printmaking

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a new woodcut at the log cabin print shop

Im carving a new woodcut today at the log cabin print shop. Ill be here until 5pm.

ken swinsos holding woodcut work in progress of birds eating cherries
first cuts of a woodcut of bird with cherry
the first little thief (bird) is more or less carved out
woodcut of birds eating cherrys just started being carved
its too pretty to carve inside, so ive taken my block and knives outside. Using this old bourbon barrel as a stand up outside table
woodcut of birds eating cherrys 3/4th of the way finished carving
still cuttimg… Taking a break to uncramp my hand

that’s all i could do today, but check back next week, i hope to finish carving and print the woodcut!

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Printing With Friends at the Log Cabin Print Shop

I dont have a plan for a particular print, but the studio is open to the public, you are welcome to stop by and see what i end up making…or come to make something yourself. Ill be here until at least 5pm.

still life photo of printmaking materials at the log cabin print shop in Old washington kentucky
photo of a wood model paddleboat
ive decided what to do. I usually dont work from photos, but–at the airport, they have a display of wood models of different riverboats that were used on the Ohio river. I took this photo to use as reference. Im going to start some sketches…it would be a good subject for a woodcut or linocut!
sketch of paddle boat by kentucky artist ken swinson
heres my thumbnail sketch. I shortened the boats length, which is probably a big insult to anyone who really knows these boats, but i want it to fill the space without cutting a custom size block.
painting acrylic paint over linoleum for printmaking
i stained my linoleum with a light coat of acrylic paint. It helps me see the design better while i carve.
2 sketches of a paddleboat by ken swinson
to scale drawing of the boat. Ill trace this onto tracing paper, then (once the acrylic paint is dry) transfer the design onto my block
tracing designs of paddleboat sketches
i have traced the design, and im ready to transfer…but im still waiting for the acrylic to dry. I forgot to eat this morning, so im going to run home and eat while the paint dries (theres nothing sadder than a starving artist, lol!)
photo of printmaking equipment and tacos
back at the studio. Im trying to eat healthy, so i made spinach avocado egg and rice tacos. Hoping the paint will be dry by the time i finish lunch
artist ken swinson printmaking at the log cabin print shop with nick denham and betsy adams
artist friends Betsy Adams and Nicholas Denham stopped by; print party!!!
paddleboat design on linecut...ready to carve
transferred and ready to cut
carved linoleum blocks ready to be inked
our blocks are carved and ready to go through the press
test proof of a linocut portrait of a girl with hat by artist betsy adams
test proof of a linocut of lady playing violin by nick denham
test proof of a paddleboat by artist, ken swinson

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Old Washington Woodcut

You might remember, when a few months ago, I sketched Washington Hall, along with the row of shops on old US Route 62 in Old Washinton.

Sketching With The Ipad – on Old US ROUTE 62 -Old Washington, KY

I have finally finished carving the 9”x24” panoramic woodcut of the scene. My plan for today is to proof it, and then print an edition on paper.

woodcut of washington hall, carved and ready to ink

just printed the rest proof. I am over the moon happy with how it looks!!! maybe a few more bricks around the horse?

woodcut of washington hall in old washington Kentucky by artist ken swinson

carved some more bricks–to bring out the horse… let’s put it through the press and see how it looks!

close up photo of carving a woodcut of washington hall in old washington kentucky

I’m happy… now time to print on the “good” paper

pulling a woodcut of old washington kentucky washington hall by artist ken swinson
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New Woodcut – Morning Run In The Bluegrass

Woodcut of horses frolicing at a horse farm

US Route 62 goes through some beautiful parts of Kentucky’s Bluegrass region. The long views of fences, barns and horses, running in the fields are spectacular.

woodcut with horses running in a field in kentucky work in progress

I wanted to capture that feeling with my latest woodcut.

woodcut with 3 horses running in a field in kentucky bluegrass country
finished carving-ready to print

If you’d like one of these hand pulled woodcuts (and also support my work!) you can order one through my online gallery, or with the button below

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Versailles, KY – woodcut

banner with the map of us 62 with title versailles, kentucky

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.

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Carving-Squirrels Getting Ready For Winter

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

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UPDATE:Bear Under A New Star

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!