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artZINE June 2018 – Barboursville, WV – The Longest Day

artzine cover for barboursville west virginia

June 21st, 2018 was our 10th monthly artZINE in Barboursville, WV. Our theme was – THE LONGEST DAY. We met outdoor at Barboursville Park, so the weather was not ideal, still we had a good turnout, and a great time. Here are the pages. Click any of the images (or right here) to see/download/print all the pages from the zine (including 10 different hand painted covers).

If you’d like to download and print your own copy of the zine, a printable PDF of the zine here: https://1drv.ms/b/s!AtHTtTOFjtUTpSayhPHharQKTZvA

Thanks everyone for participating! July’s artZINE will be in Sandy Hook, KY. We are still waiting to confirm the date and location.

Introduction
Larry K. Brumfield
Kerry Bart
Rosemary Topie
David Ryan
Sassa Wilkes
Ken Swinson
Lynn Goodman
Mark Connelly
Contributors

Thanks everyone for participating…especially considering the wet weather.

and a special thank you to Larry K. Brumfield for hosting this month’s artZINE.

You can see/download a copy of the entire artZINE (including the 10 handpainted covers) by clicking here.

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Route 62 : Shell Gas Station, Russellville, OH

photo banner for skips garage in russellville ohio

I live on US Route 62, and have an idea of a project where I explore the road from end (Niagara falls, Canada) to end (ciudad Juarez, México) this weekend, I took my first trip along the Highway (to Grove city, oh) this is an old highway, and there is a lot of nostalgia from when this was a main road, so and I thought the perfect first linocut for this project would be Skip’s garage in Russellville.

If you’d like one of the linocuts, I’m selling them for $20 (free shipping to the USA) to raise money for more travel along US Route 62

4 1/2″ x 6″ hand carved block prints printed on a 8×10″ sheet of printmaking paper, signed by the artist.

Using an old-fashioned etching press, this is a hand printed work of art, and there is some variety in each print, yours may differ slightly from the photo.

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artZINE May2018-Mt. Sterling, KY – NEVER AGAIN

artZine handpainted covers mt sterling kentucky

May 31st, 2018 was our  9th monthly Art Zine in Mt. Sterling, KY. Our theme was – NEVER AGAIN. Here are the pages. Click any of the images (or right here)to see /download/print all the pages from the zine (including the 15 different hand painted covers).

If you’d like to download and print your own copy of our zine, a printable PDF of the zine here: https://1drv.ms/b/s!AtHTtTOFjtUTpRCLqZdp-dmWU8zh

thanks everyone for participating! June’s ArtZINE will be in Barboursville on the 21st at Barboursville Park (Shelter #3) our theme is ‘THE LONGEST DAY’

Introduction
Kay Schafer
Anna Tufono
Vicki Wenz
Melissa Smathers-Barnes
Sue Ellen Gorman
Gayle Massie
Ken Swinson
Suzanne Pick
contributors

Thanks everyone for participating…and especially the Montgomery County Public Library for hosting May’s artZine.

You can see/download a copy of the entire artZINE (including 15 handpainted covers) by clicking here.

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Downtown Cincinnati/Over-The-Rhine Sketch Trip

sketch trip downtown and over the rhine cincinnati ohio

My studio is in an interesting part of Cincinnati. It overlooks the business district and the historic neighborhood, Over-The-Rhine. If I ever need inspiration I just look out the window

kentucky artist sketching the view of cincinnati ohio with an ipad v

There is so much in one view, i can’t fit it all into one sketch.

Here’s my sketch of downtown. I like the contrast between the old church in the foreground and the modern towers in the background.

ipad sketch of cincinnati view ohio
ipad sketch of the pendleton neighborhood in cincinnati ohio

Over-The-Rhine is unique because of the concentration of old buildings in an urban space. Recently, filmmakers have started coming to OTR to use as a set for New York City in the early 1900s.

ipad sketch of music hall in the over the rhine neighborhood of cincinnati ohio

The crown jewel of the neighborhood is  the newly renovated, Music Hall: featured in the middle of this sketch.

ipad drawing of music hall in cincinnati ohio, over the rhine

I’ll probably use these sketches as a study for a woodcut(s). There is so much interesting geometry (and all the windows!!!) it would be awesome to print.

If you would like to visit my studio, it will be open to the public this Friday from 6-10pm. The 8 story warehouse is filled with over 200 art studios to explore. This opportunity only comes once a month. More info here: Pendleton Art Center-Cincinnati.

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2 Weeks Of Bullet Journaling

composition book two weeks of bullet journaling

Organization is not easy for me. I’ll have a broad range of different thoughts at once. It can be a beautiful thing, but quickly tailspin into chaos and dysfunction. I don’t think this is a unique struggle. Since our adoption of so much technology into our daily lives, we have been immersed in an massive amount of information…Not to mention tech companies constantly competing for our attention.  It’s becoming a norm for the people I meet to be overwhelmed, easily distracted and unorganized.

handmade leather journal by Mea Dewers in Augusta Kentukcy

Two weeks ago, a friend gave me a quick glimpse at their Bullet Journal. It was filled with colorful drawings and doodles; enough to spark my interest and to want to learn more. You can do a quick web search to learn more about the Bullet Journal. I have been using one for the last two weeks, and here are some of my thoughts:

Paper Is A Refreshing Change

animation of bookbinding by hand

There have been studies that show a hand written note on paper is easier to remember than a note typed into a computer or cell phone.

Working in a paper notebook has less distractions. The apps on my phone have been designed to constantly try to get my attention. A notebook has no apps and getting away from the phone helps me to focus.

Its nice to be able to flip through my notebook. I’ll get a glimpse of an ongoing project, and it reminds me to think about it. Often, my digital notes disappear into a void; never to be seen again.

I Feel Like I Am Staying On Track

I keep my Bullet Journal open on my desk. The constant visual reminder helps me to stay focused on the day’s goals. Even when I don’t get something done, the unfinished goals follow me to the next day. Now that I have a place to store my random thoughts, I can see the different pieces come togething into something useful.

Less Frills == Better For Me

a hand writing in a journal

The colorful drawings and charts that are possible are what got me interested in Bullet Journaling. I have since learned that a minimal style notebook is a better fit for my personality (for now). I get to draw and use colors all day in my studio, I don’t need a journal for a creative outlet: I need to quickly store and retrieve information. The plain black pen works for me.

Two weeks might not be enough time to determine whether or not this will be a useful tool or not, but my first impressions are good. Certainly good enough to continue using this system. If you are looking for a system to keep yourself organized, you might consider the Bullet Journal.

handwriting in a journal

*Fun Fact: I wrote this blog post on paper before typing it on the computer.

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New Maysville Panoramic Woodcut

Last week, I did some sketching around Maysville, KY, and asked my friends on social media…which sketch should I make into a woodcut. The feedback was divided, so I chose #1 of the 3 sketches.

Here’s my progress so far:

design on woodblock of maysville kentucky for woodcut printmaking
I reversed and transferred the sketch onto a block of wood
first cuts in a reduction woodcut by kentucky artist ken swinson
Then carved away all the parts I want to be WHITE
first color in a reduction print of maysville kentucky by ken swinson
I printed my lightest color: a light, light brown. Then carved the brown areas, and inked again with the second lightest color: light grey
darker grey print of maysville kentucky by artist ken swinson printmaking
on porch carving a reduction woodcut with dogs watching
We are having good porch weather, so on the 3rd day, I sat on the porch, and carved my 3rd color: a light blue
adding light yellow to a reduction print woodcut
My 4th and 5th colors  (light green and light purple) were far enough from each other, I was able to print them at the same time
revealing yellow color for a reduction woodcut

Stay tuned, I’m carving and printing every day. I’ll have another progress report soon.

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Afternoon Sketches In Maysville

overlook view of downtown maysville kentucky from bank street

Yesterday, I went down to the river to do some sketching. Maysville is charming little river town. One of it’s distinguishing features is a suspension bridge that connects Kentucky and Ohio.

My first sketch was the view from bank and 6th street. It’s a great view of the town. I decided to do a panoramic drawing, to give a wider view of the place.

ipad sketch of maysville kentucky

My second sketch was the corner by the Rotory Club Park…where the road goes under the train tracks.

ipad sketch of downtown maysville kentucky

I think the theme for today is ‘bridges’

ipad sketch of the bridge in downtown maysville kentucky

For my final sketch, I crossed the river, and sketched the town from the river park in Aberdeen, Ohio.

ipad sketch of downtown maysville kentucky from aberdeen ohio

You can probably tell that the sun was going down at this point, so I didn’t get to put all the details into this sketch, but the composition is all worked out.

What a great day of sketching! Of course, Maysville is such a pretty town, it’s not possible to get a bad drawing.

I’m going to make a woodcut of at least one of these sketches. Help me decide, and let me know which sketch is your favorite.

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Variable Edition Block Prints

framed watecolor linocut of truck driving through country scene with sheep in kentucky


I have been experimenting with a technique, where I paint watercolors over a linocut.

limited edition of variable edition watercolor linocut

It’s a kind of hybrid work of art. It’s part an original painting, and part printmaking. After some research, i decided to limit the times I paint this particular print to 5. The ev after the number means the edition is variable. Even though the design comes from the same block, the colors are different each time.

If you’d like to see this in person, you can see me this Saturday at the Duveneck Art Show in Covington, KY. It’s in George Rogers Clark park (right across the river from downtown Cincinnati) from noon-5pm. hope to see you there!