KenSwinson.com

The first Wednesday of the month, local artists meet at the Ohio River Valley Artist Guild for Still Life painting.

I worked in monotype, and brought enough supplies to share.  Here’s the artwork before going through the press.

Sue Gorman created a beautiful peacock in monotype.

Judith Foster painting.

Marilyn Lustik working in pastels.

Jennifer Gleason working in monotype.

Linda Kratzer, painting with a palette knife.

Guild director, Claudia Moose, setting up the still life.

My finished print.  I was interested in using strong line and black space. I’m very happy with it, and would like to do a series in this style.

I switched to a larger plate size for my monotypes.  With a printed surface of 8”x10”  I’m able to create more complicated monotypes.

Pig On Bike

 
Community Meeting

Pig In The House

 
Boat Ride

As always, this work is for sale.  You can buy with archival matting in a handmade (by the artist) frame for $140 or unframed for $70

Also, last weekend I participated in the Lake Waynoka Paint Out.  Here’s a 1 minute video:

follow this link if video does not appear above:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2m_Lyk_iCY

I have been busy pushing ink through the press, and wanted to give you folks a chance to see what is coming out.

Here’s a short video of my latest/greatest coming through the press:

Follow this link if you can’t see the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-2FO2VLNfQ

 
Sold!
This Little Piggy is SOLD, but I am still looking for a home for these other great monotypes.
They sell for $60 unframed or $120 framed with archival matting and handmade frame by the artist.

Night Flight

Cow On Bike

Over The Top

Flying Cow

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:

Sold!

Sold!

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.

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.

For the past few months, my website has undergone major changes.  This coincides with changes taking place in my studio and personal life.

The new gallery features my latest work in monotype. 
Please visit by following this link:

http://www.kenswinson.com/gallery.html

Thank you for any feedback.

While speaking of monotypes…The monotype for the Museum Center’s auction went well.  You can read about it (and see the finished piece) on my blog by following this link:

http://www.kenswinson.com/wordpress/?p=1068

The Kentucky Gateway Museum Center has been a good supporter of the arts in our area, so I wanted to donate something really special for their annual fundraising auction.

I’m bringing my beloved press to the auction where I’ll print a monotype just seconds before it is auctioned…still wet. 

Today, I went downtown to sketch the museum and get an idea for the monotype. 

I spent the rest of the day working on the monotype.  It’s almost finished, and looks incredible!  It was a challenge working in ‘reverse’ on the plate, but I have a feeling the final piece is going to be amazing. 

The monotype process is unique, because ink is REMOVED to create the image. (instead of added)  You can see a short movie example of how to create a monotype by clicking here.

I’m nervous, because I don’t like groups of people, and there is a possibility the monotype will not come out as expected. 

Please come to the auction tomorrow, March 5th, to see it created (and possibly win my latest/greatest work of art)…and most important, support the museum.  It’s a great cause.

Here’s the Museum Center’s website for more details:  www.kygmc.org

Update–

Auctioneer extraordinaire, Mike Thomas, did a great job of setting the stage to explain what was happening.  The print came out better than I expected.  See for yourself:

I didn’t stay to watch the bidding on my print (it makes me uncomfortable) but it quickly went over $100 before the print even went through the press.  After breathing fresh air for a few minutes, I learned that the print sold for close to $500 to Claudia Moose. 

The print could not have a better home.  Claudia and her husband Jim have been great patrons of the arts and museum in Maysville…we are lucky to have them.

A short video of me demonstrating the monotype technique. 

I discovered a family of raccoons living under my new house/studio. After negotiations, they still live under the house, but I have had great inspiration for my latest artwork.

If you can’t see the video above, click this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvUqC7ximjw