KenSwinson.com

Sorry for taking so long to write an update.  June is my one of my busiest months, and it’s hard to sit still and write. 

I want to thank everyone who came out to support me at my different events (you know who you are!).  I’m living my dream, and you all make it possible. 

Saturday, I took my press to Berea for a demonstration of monotype printmaking at the Kentucky Artisan Center At Berea. 

If you are ever traveling down I-75, be sure to stop.  The state-run facility showcases Kentucky artists and craftsmen.

It really makes me proud to be a Kentucky artist.  It’s refreshing to see a government program created to promote it’s local artists/craftsmen.

here are a few more monotypes created during the demo:

Thanks again to the folks who came to watch me and the press.  And a special thanks to Gwen Heffner at the Artisan Center for the photographs.

Also, The truck full of dogs monotype is sold!

To kick off the summer, I spend a little time volunteering at Art Camp.  This year, I taught monotype printmaking to our area’s young artists.

I learn more than the kids…they are natural creative folks.

Summer is a great time for going outside.  I am trying to start a tradition with my artist friends of having a picnic once a week. 

Seurat’s classic painting is the inspiration for this new activity.  I call it my ‘picnic therapy’.  We chose the date based on the weather report.  If you want to join us, get your picnic basket and monkey ready, and get in touch with me for details.

One Last Thing:  This weekend is your last chance to see me and my art for the season.  I don’t have another scheduled until October…Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival is one of my all time favorite art shows…I have some exciting new pieces that you can add to your collection.  Click their logo for more information.

To celebrate Flag Day, I wanted to show off my American Flag.

My house was built in the 1790’s and is one of the first in Kentucky.  I wanted a flag that was flown when the house was built.  The 15 star flag was used from 1795-1818,  when Kentucky and Vermont joined the US.  It is the only US flag to also have 15 stripes.  It is nicknamed “The Star Spangled Banner” , because it is the flag that Francis Scott Key wrote our National Anthem about.

So next time you drive down Old Main Street in Old Washington, slow down and take a closer look at the flag hanging at my house.  It’s a piece of history!

This Saturday June 12, Downtown Maysville has a wine/art festival on Market street.  It’s a charming event surrounded by stunning architecture on a brick road beside our fountain with art, live music and wine from local wineries. 

I’m going to try something different.

I am exploring the art of traditional printmaking.  I’m bringing my antique etching press to the event to setup a temporary print shop. 

I spent the week carving a woodcut especially for this festival.  It’s appropriately a vine of grapes. 

Here’s the interesting part…

I am going to have a special edition of prints, but they will only be printed AT THE FESTIVAL.  Which means, if 2 people buy the print, it will be a very rare edition of 2.  If 30 people buy a print, it will be a special edition of 30.   They will all be printed on site.

You can read more about woodcuts here:
http://kenswinson.com/woodcuts.html

These are sample prints…to make sure the wood block was cut properly.

This will be a great addition to your art collection…so come early if you want the number one print.  If you haven’t had too much wine, you can help put your print through the press.  I am also going to print a few monotypes…which is fascinating to watch.

Read more about monotypes here:
http://kenswinson.com/monotypes.html

One More Thing!!
I have updated the gallery on my website.  Unveiling 5 new paintings.  You can see them here:
http://kenswinson.com/paintings.html

I am trying to eat locally grown food while it is in season.  It’s food at it’s best, and it supports our local farmers.

In my neck of the woods, May is the month of Asparagus!  I eat the stuff almost every day (often twice a day!)   Sadly, those days are coming to an end.  Farmers stop picking in June.  I want to eat the delicious green vegetable later in the year (and stay local), so I’ll pickle the asparagus.

Local farmer, Jennifer Gleason stopped by to give me a crash course in pickling.

Aren’t they beautiful?

If you need pickled asparagus, visit Jennifer’s farm, Sunflower Sundries, where she sells her incredible pickled asparagus.

I joined artist, Betsy Adams for an afternoon of Asparagus painting.  We meet every first Wednesday of the month.  We are thinking of using a different local fruit/vegetable as the model each month. 

  She worked in pastel.

I worked in monotype. (sorry folks, this one instantly found a home)

If you are in the Northern Kentucky area, and need a piece for your collection, don’t forget…

Augusta’s Art In The Garden is this Saturday from 10-5pm.  I’ll have work on display at Riverside drive with some new, never before seen originals.  

Saturday was Burlington, Ky’s second annual Chalk Festival. 

For those who weren’t able to come, here’s a short video of me and my chalk art.

If you can’t see the video here, follow this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2bA5HqFJXc

After the festival, I enjoyed an amazing meal at the historic Tousey House Tavern.  Butch Wainscott and his wife  (and artist) , Mary Ann have created a culinary experience.  Incredible food in a historic setting…well worth the drive and a day in the sun. 

I hit the ground running this May.  First, Maysville had their annual Art Walk.  Seven banners of my work were hung in the Second street mall.  The art walk was well attended.  It was nice to see so many friends.

Me and the great Maysville folks who are making the Cultural Arts District happen in Maysville.

The next day, was the Duveneck Art Show in Covington. 

The show is right on the river, facing Cincinnati.  Where we could watch the Reds game (they won BTW).  It was a great show!  The folks in Covington really make their artists feel welcome.  After each show, they have a party for the artists in a beautiful lawn with incredible food.

Immediately after the show, I drove to Georgia to spend a day with my family.  My little brother is leaving for Iraq soon, and the family needed to get together.

I hurried back to Kentucky to get ready for the May’s Lick Asparagus Festival.  Every year, the festival has an art contest.  My entry was my first attempt at an animation.  IT WON FIRST PLACE!!!  You can see it on youTube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyJTNYTNOds

The next day after the Asparagus festival, was the Wyoming Art Show.  There was a little bit of rain, but a remarkable turnout, good sales, and I WON THE OUTSIDE EXHIBITOR AWARD! 

I had my bike, map and other artifacts from my recent trip…along with a new major painting…

Titled, ‘Bike Ride’  a large mixed media on paper.

In the last 2 months, I moved to a new home/studio, rode my bike for 600 miles, along with a handful of other interesting projects. 

One in particular will be unveiled tomorrow (Friday evening, May 7, 2010) at 5pm at the Second Street Mall in Downtown Maysville.  I was commissioned by the Downtown Maysville Cultural Arts District to design a series of seven banners to  illustrate some of the wonderful things about our community. 

I won’t reveal the entire design, but here are a few teasers…

If you want to see them in person, the reception will be downtown during Maysville’s Tromp + Trolley, a fabulous evening with artists and their work throughout downtown Maysville. 

I will have a small exhibit of relics from my bicycle trip on display at the Parker Travel Agency on Market street…including my bike and a map with photos.  While you are there, talk to Matt about a taking a bicycle vacation of your own.

If you want to buy a piece of my work for your collection (or a mother’s day gift), visit the E.A.T. gallery on Second Street, where a great selection of originals and prints are for sale.  While at the gallery, meet world famous jeweler,  Christina Brandewie.  Her gorgeous jewelry will sparkle you.

There will be entertainment, food, free trolley rides and an opportunity to see and meet dozens of our local artists and enjoy the breathtaking architecture of Downtown Maysville, KY. 

—-IMPORTANT—-

The Duveneck Art Show in Covington is on Sunday NOT Saturday.  If you can’t make it to Maysville, and would like to see me and my work, The show is on the river in Historic Covington from noon to 5pm.  It’ll be a great Mother’s Day activity!

There’s a little gap in updates. When I arrived in Washington, all my time was spent with family and friends.  I have been home for almost a week, and finally got a chance to sit still and write about the last leg of my trip.

In my last post, I was still on the C&O canal near Harper’s Ferry.  The canal is a great bike trail…surrounded by water, mountains and forest.

Part of the trail was washed out from flooding.  I took a detour through some beautiful countryside…

and Historic Farms…

I crossed the Potomac River into Virginia on the historic White’s Ferry. 

(I actually got to ride the Ferry 3 times…because I dropped my glove on the Maryland side)

My only photo on the home stretch was the endless parade of cars while waiting to cross the street.  I should have taken more pictures in Virginia, but I was eager to get to a warm meal and hot tub at my sister’s house. 

She’s pregnant with her first baby…and by her request, there aren’t any pregnant sister photos (women can be funny) but take my word for it, she’s beautiful….and pregnant!

I chose the National Gallery of Art as my monument of choice for the “me in Washington” photo.  I spent an entire day at the gallery with one of Washington’s most brilliant minds…Melissa Taylor, a talented playwright and artist.

I also had a chance to meet up with the incredible Jessica Cain.  The stars were lined perfectly, and I got to introduce my favorite singer/actress to my favorite playwright…who knows what kind of wonderful trouble can happen with that kind of meeting of the minds?  Our time together will be a blog post of it’s own.

Thank you EVERYONE for your support during this trip.

If you would like a sneak peek of the artwork created during the trip. 

• This Friday, May 7th.  My bicycle and a few selected works will be on display at the Parker Travel Agency at Market Street as part of Downtown Maysville’s Art Walk 5-9pm.
• Saturday, May 8th a few selected works will be part of the Duveneck Art Show along the Ohio River in Covington, KY 12-6pm.

The original work will not be available for sale until later this summer.  I will have a special exhibit with the artwork, bicycle, maps and interactive media…stay tuned

After 2 days of mountaineering, I arrived at the trail head for the C&O bike/hike trail in Cumberland, MD.

Nestled in the mountains along the Potomac river, Cumberland is a gorgeous little city.

With rich history and architecture

The C&O canal trail is an old tow path from long ago when a mule pulled boats through a canal for transportation.  It is part of our national parks.

Canal on left, Potomac river on right.

The trail is relatively flat, and motor vehicles are prohibited…a relief for a weary road warrior.

the park offers campsites and water pumps and outhouses along the trail.

Along the canal, there are locks with a small white house for the lock’s operator

(i don’t like riding a bike through tunnels…but it’s better than going OVER mountains)

A thunderstorm came as I went through the Paw Paw tunnel

after the thunderstorm, the weather went from the 80s, to the 50s.  (30s at night)

It’s amazing that men dug this 184mile canal before bulldozers.

I’m prepared for the cold weather, but the closer I got to Washington, the faster I pedaled…stopping less and less to paint and sketch.

I’m so close to Fairfax, where my sister lives, and I can rest my aching legs, and take a hot bath.

Only 1 or 2 days to go!!!