KenSwinson.com

I took my iPad with me to the Asparagus festival last weekend, and did some sketching while enjoying a bluegrass concert in the church.

After getting the hang of it, ipad sketching is similar to using pencil and paper. I try my best to avoid using photos in my work, because i prefer to draw from life…not only does it help me improve my drawing skills, it also allows me to interpret the scene while trying to capture it.

One advantage of the ipad is that I couldn’t see the banjo player from my view, but once i realized he was there, i wanted to include him in the sketch. I simply made a little room, and sketched him in. My favorite app for sketching is Art Studio. It doesn’t have the best brushes, but it will let you make selections and move/scale them, which is a valuable feature during the sketching process

Once my sketch is done, I make some adjustments, and start to fill in the spaces with color

Then I put the drawing through a texture app – (i think this layer was scratchCam)

After texturing, I start working with the paint brushes in Procreate. In my experience, it is the most responsive, natural feeling brush app for the ipad.

I put my images through different apps, (Snapseed, distressedFX, grungeHD, etc) and then stack them in layers in ArtStudio, then draw/paint on top of the composite with Procreate.

Over time, with many layers, textures and brushwork, I will develop an image that is interesting to look at.

The finished artwork…created 100% with iPad

If you love this painting as much as I do, and want to hang it in your home, or give it as a gift, I am printing it on watercolor paper with archival inks. It looks great, and I really appreciate when folks can support my work. You can order one and see more of my work by following this link:

http://kenswinson.com/image/paintings/image_1369248010.jpg.php

My friend, Betsy Adams wanted to try a monotype printmaking technique she recently read about. It involves painting the art on a piece of plexiglass, then transfering it to paper using a press.

I don’t have any experience with this technique, but thought it would be fun, so we met at the Bluegrass Art Center in Old Washington, and spent the day making monotypes.

I have a painting background, so this was an exciting new way for me to combine my love of painting and printmaking.

My neighbor, Claudia Moose, stopped by and made one too!

I love living in a community filled with artists. If you want a good reason to visit, I am having an open house with a FREE garden themed printmaking activity at my house this Saturday May 11 from 12-3pm as part of the Garden Day Celebration in Old Washington.

Yesterday, I met some artist friends at the Bluegrass Art Center, where we made monotype prints

The art is made by covering a piece of plexiglass with ink, then wiping the ink off.

A press is used to transfer the ink from the plate…

and on to the paper

Unlike other printmaking techniques, you can only get one print…so they are originals like a drawing or painting

We also got to experiment with my camera. This photo is a combination of 4 photos. Each of us represent a different stage of the printing process for Judith Foster’s print. She is on the right working on the plate. Mike Cowden is on the left, with the wet paper, Sue Gorman in in the center left putting the print through the press, and i am in the center right, holding the finished print.

I also took this portrait of Concord, KY’s Sue Gorman with her monotypes.

Thank You, Bluegrass Art Center for providing a comfortable place for artists to meet and share their creativity.

If you live in the Cincinnati Metro area and wish you had a chance to try this fun and creative printmaking technique, you are in luck: My sold out Monotype workshop at the Baker Hunt Art and Cultural Center just had 2 openings.
It is this Saturday from 1-4pm and costs $50:
You can sign up here: http://bakerhunt.org/printmaking-silk-screen/

6 second video of me sketching in Augusta, KY

I am interested in the idea of the 6 second video. Is that enough time to tell a story to very busy people?

This video is about a community art program that combined pottery, cooking and music to raise money and awareness for hunger.

For those of you who want more than 6 seconds of video about the project, I am working on it…i have some great interviews with the different organizers and artists involved in the project.

Six second video – how to make a monotype

My friend, Sue Gorman, lives in one of the prettiest areas in Kentucky. It is where the rolling hills start to become Appalachian Mountains. It is scattered with a few small, isolated communities, and is an artists paradise. I’m reluctant to tell everybody about it, because we humans have a tendency to destroy anything nice.

There aren’t many people who would have fun sketching with me, since it involves a lot of standing in one place and enjoying/analyzing the scenery.  However, Sue is a talented landscape artist, and we are both perfectly happy sitting by a covered bridge with our sketchbooks.

I don’t use a lot of photos, and even though I was surrounded by breathtaking scenery, I didn’t take a single picture. Fortunately, Sue shared this photo that she took while we were at the Cabin Creek covered bridge.

Here is a little bit of how my process works. I did 3 different sketches at the Cabin Creek Bridge.  The first sketch is the most realistic. A camera could never photograph this scene, but it has the main elements of the location in the correct place. The first sketch is usually how I get to know the scene.

For the second sketch, I was in the same spot, but I tried to eliminate everything that was not part of the answer to my question, “what is this drawing about?”

This third sketch is from a different view. I moved a few things around so that the design would fill the space a little better. It is still based on a real and true place. Hopefully i didn’t make so many changes that you can’t tell where it is, but at the end of the day, who cares? it looks great, and it’s ART, not a documentary…in my opinion, a photo is better for that job anyway!

This is a different place (Trinity), a different creek (Crooked Creek) it is the first sketch, but I got enough information to come up with a strong painting.

Lucky for me, Lewis county is a short drive from my house. After spending a day there, I am inspired by that area’s natural beauty. I am planning to spend a lot more time there. An artist could spend a lifetime in that small corner of Kentucky and never be bored. Thank you Sue Gorman and Sam Brevard for the hospitality!

Sometimes you don’t have to go far to find inspiration. I was looking at a map of my county, and saw a road that I had never traveled…I thought, “hmm…I am going to take my ipad and see if there is anything on that road worth sketching”

It turned out to be an adventure…complete with a flat tire!

I love railroad tracks and winding roads…

I love how the hills roll in this part of the country, and you can see barns for miles.

I stumbled into an amazing old house beside a creek.

Here’s a simpler version of the same scene…not sure which I like better, but it started raining while I was sketching.

In Kentucky, weather is a big thing because it is so dynamic…it’s not unusual to have storms and rainbows at the same time.

Last one…a long view with a raincloud and sunburst at the same time.  I don’t think I have ever painted rainclouds before, but they might be my new favorite thing.

So, that’s just a few iPad sketches from just one little segment of the road.  It is one of the most beautiful roads I have ever traveled, and less than 5 miles from my house. There is a second part of the road, maybe even prettier than the first…I’ll go back soon.

I am going to paint (yes paint!!!) some of these scenes.  Do you have a favorite sketch?

Earlier this month, I spent some time traveling down the legendary HWY 61.

I saw a unique visitors center after crossing the Mississippi border.

It was a touristy spot, but I am a sucker for old buildings and signs, so I couldn’t resist.

I have been experimenting with GIF animations, and made these to illustrate the hand made printing process I use to make my prints.

Please follow this link to support my work and add one of these fantastic prints to your collection:
http://www.kenswinson.com/image/blockprints/hwy61.jpg.php

I will be sending a newsletter later this week with more pictures and prints created while traveling down the Mississippi River.

My plan is to send 1 or 2 each month. To get an idea of what you can expect, you can see my first newsletter here:

Ken Swinson On The Road Newsletter – http://eepurl.com/vrtq5

I still need to unpack, but I wanted to share this map of my road tripping art adventures of 2013 so far.  If you click the map, it will take you to a more detailed and interactive google map.

I am getting better at travel. The more I see, the more I realize how diverse and awesome the South is. My goal for 2013 is to spend 6 months traveling, so even though I just got home, I am already planing my next trip.

I didn’t think I got a lot of artwork done during this trip, but when I got home, I was surprised to count almost 50 new pieces!  It will take at least a week or so to put them together for my next newsletter, but if you are interested in seeing the latest/greatest artwork, make sure you are on my mailing list.