Pottery

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Kiln Firing 15 July 2024

We just took some brand spankin’ new pots out of the kiln

Hand thrown porcelain lidded Jars

  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with deer and acorn sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Deer Jar
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with multi colored horse and flower sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Horse Jar
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with fox and flowers sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Fox Jar
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with pig and corn sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Pig Jar
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with multi-colored bunny rabbit and flowers sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Bunny Jar
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with multi-colored chicken and rooster sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Chicken Jar
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain jar and lid with multi-colored goat and flower sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Goat Jar

click the arrows or swipe to see all 7 Jars

Painted Porcelain cups

another new technique–no carving into the clay, just brushwork on the surface

  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with multi-colored horse and flowers blue pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Painted Blue Horse Cup
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with multi-colored cherry pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Painted Cherry Cup
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with green and purple flower pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Purple Flower Cup 1
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with cobalt blue leaf pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Cobalt Tumbler
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain tumbler with turquoise leaf pattern
    Turquoise Tumbler
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with green and purple flower pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Purple Flower Cup 2
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain teacup with turquoise and cobalt flower pattern
    Small Blue Flower Teacup

click the arrows or swipe to see all 7 cups

Sgraffito – classic and multi colored

  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with sad cat looking at cell phone sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Sad Cat With Cell Phone Cup
  • Handmade, wheel thrown porcelain cup with flower decoration
    Wavy Red Flower Cup
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with deer sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Cobalt Blue Deer Cup
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with multi-colored cardinal sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Cardinal Cup
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with squirrel and acorn sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Squirrel Cup
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with multi-colored fox and chicken sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Fox and Chicken Cup
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with House with Oak leaf sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    House With Oaks
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with multi-colored goat and flower sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Goat And Flower Cup
  • handmade wheel thrown porcelain cup with multi-colored Horse and flowers sgraffito pattern made in kentucky by Ken Swinson
    Horse and Flowers Cup

click the arrows or swipe to see all 9 cups

I don’t ship pots, so you’ll have to come see them in person! I’ll be out of town from July 20-29, so I hope to see you before or after that time!

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Brushwork on Pottery

You might remember a couple of months ago I made a bunch of forms during the spring pentaculum residency at Arrowmont?

I’ve been blocked, and unable to finish them because they have already been fired. My normal technique is to decorate while the clay is still wet–allowing me to carve and scratch and inlay the surface.

With a fired pot, I have less options-the obvious one is to brush underglaze designs, which is a little bit out of my comfort zone.

After a few hours of painting, I gotten into a flow of using just underglaze and a brush–instead of carving, and I’m really happy with the surface designs I’ve created so far!

stay tuned to see the cups after the final glaze firing!

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Updates from the clay studio-sugar bowl lids

I’m getting ready to take a teapot workshop with Yoko Sekino-Bové at Arrowmont later this month. I’ve been making a LOT of cups recently, so I’m confident making handles, but a TEAPOT has more than just a handle.

I want to improve my LIDS, and thought sugar/salt/jelly/honey/spice jars are the perfect way to practice.

All of these jars are unfired, but the surface design is finished. I learned a lot with the first grouping. and feel more confident making a flanged lid.

I’m looking forward to firing these pots soon. Will update when they are ready!

stay tuned!

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Kiln Firing 26 June 2024

I wanted to get test results for some new colors, and decided it was a good excuse to fire up my smaller kiln.

here are the results
As a bonus, I have 8 new cups as well!

Use the arrows or swipe to see all the pots in the slideshow

They will be available to see in person this FRIDAY at the Pendleton Art Center’s FINAL FRIDAY EVENT.

Hope to see you there!

  • Handmade, wheel thrown porcelain cup by Kentucky artist, Ken Swinson with a birds on the exterior, a bear picking cherries on the interior
    Peek A Boo Cherry Cup 1
  • Handmade, wheel thrown porcelain cup by Kentucky artist, Ken Swinson with a birds on the exterior, a goat eating cherries on the interior
    Peek A Boo Goat Cup
  • Handmade, wheel thrown porcelain cup by Kentucky artist, Ken Swinson with a birds on the exterior, a bear picking cherries on the interior
    Peek A Boo Cherry Cup 2
  • Handmade, wheel thrown porcelain cup by Kentucky artist, Ken Swinson with 3 chickens eating cherries around the exterior of the cup
    Chicken Cherry Cup
  • Handmade, wheel thrown porcelain cup by Kentucky artist, Ken Swinson with 3 cats riding bicycles around the cup exterior
    Bike Cat Cup
  • Handmade, wheel thrown porcelain cup by Kentucky artist, Ken Swinson with a cat holding camera surface design
    photo Cat Cup
  • Handmade, wheel thrown porcelain cup by Kentucky artist, Ken Swinson with a bear making pottery and painting a cup
    Pottery Bear Cup
  • Handmade, wheel thrown porcelain cup by Kentucky artist, Ken Swinson with a a male and female deer eating acrons
    Stag And Doe Acorn Cup
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Kiln Firing 21 June 2024

This morning, I just unloaded a batch of new black, white and red porcelain cups and bowls.
There are so many pots, I have organized it into 3 slideshows.
Swipe or use the arrows to see all the pottery from each category

black white and red porcelain cups- $55-65 each

  • A wheel thrown porcelain cappuccino cup made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black, white and red sgraffito design of birds eating cherrieson the exterior. the interior has a deer eating red cherries
    deer Cappuccino Cup
  • A wheel thrown porcelain cappuccino cup made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black, white and red sgraffito design of birds eating cherries on the exterior. the interior has a bunny eating red cherries
    bunny Cappuccino Cup
  • A wheel thrown porcelain cappuccino cup made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black, white and red sgraffito design of a bear picking cherries.
    Bear Color Cherry Cup 1
  • A wheel thrown porcelain cappuccino cup made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black, white and red sgraffito design of a fox under a cherry tree.
    fox cherry Cup 1
  • A wheel thrown porcelain cappuccino cup made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black, white and red sgraffito design of a goat eating cherries.
    Goat Cherry Color Cup
  • A wheel thrown porcelain cappuccino cup made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black, white and red sgraffito design of a bear picking cherries.
    bear Cherry Cup 2
  • A wheel thrown porcelain cappuccino cup made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black, white and red sgraffito design of a fox under a cherry tree.
    fox Cherry Cup 2
  • A wheel thrown porcelain cappuccino cup made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black, white and red sgraffito design of deer eating cherries under a cherry tree.
    deer Color Cherry-cup
  • A wheel thrown porcelain cappuccino cup made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black, white and red sgraffito design of cardinals in a cherry tree.
    cardinal Cup

black white and red porcelain bowls – $70 each

  • A wheel thrown porcelain bowl made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black and white sgraffito design of deer eating cherries from a cherry tree on the exterior. the interior has a birds and red cherries
    Deer Cherry Bowl
  • A wheel thrown porcelain bowl with black and white sgraffito design of birds on a cherry tree on the exterior. the interior has a bear picking red cherries
    Bear Cherry Bowl 1
  • A wheel thrown porcelain bowl made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black and white sgraffito design of birds on a cherry tree on the exterior. the interior has a bird eating red cherries
    bird Cherry Bowl
  • A wheel thrown porcelain bowl made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black and white sgraffito design of bears picking cherries on the exterior. the interior has birds eating red cherries
    Exterior Bear Cherry Bowl
  • A wheel thrown porcelain bowl made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black and white sgraffito design of cherries on the exterior. the interior has a goat eating cherries
    Goat Cherry Bowl
  • A wheel thrown porcelain bowl made by Kentucky artist, ken swinson-the bowl is decorated with black and white sgraffito design of cherries on the exterior. the interior has a bear and red cherries
    Bear Cherry Bowl 2

black and white sgraffito porcelain cups – $50 each

  • A wheel thrown porcelain cup with black and white sgraffito design of a cat surrounded by flowers
    wavy Cherry Cup
  • A wheel thrown porcelain cup with black and white sgraffito design of two deer eating cherries from a tree
    deer Eating Cherries cup 3
  • A wheel thrown porcelain cup with black and white sgraffito design of a cat surrounded by flowers
    cat And Flowers Cup
  • A wheel thrown porcelain cup with black and white sgraffito design of two deer eating cherries from a tree
    deer Eating Cherries Cup 2
  • A wheel thrown porcelain cup with black and white sgraffito design of a goat eating cherries
    Goat Eating Cherries Cup 1
  • A wheel thrown porcelain cup with black and white sgraffito design of two deer eating cherries from a tree
    deer Eating Cherries Cup

I only do in-person sales with pottery. I want you to have a chance to hold your pot before deciding whether to take it home or not. Contact Ken for more information on when and where to see this work in person.

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Clay studio update – 16 June 2024

It’s pottery season, so I’ve been busy, here’s a little peek at whats been happening in the clay studio:

I’ve been experimenting with new ways to decorate the surface of my pottery. In particular, I want to carve designs and have more than one color

a group of work in progress porcelain pottery cups. The forms are upside down, four are trimmed, three are untrimmed
work in progress forms without handles in various stages of trimming
4 work in progress cups: a goat, bear, deer and fox eating cherries from a tree

these work in progress cups have painted patterns (3 coats each) and then are carved for more details

two unfired porcelain cups with a cardinal and bear picking cherries

More designs with this technique. I have started to carve into ‘unpainted’ clay in hopes of a variety in the surface once glazed

a photo of eight hand thrown porcelain cups. The handles are rather well attached, considering the artist has spent the last year or two improving his cup handles. There is a wheel in the background.

I just finished assembling these cappuccino or soup style cups. Looking forward to decorating them. The interior is wide enough, there is an opportunity for some artwork!

We are at the beginning of a heatwave here in Kentucky, a great time to work inside and make pots, so stay tuned!

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First Kiln Firing of the season- 7 June 2024

After a short break, it’s pottery season again!
To celebrate, here’s a gallery showcasing the first batch of pots—most designs are inspired by my cherry tree-and all the critters who ate the cherries while I wasn’t looking.

  • Bear Picking Cherries Cup 2
  • Chickens Eating Cherries Cup 2
  • Pigs Eating Cherries Cup
  • Birds Eating Cherries Cup
  • Bear Picking Cherries Cup 3
  • Dogs Eating Cherries Cup
  • Chickens Eating Cherries Cup
  • Goat Eating Cherries Cup
  • Bear Picking Cherries Cup
  • Horse Cup
  • four views of a porcelain bowl. There is a bear picking cherries on the exterior. Red cherries on the interor.
    Bear Picking Cherries Bowl
  • Porcelain bowl with bear bird and cherry sgraffito surface design
    Cherry Picking Bear Bowl-bird exterior decoration

swipe or use arrows to see all the pots

These cups are all thrown on a wheel with hand carved designs and food/microwave safe porcelain, priced at $50 each. Bowls are $70. Unfortunately these unique pieces are available by in-person sales only.

If you are interested in seeing these (and more) in person, they will be on display at my studio in Old Washington: 2111 Old Main Street, Maysville ky 41056 from 10-3 on friday and saturdays. or at Final Friday at the Pendleton Art Center in Cincinnati, OH

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Photos by Deni Stanev

Always fun to live in a small artsy town! Was asked to make some pots to help with a video project for the city this morning. The wonderful Deni Stanev Photography was on the job, and she shared these photos so I could document my ‘community service’ for the day!

thanks so much Deni for the photos! and thank you Katelyn Bailey for inviting me to be a part of your project!!! I’m looking forward to seeing the finished video!

you can see more of Deni’s Photography at her website: https://denistanevphotography.com

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Lucky Kentucky Derby Cup

it started with this post on social media:
I can’t make any guarantees, but we can all agree, whoever owns this handmade porcelain cup will most likely have the winning horse at tomorrows Derby. If nothing else, they will have a beautiful handmade and functional work of art.

Followed by Kristina Cox being the big winner and owns the lucky horse cup! Thank you so much for your support, and best luck with tomorrow’s derby!!!

I ‘might’ have been bluffing, but it turns out, the Kentucky Derby cup had magic powers all along!!