We are just one week away from Art Zine – Olive Hill. Our theme for the February is ‘LOVE’. I wanted to share something I discovered and LOVE about Olive Hill.
This 150 foot long mural is in the heart of Olive Hill. It’s on the main road, in front of the Old High School-now home to the Carter County Public Library and Center for Arts & Education. The mural was designed by Larry Carroll. As part of the Workforce Investment Act, through the Federal Department of Labor, the local youth were HIRED to paint the mural between 2002-2006. Over time the mural has faded, but members of the community recently raised money and volunteers to restore the mural in front of the Art Center/Library. I LOVE public art-especially when the community come together to take care of it–and when youth get paid real-life work experience working in art.
The Library is on the 3rd floor of this building, and you can get a better look at the mural when you visit Olive Hill for our monthly Art Zine activity, (more details about that here) but here’s a close up photo of the mural for those who can’t make it this time.
I love it when I get a chance to combine traditional printmaking with modern art tools. I am learning to sculpt, model and animate with a 3D program, called Blender. I thought it would be interesting to see if I could use the program to animate a 2D image (like one of my latest linocuts). Here are some examples:
I’ve learned a lot through these exercises, and think the animation gives you all a new way to experience printmaking. What do you think?
One of my goals in artmaking is to continually improve my craftsmanship. So far this year, I have put a lot of focus on printmaking. Until now, all my prints have used only one color.
I’m starting a series of Multi-Color prints. The process is similar to single color, except more factors to consider:
Color harmony, registration (alignment), drying times, etc.
I won’t say that every day has been fun or easy, but I love to challenge myself, the bunny below is one of my first multi-color test prints.
The Zine you are reading is a collaborative work by Artists from different small towns in Kentucky. We met on January 12, 2018 at the Rowan County Public Library in Morehead, KY, and created work around the theme: PASSAGES
Because of winter weather advisory and warnings, our turn out was smaller than normal. However, A brave group-most who lived close to Morehead-Were able to come. One of the best things about smaller groups, is that we had more time to get to know each other, and to hear everyone’s remarkable stories.. We all felt like it was well worth venturing out into the winter weather.
I met Alice Reynolds for the first time at this zine meet up. She is a music teacher from Morehead. At 91 years old (she gave me permission to share her age) she is still enjoying life and playing music. Many years ago, before the Morehead State University existed, Rowan County had what was called the “moonlight school’ It taught adults how to read and write at night. Alice’s father was a postman, and she remembers part of his job (in addition to delivering mail) was to read the mail to some of the people he delivered to, because everyone did not know how to read and write back then.
Kay Schafer, is an artist from Morehead, KY. Her poem about becoming a senior citizen captures her bright and positive personality. Kay was also a big help in organizing the ArtZine in Morehead. Thanks, Kay.
Melany Workman was the youngest of 11 children, and grew up in this 5 room house in Rowan county. She now owns and operates the Cave Run Manor in Morehead, and is a great caretaker for her residents.
Melissa Barker is an artist and teacher from Grahn, Ky. Her drawing is the first art she has made since the recent loss of her father. Because she has participtaed many times, we are going to visit Melissa’s neighborhood for February’s ArtZine. More details soon.
I have known Helen Chadwell for many years, the first time we met was while she was a volunteer for the Morhead Art Guild Art Show. More recently, she has visited my studio, and we have made prints together. Her drawing/poem is about the passages of life.
Ken Swinson wanted to illustrate the idea that we can overcome the obstacles we encounter in life…with a little help from our friends. Thanks everyone for being a part of my journey!
I am working on an art project where I visit a different small town each month. The idea of this project is to encourage artists, writers and people of all walks of life to know each other, through visiting each others’ communities and making art together.
Last tuesday, we met for our FOURTH Art Zine, and met in Robertson County, KY at their Public Library. Here is what we made together:
You can click any of the images for more details and a full album of all the zine’s hand painted covers.
Ken Swinson
Mari Leet
Velda Smiley
Jennifer Wert
Lauri Aultman
Jennifer Gleason
Barbara Morgan
Jim Lally
Carol Mitchell
Genda Highfield
credit page
you can download and print your own copy of this zine through this link:
As an artist, I find wonder in almost everything around me. This can be both good and bad. Inspiration is easy. Focus and concentration, a bit more of a challenge. Especially in the age of always being connected to the internet.
Linocut printmaking is extremely low-tech, and has been my escape from the constantly distracting world of technology.
I have been working on a series of squirrels (there are 9 so far!) and they are FINALLY dry enough to offer on my website’s gallery. (I used oil based inks, which dry slow)
I have been doing a lot of experimenting in my printmaking studio over the last couple of months. In the past, I have used thick, cotton rag papers, but I am now experimenting with a thin (but remarkably strong) mulberry paper. It is made from the inner bark of the Mulberry tree, and it does not hurt the tree to remove the bark. The handling is a little bit different from heavy paper, but I really enjoy the crisp details it gives.
i have also been experimenting with different colored inks. The linocut above is made with a a light blue/grey ink. The grey really changes the art. Instead of a strong, graphic black and white-this color feels a little softer, and I love the mood it gives this scene of the Johnson Creek in Robertson County.
I’m not doing any more shows between now and Christmas, but you can still support my projects and give my work as a gift (or add one to your collection!). I just updated my website’s printmaking gallery to include many of these new prints, so please give my website a visit.
I am shipping quick (within a few days), and for free in the USA! Thanks!
This weekend, we celebrated Frontier Christmas in Old Washington. As always, I open my home/studio to the public, and give a printmaking activity. Both days were filled with friends (long – time and new) the whole weekend. I was so busy covered in ink and making prints, i didn’t get a chance to take any photos (ok, i did take this selfie!)
Lucky for me, a lot of my friends who visited are ALSO artists, and THEY took photos, and gave me permission to share. You can click any of the photos to visit their websites/social media/email for more information about them and their work.
photo by Stan Briede
photo by Stan Briede
photo by Patricia Timm
photo by Stan Briede
photo by Patricia Timm
photo by Sharon Teegarden
photo by Sara Pearce (Paper With A Past)
photo by Sara Pearce (Paper With A Past)
photo by Brandy Riegle
photo by Brandy Riegle
photo by Sara Pearce (Paper With A Past)
photo by Sara Pearce (Paper With A Past)
photo by Stan Briede
photo provided by Suzanne Bird
Thanks everyone for making this year’s Frontier Christmas a special one. I love it when other artists visit and enjoy our historic little village. It’s especially wonderful when we get the chance to see our neighborhood through the lens of their cameras. Thanks again everyone for sharing your photos…and folks, don’t forget to click the photos to learn more about the people who took them
My latest print of Old Washington. It’s the view from hwy 62-where you can see the village through the trees. Also, today and tomorrow Dec 2+3, the village is celebrating Frontier Christmas. You can visit my studio, and use my press to make a Christmas card. This is a limited edition (only 16) print-if you would like to purchase one, and support my work, click the image above for more details.
mi grabado mas reciente de Old Washington. Es la vista de carraterra 62, como puedes ver el pueblo entre los arboles. Tambien, hoy y manana, nuestro pueblito va a celebrar Navidad en la frontera. Puedes visitar a mi taller y hacer un grabado con mi prensa. Este grabado es un edicion limitado (solo hay 16) – si quieres comprar (y dar apoyo a mis proyectos) hacer un CLICK de la foto.
Hot off the press! the design for my FREE printmaking activity during Frontier Christmas in Old Washington. (this weekend) you can visit my house from noon-5pm on Saturday and Sunday, and make one for yourself. no art experience required. I’ll show you how it works.
caliente de de la prensa. el desiño de me actividad de grabado Gratis durante el fiesta en mi pueblo. (este fin de semana) vistes a mi casa entre mediodía y 5 en la tarde para hacerlo. no necesitas experiencia. puede mostrarte como.
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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.
