Here is the final printing of my 16×20 squirrels woodcut. Winter is coming, so they are getting their food storage together.
They are dry, and I’m happy to mail one to you. You can order one (and support my work) using the button below.
I’m working on a project about US Route 62. It’s one of the early US Highways. The road runs from Niagiara Falls, NY to El Paso, TX.
Versailles, KY has a special place in my heart, not only because it on on US 62, but it is the home of Laura Lee Cundiff, the artist who blessed us with her press (which now lives at the Log Cabin Print Shop)
If you follow me on the Instagram, you might remember this video I shared of the live sketches I made while visiting Versailles.
Whenever I visit a small town for the first time, the town square is one of the places I always stop. Each courthouse has its own personality–and I find it to usually represent the ‘heart’ of the community.
Versailles has a charming little church beside/behind their courthouse. US Route 62 is lined with small businesses. A few, with an impressive dome or steeple. I’m always looking for architecture that breaks up the empty space in the sky. This scene in Versailles had all my favorite things, so I squeezed them together in this woodcut.
Today, I carved my latest woodcut; Squirrels getting ready for winter.
Over the last year, I have been learning to print larger. (one secret is to use bigger knives) I want to make original, hand printed art that can fill a large space (while still being affordable). I’m thinking of younger people, just starting to put a house and art collection together. 16×20″ is a big size for me, but I really love working in this scale. Compared to working in smaller formats, these really make a great presentation
It took the whole day (and cramped hands) to carve the print, so I squeezed the whole process into 30 seconds. My plan is to print it tomorrow at the studio. Keep visiting this website for updates to see progress on this print (and my other projects)!
thanks
Update: Here’s a video of the carving/inking/printing of my latest woodcut…i think it came out great!!! One thing I love about big prints is that their presence changes the entire room. This one really cheers the place up. It’ll probably take a week to dry. Once it is, i’ll offer it to you all in the online gallery
If you would like to have one for your art collection, use the button below, and I’ll mail you one!
I liked my christmas card – Bear In The Woods – so much I decided to carve it poster size 16×20″ Here’s a little animation of the carving process. I’ll update when it goes through the press tonight or tomorrow at the latest.
After a busy week of studio work and traveling to see family, I was greeted by 4 new cans of printmaking ink. It was delivered to my doorstep.For the next week, you can find me busy carving, mixing ink and printmaking like a madman.
I’m still carving: haven’t had a chance to print these new colors yet. I did get to test them on paper–to see how they look. My favorite blue is pthalo, so I’m hopeful I can learn to work with ultramarine.
Here’s a preview of what I’m carving today. It’s the courthouse and church at Versailles, KY. The street in front of the courthouse is US ROUTE 62: one of the old highways from the 1930’s. It happens to also go right by my house and studio in Old Washington!
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!
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.
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.
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
stay tuned for more soon!
PROGRESS REPORT:
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)
Will carve later this evening and update with photos of the finished print.
GREETINGS FROM HISTORIC US ROUTE 62
Ken is a self-taught artist from rural Kentucky, whose work includes painting, printmaking, and pottery. He considers himself to be a 'lifetime learner' and uses art to explore and learn more about the world around him. Much of his work reflect his optimistic views on rural folk culture, river life and simple pleasures.
