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snapshots from the 100 cup challenge

I need to practice all the things I learned during my “summer of clay workshops” at Arrowmont. My first project will be to make 100 cups. My goal is to make them all before the end of August, but I like the symbolism of 100 cups in 100 days, so lets make THAT the goal.  

Here are a few cups I have already made. If you are familiar with my work, these forms probably look more refined and less ‘self-taught’! Stay tuned to see what cup #100 looks like. you know what they say about practice makes perfect!

August 2- I had to move things around in my tiny 6x12ft clay studio to make things fit. The new shelf is not as photogenic as my old one, but it holds a LOT more cups! Here are a few of the cups in different stages. My goal is to have enough to fire the kiln next week. I’ll be out of the studio most of today, but I want to get some trimming and handles attached before the day gets started.

100 Cup Challenge UPDATE- August 4

If you caught me throwing cups on the wheel on facebook LIVE this morning, you might remember a curvy, beehive style cup.

I’m sad to announce it lost its battle with gravity, and its final remains will go to the recycle bucket. We already knew that it had some pre existing conditions, so we should be happy that it’s struggle is over. When I tried to flip it over, it wasn’t dry enough to support itself.

Here’s to all the little cups, that don’t make it to the finish line!!! RIP little beehive cup.

100 CUP CHALLENGE UPDATE-August 8
We hit a milestone today! Enough finished cups (i think 28?) to have our first kiln firing! If all goes well, we will have some pretty new cups (or a pile of rubble) to enjoy on wednesday! 

I have 31 MORE cups in different stages of completion. I can already tell, this challenge has been good for me. I’m developing a lot of different skills: throwing, trimming, handbuilding, surface design. 

Stay tuned to see what happens!

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25 July 2022-kiln opening

Today the kiln decided to be really nice to me, and didn’t make rubble out of any of the porcelain plates and bowls that I spent so much time to decorate. (none of the plates seemed to warp either. Lots of bears inspired by my summer at Arrowmont. Also a NEW COLOR!!! I little darker than I expected, but I can adjust it to be more of a bluegrass blue!

If you are familiar with me, you know I ONLY sell my pots in person. No online sales, no shipping. If you would like to have one of these (and support my work) come see me this friday (29 July) at the Pendleton Art Center Cincinnati from 5-9pm. I’m at studio 400.

Hope to see you soon!

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Seth Green Spout workshop at Arrowmont

I was very fortunate to spend last week at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts to learn from Seth Green . It was a wild week and felt like pottery boot camp, so i wasn’t able to think much about video storytelling, but did get enough footage with my phone to give you a little peek at what the experience was like.

I cant recommend Arrowmont or Seth’s workshop enough. If you EVER get a chance to do either, DO IT. I can guarantee you will be glad that you did!

Thanks again!

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pottery intensive week

So far, i’m having a wonderful pottery intensive week. I’ve been able to stay in the ZONE for 3+ days, and hope to keep that momentmum going. My craftsmanship has really leveled up after the last two workshops at Arrowmont. These cups are JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBURG!!! I have beautifully decorated plates and bowls on the drying rack too.

And you will never guess what im going to start next week…but you KNOW it will involve pottery! I’m so excited and grateful! 

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8 July 2022 Kiln Opening

Earlier today, I opened the kiln and welcomed some new porcelain pots to the world!

They are all food/microwave safe, and made to be used.

Swipe/use arrows below to see all the pots in a slideshow

  • porcelain plate with blue goat jumping under a pear tree by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • blue porcelain bowl with intricate blue flower and bird design by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • porcelain blue spice jar by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • porcelain jar by kentucky artist ken swinson blue
  • porcelain blue spice jar by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • red porcelain bowl with a cardinal design by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • green bowl with design of two pigs in love by kentucky artist, ken swinson
  • green porcelain bowl with leaf design by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • green porcelain bowl with bird and flowering tree by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • green horse bowl with bluegrass farm design by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • porcelain cup with bunny and blooms by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • blue porcelain cup with bear design by Kentucky artist ken swinson
  • blue porcelain cup with two bears and a heart by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • blue porcelain cup with bear in flowers by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • porcelain blue cup with bear and flowers by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • blue porcelain cup by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • porcelain pottery cup blue with heart and bunny by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • porcelain cup with bunny and heart blue by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • porcelain blue cup with goat and flowers by kentucky artist ken swinson
  • blue porcelain cup with bird and flowering tree design by kentucky artist ken swinson

Unfortunately, I ONLY sell pottery in person. You can come see me every Final Friday at the Pendleton Art Center in Cincinnati. OR by appointment at my home or studio in Old Washington, KY.

PRICES FOR YOUR REFERENCE
cups and simple bowls: $45
Spice Jars: $60
Bowl Carved inside/out and Goat plate: $100

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Old Washington Paint Group – 6 July 2022

Today’s challenge at the Old Washington wednesday paint group was a bright turquoise pot with yellow marigolds. Here is my underpainting

Starting to add some color to the painting. Yellow and green flowers have been a challenge for me in the past. I’m going to try to keep all the colors, except yellow, toned down, so the yellow pops.

I have color in place. I’m floundering at this point–i haven’t used any cuss words, but the flowers are little yellow ‘monsters’

That’s a wrap! Like I said before, yellow/green floral combinations can be tricky for me, but I’m happy with how this one came out.

Me, the artist, at work! Cameras are a great tool, but sometimes it’s nice to put the technology away and work completely from direct observation…no cameras (or apps). Working directly from life is a great way to experience a subject!

a close up of the finished painting. the colors shine even better in real life–cameras just aren’t the same as experiencing a painting in real life.  

oil on board
12″x16″

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Washington Hall – linocut block print

greetings from the log cabin print shop in Historic old washington, ky! today, we are going to take a sketch from spring, and fine tune it into a design for a notecard.

design transferred to linoleum. now time for the fun part: carving!

this one has some details…thank goodness for my tiny little gouge.
carving text is the WORST! especially o’s. grateful that guttenburg invented “movable type” so printers wouldnt have to carve every letter…unless they want to be fancy, like me. lol!
finished carving…with 10 minutes to spare! should we do a test proof?
ok! lets mix some ink and see what we’ve done!
hot off the press!  
washington hall – old washington, ky

click the link below for a better look and more information- if you’d like to add one of these linocut notecards to your art collection

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Printmaking with rock stars!!

Newspaper clipping from two weeks ago, when Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee-Tina Weymouth (founding member of the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club), stopped by the Log Cabin Print Shop and did some printing with me!

I’m socially awkward enough to NOT know how to act around rock stars, but Tina and Chris Frantz met in ART SCHOOL – where they formed the Talking Heads– and I know how to talk to ARTISTS! we speak the same language. It was truly an honor to have met Tina and Chris! They are as delightful as their music!