Next week, I am meeting a group of artists in Vanceburg, Ky for an art project; so I recently took a few sketching trips throughout Lewis County.
Lewis county is where the Kentucky hills along the Ohio River start to grow into mountains. Beautiful country! I stopped by this farm scene to do a little bit of sketching.
I like this scene so much, I decided to carve it into a linoleum block print. I decided to replace the haybales with cows, but feel like I captured the feeling of the scene.
A few people have asked me for more information about how I am framing my latest prints. Here’s some more information with photos.
My latest prints are in a panoramic profile: the carving is 4 1/2″ x 12″. I print on a 10″ x 16″ acid-free, cotton paper.
I make one kind of frame. It’s made from wood, and I use a 100% rag matt to keep the paper from the glass.
The frames have a simple, flat profile. I cover them with 3 coats of paint, and then give them a distressed effect, which brings out some of the natural aspects (like grain and occasional knots) of the wood.
I take a lot of pride in my frames, and sign them: handmade frame by Ken Swinson, just like I would the actual artwork.
I recently spent some time in Ripley, Ohio for a project, and was inspired to make this linocut of the John Rankin House: which overlooks the Ohio River and the Village of Ripley. Rev John Parker was an important part of the underground railroad, and many people stopped at his house in their journey to freedom.
About 10 years ago, I was given a month-long artist residency at Artcroft. My memories get a little bit fuzzy with the passing of time, but fortunately, I wrote a blog post every day of the experience. Looking back, that month was one of the defining moments of my art career.
Having a solid month to focus on my artwork, allowed me to create over 40 new works of art. I have probably never been so productive. I think this photo is from day 7.
I made friends with fellow artists from all over the world. Sharing a space, and getting to know, so many creative people from different walks of life, opened my mind to more possibilities of what it means to be an artist.
I helped deliver and care for baby goats (Triplets)
After the residency, I didn’t return to my part time job, and have been a full time artist ever since.
Artcroft’s program has shifted a little bit over the years. They (Artcroft’s Founders-Robert and Maureen Barker) are helping to revitalize the small town of Millersburg, KY by replacing abandoned buildings in it’s town square with gallery/studio/arts education spaces as well as a cafe.
This Saturday, they are sponsoring an art & antique show in Millersburg. I will be there, and hope you will come support this wonderful project: www.Artcroft.org
Its always exciting to see my artwork in other people’s homes. It’s the last part of the painting process, and I don’t always get to see it.
So you can imagine how excited I was- to see my art work show up on Sweet Tea For You’s Instagram feed as part of a design for a client.
Thank You, Renea, for including my work in your work! Not only do I love Renea’s style, but she is one of those, community minded, creative people who live in the Ohio River Valley Neighborhood (Ripley, Oh), and I am glad we are neighbors. If you like interior design, or Ripley, Ohio, visit her facebook page at- https://www.facebook.com/pg/Sweet-Tea-For-You-492279924266987 , and give her page a ‘like’.
I’m watching the eclipse from my studio. The view looks like this:
Yes, it’s finished (even framed), Oil on Canvas – 20×24″ –I wasn’t going to show it off until this Final Friday at the Pendleton Art Center, BUT in honor of the eclipse, i’m showing it off today.
As of this moment, the original is available, prints too. Click the image below for more details. Enjoy the eclipse, everyone!
I’m really not that surprised. It is beautiful out here. We are on the Ohio river and there are a lot of our downtown’s old time architecture is still in place. The neighborhood where I live, Old Washington, is one of Kentucky’s first settlements.
The community is VERY supportive of the arts. Our local government, groups and private individuals have all created and supported programs, organizations and incentives to make our area a vibrant place to live for everyone.
I don’t have family connections (like many of the residents) in Maysville, but I chose to live in this small town for the above reasons.
A small town fits my personality, and is a great place to work. There is inspiration direction I look. To celebrate our recent acknowledgement, for a limited time, I created a gallery on my website featuring some of the paintings I created with Maysville as the subject. So until you can make a trip out to visit Maysville in person, click the image above for a virtual visit through paintings.
The other day, I met my friends, Bonita Parsons and Misty Skaggs in Morehead, KY to do some printmaking. They are both talented artists and writers, and from the mountainy part of Kentucky. They didn’t have any experience with block printmaking, so I packed my press, we met at a park, and did some carving.
For my subject, I thought it would be cool to make a print about artists making prints.
I’m still learning how to pack my art art studio for the road. Everything went well, until it was time to put ink on our paper/shirts.
I forgot to bring a brayer! I’m pretty good at improvising, but I don’t have any idea how to do printmaking without a brayer.
I feel bad that my friends didn’t get to print their carvings, but I hate to waste the ink that was already out of the can…so when I got home, I went ahead and made my print.
I’m actually glad that I forgot the brayer, because artist, Corbin Fouts (from Prestonburg, KY) wasn’t able to join us, and she is interested in learning block printing. We are going to meet again, this Wednesday (August 16 at 11am–weather permitting) at Archer Park in Prestonburg. You all are welcome to join us and watch…or make a print! I’m going to have enough ink, THE BRAYER, press, and some linoleum to share, i have paper–bring a blank shirt if you want to print on t – shirts.
Here is my finished block print. It’s 4 1/2″x6″ on an 8×10 sheet of paper. If you would like to have one for your collection, you can click the artwork to visit my website’s printmaking gallery. I’m selling them for $20 (and ship free to USA). I don’t charge anyone to participate in the kind of activity we did in Morehead or Prestonburg. When you collect my art, not only do you get a beautiful work of art to enjoy, but you are helping keep ink on my palette, and gas in my car, so I can continue projects like this. Thank you all for your support!
Artists, Mary Lou Hall and Karen Hart, printing on paper
Thank you Dawn Kincaid, for the photos and introducing me to your art guild. I enjoyed meeting everyone and making art together!
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Ken is a self-taught artist from rural Kentucky, whose work includes painting, printmaking, and pottery. He considers himself to be a 'lifetime learner' and uses art to explore and learn more about the world around him. Much of his work reflect his optimistic views on rural folk culture, river life and simple pleasures.
You can visit Ken every Final Friday of the month at studio 400 at the Pendleton Art Center in downtown Cincinnati or by appointment.
Lewis county Farm – Linocut$60.00
