Posted on Leave a comment

Repurposing an old paintbox

My friend and neighbor gave me an old paint box that was missing a few screws.

french easel modified to hang on a wall with canvas backdrop

I decided to take the easel part from the reat of the box, then mount it on my wall… Yhat way i get adjustable easel features, without legs taking a lot of prexious space in my studio.

painting of yellow dog with bees and flowers hanging on wall by ken swinson

The easel can hold a pretty large canvas for example, this 28“ tall canvas fits with room for even larger! (pay no attention to the unfinished painting on the wall)

Posted on Leave a comment

open print day at the log cabin print shop

photo of the log cabin print shop. a printmaking co op in old washington kentucky
photo by Jim Turner

Every Saturday the Log Cabin Print shop in Old Washington, KY is open to the public.

artist ken swinson with photographer, chuck moore and daughter at the log cabin print shop
photo by Dustin Cecil

Last week we had a great turnout: Cinci photographer, Chuck Moore came with his daughter, Kennedy.

artist ken swinson giving printmaking instruction at the log cabin print shop in old washigton kentucky
photo by Chuck Moore

Carter county multi media artist, Dustin Cecil, came to print on all sorts of different surfaces; paper, fabric, vinyl, boxer shorts, etc

photo of carter county artist, dustin cecil at the press

We even had a couple of suprise guest artists, our neighbors; Deb and Fred from Virginia!!!

ken swinson at the log cabin printshop with deb and brad in old washington
photo by Chuck Moore

We love it when photographers come to visit.

interior photo of the log cabin print shop in old washington kentucky antique press in the foreground logs and artwork in the background
photo by Chuck Moore

I’m usually too busy working with ink to to take any good photos, thanks to Chuck, we have some great images to remember the weekend. Thanks Chuck!

printmaking at the log cabin print shop in old washington kentucky
photo by Chuck Moore

You can follow more of his work on the instagram: Chuck Moore

and remember, if traditional printmaking looks like something you would like to do, you are welcome to stop by for a visit. The studio is free and open to the public every Saturday from noon-5pm

Posted on Leave a comment

Georgetown, ohio Grant’s childhood home

Today i came to Georgetown, Ohio with a goal of painting US Grant’s Childhood home.

plein air sketch of grants home in georgetown ohio
The childhood home of US Grant

After sketching the front view of the home, i decided that the light wasn’t right for a painting, so i walked around, looking for a better view.

sketch of grants home in georegetown kentucky
The back view of the house

The back of the house had much more interesting light, so i sketched it out, and was surprised that the composition wanted to be a panoramic.

plein air underpainting of grants home in georgetown ohio
The values and composition worked out for the painting

I decided to ignore the bright blue sky, and emphasize the orange bricks and yellow light bouncing off everything

plein air painting by artist ken swinson of grants home in georgetown ohio

Not only did i get a good painting, but i also met quite a few really nice people, like Vince and Bobbi Shelton, a retired couple (celebrating 50 years of marriage) who are traveling to see all the different homes of the different presidents.

two visitors from out of town visiting the grant home in georgetown ohio

They have been to all except, Obama, Ford, Reagan, Nixon, both Adams and Kennedy…isn’t that a cool project!?!

UPDATE i stayed long enough, the light is where i wanted it, so im going to make my original painting. Stay tuned for updates as they happen

plein air setup of grant's home in georgetown ohio
plein air underpainting of grant's home in georgetown kentucky by artist ken swinson
Composition and values worked out…time for color
plein air painting of grant's home in georgetown ohio by ken swinson
Finished! Us grant’s childhood 4 1/2×6″ oil on wood panel
Posted on Leave a comment

3rd Grade Field Day at the Mason County Rec Park

Yesterday, My friend Vicki and I were asked to help with our 3rd grader’s field day, by providing an art activity. Since it’s the end of the school year, We decided to make a thank you book to give the teachers. We talked to the students about the different things they are grateful for, then made paintings!

It was fun! I don’t film other people’s children without their parent’s permission, but still made a few instagram/facebook stories to share while it was happening. I put them together in this short video for my friends who aren’t on social media.

Posted on Leave a comment

Plein Air Painting in Arkansas

I really love Arkansas! Once I crossed the Mississippi river and Missouri, there was a southern vibe I have never experienced. Armadillos, Cotton Fields, and miles and miles of wheat! Much of the landscape is flat, so I can see for miles and miles.

photo of grain mill in corning arkansas

For my first plein air painting, I chose a giant grain silo. Agriculture is such a big part of this area, and with the land being so flat, the grain silos tower over the towns. I decided to stop in in the town of Corning to paint their grain silo because of the muted primary colors: red, yellow and blue.

sketch of grain mill in corning arkansas
the silo is so enormous, i decided to only paint a section of the structure
plein air painting of a grain mill in corning arkansas by ken swinson
plein air painting of grain mill in corning arkansas
Corning AR, 4 1/2×6″ Oil on Wood Panel

I wanted to make a painting to capture the flat landscape of the Mississippi floodplains. Coming from the hills of Kentucky; flat earth takes a little getting used to. Once again, i tried to zoom in, and paint the little farm, far off in the distance

plein air painting of the flat lands near pigot arkansas
Wheat Fields-Arkansas 12×4 1/2″ oil on board

It was a whirlwind trip, but my first time that far west on Us Route 62-I’m looking forward to returning soon to get to know it better and make more art!

Posted on Leave a comment

Maysville from sutton hill

sketch of sutton hill in maysville kentucky

Ive been busy today, doing non art chores and getting ready for an upcoming trip, but i wanted to make at least one painting today, so i am at one of my favorite views of maysville. The view from sutton hill. Its cloudy, a grey day, so im going to have a lot of fun with the red roof and the whites of the buildings

plein air underpainting of sutton hill in maysville kentucky by artist ken swinson
I forgot to being my brushes!!! Good thing i am an art supply hoarder, and found a few brushes in my car. One a little too small, the other a little too big, this will be a fun challenge! Here are the values/composition
plein air painting of sutton hill in maysville kentucky with photo of church city hall and bridge in background
There were some challenges today (wrong brushes, grey day) but i enjoyed working out the problems, and i feel like i captured the moment. I really enjoyed all the color mixing. I might bring out the details of the bridge a little more when i get back in the studio
Posted on Leave a comment

Poppies are popping and the rain is a droppin

The weather forecast has some rain, so im spending the morning in my garden…i dont paint a lot of flowers, but these poppies are too beautiful to ignore.

underpainting of plein air poppies by artist ken swinson
The composition is worked out…time for color-this painting is going to be all about color!
plein air painting of poppies by artist ken swinson
I made it this far before the rain arrived. I decided to do something i hate: i took a photo of my subject, to use as a reference
work in progress photo of plein air painting of poppies by artist ken swinson
The rain passed after a few minutes and i avaoided disaster (having to paint from a photo) now im back in the poppy field
plein air painting of poppies by artist ken swinson
Greetibg from under the tree. Its not raining enough yo run for the porch, but do need some shelter… Still havent had to use my reference photo

I almost abandoned this painting, because the weather kept causing interruptions, and it was getting kind of wild, but i finally have it under control, and see a path to finish…its just down to the details. I have a feeling, like most of my challenging ones, it could turn out to be one of my favorites!

plein air painting of poppies with photo of bright red poppies in the background by artist ken swinson
Finished! Poppies-12″x4 1/2 oil on wood panel

Well, that’s a wrap! I stayed dry for the majority of the painting. I tried mixing colors in a way I never have before, and learned a lot with this one…I had some doubts while working, but I think the finished painting is fantastic! I like the dark, rain storm in the top right corner.

plein air painting of poppies by artist ken swinson
Posted on Leave a comment

The moonlight school morehead ky 8 may 2019

a sketch held beside photo of the moonlight school in morehead kentucky

To continue celebrating teacher appreciation week, im going to make a painting of this famous kentucky schoolhouse. Heres my sketch-im ready to start painting.

plein air underpainting of the moonlight school in morehead kentucky
I have my composition and colors worked out. Now time for color!
plein air painting of the moonlight school in morehead kentucky
The sun is bright today… Its all about blues and purples
photo of plein air painting of the moonlight school in morehead kentucky by artist ken swinson
plein air painting of the moonlight school in morehead kentucky by artist ken swinson
Moonlight school – morehead, ky 4 1/2 x 6″ oil on wood panel

this painting has already found it’s home. You can browse available plein air paintings by visiting my gallery, or clicking here