after transfering the design onto a block of linoleum, it’s time to carve!

    a close up of carving a linocut

    the finished design, carved and ready for ink

    carved linocut before printing

    inking the block

    animation of ink being rolled onto linocut

    the finished linocut! Printed on acid free, recycled craft brown paper, with envelope

  • Work in progress- print day: small town, big heart

    Carving is finished, so now its time tonprint the latest linocut.

    photo of ink being rolled over a linocut
    Inking the block
    animation of test proof being revealed
    The proof
    first proof of linocut with a village, sheep, horses and birds
    linocuts hanging in drying rack
    Fresh new linocuts in the drying rack

  • printing and handbuilding in the clay studio: 11 August 2019

    Posted on  by Ken Swinson — Leave a comment

    I’ve been busy in the clay studio. It’s been a learning curve, but I have figured out the technique to transfer designs onto pots.

    redware bowl with white slip and decals
    bees and flower design
    2 shelves with bowls and mugs ready to be fired
    shelf with bird and bee designs-ready for the kiln

    Now that I know what I’m doing I started a new design for rice paper transfers. The theme is Trees and houses.

    positive of design for screenprint houses and trees
    positive of the design

    Today’s burn didn’t work out like I had hoped, but I have another screen ready, and will try again tomorrow

    screen for ceramic decals being exposed in the sun
    Using solar power to expose the design onto the screen

    now it’s time for a new color: Electric Blue!!

    blue underglaze drying to be used for screenprinting
    Electric Blue Underglaze…drying to screen print consistency

    I love surface decoration. One of my favorite forms is the rectangle or oval. It’s almost like a canvas for a traditional painting. Today I handbuilt a small oval plate.

    painting slip over redware plate
    painting white slip on an oval plate

    And I love my critters! Spent some time working on new ones:

    clay sculpture of a cat
    clay cat
    clay sculpture of a cow
    clay cow
    clay sculpture of a dog
    clay dog
    clay sculpture of a pug dog
    another clay dog!

    Stay tuned to see the progress!

  • Printmaking at the Log Cabin Print shop 10 August 2019

    I surprise myself all the time. I never thought I’d ever make functional pottery again, but I think it’s safe to say I’m obsessed! For the last couple of weeks, it’s all I’ve been thinking about.

    Today is printmaking day at the Log Cabin Print Shop. I have my design more or less carved and ready to print. What do you think?

    linocut of potter at wheel
    Ready to print!
    test proof of pottery linocut
    The first proof
    pottery prints hanging on a drying rack
    Today’s printing session

    We didn’t print as much as some saturdays, but we had wonderful company, and a chance to introduce two really good friends to each other. And of course, when I’m having fun, I didn’t get a chance to take a picture of us all having fun! See you all next Saturday!

    artist standing in front of print rack

  • Painting/Printing on clay

    I love jumping between and mixing mediums. I’ve recently been working in clay–after a long break.

    redware mug with flowers and a dog
    A ‘Greenware’ pot – carving done and ready for the kiln

    I’ve been decorating with a technique, called sgraffito, where I scratch the design into the pottery before firing.

    Collection of bisque redware pots
    bisque fired pots-almost finished, just need glaze

    Here’s what sgraffito pots look like after the first fire. I love the contrast between the red and white clays.

    screenprinting screen drying in the sun
    Screen for screenprinting-burned by the sun

    As a printmaker, I have been curious about printing on pots. With the encouragement of a fellow artist/potter, I tried to print decals to apply to clay. After MUCH experimenting, I learned that relief printing does not give a thick enough layer of glaze, so I am taking my woodcuts and linocuts, and using them to make screens for screen printing

    screen printing with ceramic underglaze to make decals
    testing the design

    My only experience with photo transfer screen printing was a few years ago, when I took a workshop in Oaxaca, MX with artist, Marcos Lucero. In the workshop, we used the sun to expose the screen. It’s still taking some trial and error, but I am learning how to get a good exposure. Kentucky sun is different from Mexico sun–we have clouds!!

    close up of ceramic decals
    test print-a little bit overexposed

    Once I master the screen print part of the process (i love learning new things) It’ll be time for a NEW thing to learn: how to print using glaze, and then transfer the designs to clay.

    clay scuplture of chicken lamb and pig
    Painted clay critters-work in progress

    Of course , it’s also possible to PAINT on clay–as long as it isn’t being used for food. These critters are almost finished. I LOVE painting on clay. It reminds me of canvas painting, but the textures and shapes of clay give it a 3rd dimension

    glazed mugs before being fired
    pots being glazed for the final firing

    remember those sgraffito pots at the beginning of this post? Last night, i glazed them, and they are in the kiln cooling. We are going to open the kiln this evening, so stay tuned it’ll be exciting to see my first batch of pots…of course, the first batch is usually when I learn a lot of lessons, so hopefully the kiln gods are not too cruel.