I’m working on a series of large, hand made woodcut prints. I and wanted to share my latest, “Flannery’s Dream” the video below shows some of the process in making it:
“Flannery’s Dream” is a Kentucky folk story about a fiddler who was challenged to play a tune that had never heard before. He exhausted all the tunes he knew–without succeeding, then fell asleep. In his dream, he saw a bear with a fiddle. The bear chased him while playing a tune. The next day, he remembered the tune, and won the challenge!!!
If you’d like to support my work and have one of these woodcuts for your art collection. I am selling them for $60.
I love the tradition of the county fair, and 4H children’s livestock presentation in particular. When everything goes right, the competition reminds me of ballet with animals. When things go wrong…that’s a lot of fun to watch too!
Here’s my latest print to celebrate the awesome kids who work all year to show off their 4H projects at the county fair. It’s another big one 15″x22″. If you live in the USA and would like one for your collection, buy one, and i’ll even ship it to you for free!
I made a short video of Old Washington’s recent: Arts of all sorts. The video was LIVE, so it’s a little bit shaky and I did do any editing, but it takes you into the moment of visiting our little village during an art activity. I’m so lucky to be a part of such a creative community. Thanks everyone for making it possible!
If you don’t have the time to watch the whole video, here are a few photos of the video’s highlights.
August 30 th, 2018 was our 12th monthly artZINE in Sandy Hook, KY. Our theme was – Life Turns Full Circle We met at the Gallatin County Public Library in Warsaw, KY. This artZINE #12 is significant because it completes our FIRST YEAR OF ARTZINE! When we started this project, we had no idea of how many interesting people and places we would meet. Thank you everyone for participtating and sharing your talents!
Now that we have completed a full year, it’s with a little bit of sadness to let you know we are going to take a hiatus from our monthly artZINES. We need some time to analyze what we’ve learned this past year before restructuring and starting phase 2 of the artZINE project.
Here are the pages of #12. Click any of the images (or right here) to see/download/print all the pages from the zine (including the 12 different hand painted covers).
Thank you everyone for participating and a special thank you to the Gallatin County Public Library and the Noe family for hosting this month’s artZINE.
You can see/download a copy of the entire artZINE (including the 12 handpainted covers) Click Here
For August’s ArtZINE, our theme is: Life Turns Full Circle. We are celebrating a full year of visiting different small towns and collaborating with local and visiting artists. I have enjoyed exploring the different small towns, but my favorite part of the project are the new friends I have made while visitng their communities. We are meeting August 30th in Warsaw, KY. You are welcome to join us.
For my entry, I decided to carve a woodcut poster. I haven’t carved a woodcut this size before, but once I settled into the rhythm of carving, it went smooth. Here are some photos and videos of the process:
Sketch on the block of wood
slow and steady…carving the first bird. (with Lulubelle’s Supervision)
more progress…
the carved block…ready for a test print!
The Test proof!
I have wanted to start making something that is big, affordable, and still original art, crafted by my hands (not gliclees or reproductions). I know a lot of people who love original art, and have big spaces on their walls, but they don’t have a big art budget. I think that woodcut posters could be the perfect solution.
I am printing this woodcut on a heavyweight, acid free 100% cotton paper. The artwork is 12 1/2″x20″ The paper is 15″x22″
The posters are signed, but not limited or numbered; which lets me get the price down to $60. I’m still going to offer free shipping in the USA, however, the art will be rolled in a tube, instead of mailed flat.
If you are familiar with my work, you know that this is a great price for one of my woodcuts at this size. If I get a good response from this poster, I hope to be able to create more soon. Thanks everyone for supporting my work!
a few snapshots from the last day of our 4 day printmaking workshop at the baker hunt art and culture center. we covered a LOT of printmaking technique in a short amount of time. lucky for me, I had super talented artists for students.
July 25th, 2018 was our 11th monthly artZINE in Sandy Hook, KY. Our theme was – HOME. We met outdoor at Lakeside Elementary School in Elliot County, KY. We were particularly excited to visit Sandy Hook because of it’s rich Folk Art Heritage. Here are the pages. Click any of the images (or right here) to see/download/print all the pages from the zine (including 10 different hand painted covers).
Thanks everyone for participating! August’s artZINE will be in Warsaw, KY. On August 30th. The theme is: LIFE COMES FULL CIRCLE.
1-introductionMadison GormanSue Ellen GormanJoyce SkaggsKen SwinsonTabitha DialMisty SkaggsLorie ConleyBonita Skaggs ParsonsAnna Maria Selvaggio – ONLINE ENTRYContributors
Thank you everyone for participating and a special thank you to Lakeside Elementary School and the Skaggs family for hosting this month’s artZINE.
You can see/download a copy of the entire artZINE (including the 10 handpainted covers) by clicking here.
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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.
You can visit Ken every Final Friday of the month at studio 400 at the Pendleton Art Center in downtown Cincinnati or by appointment.
