I had a great kiln opening this week. Most came out perfect, and after putting them on my front porch, they all found their new homes before the weekend was over. Below is a sampling of the new porcelain pots. You can see the whole gallery, by clicking the link here:
I recently had a kiln opening, with new porcelain! you can see a photo gallery with all of them by clicking the link here: http://www.kenswinson.com/art/index.php?/category/22 or click the photo below
I believe that pots need to be seen in person, so I don’t sell them online. They are on my front porch, if you live nearby, or want to take a scenic drive in the country, come visit my house in historic Old Washington, where you can pick them up and hold them.
Here’s another idea, maybe it’s too crazy, or too much work, but i’ll just put it out there:
I’m serious about the safety of myself, my community, and my friends and neighbors during the pandemic. I have not been showing in big groups or indoors. I AM comfortable with showing artwork outside (like on my front porch), to small groups, on a porch, driveway, park or garden, with a mask, hand sanitizer, etc. I am thinking about taking my pots on the road. if there is enough interest, you live relatively closeby, and can commit to buying a few pots, I will come to you (kind of like the old fashioned door to door salesmen).
What do you think? Is that crazy? maybe it’s easier to just visit old washington and come to my front porch? Anyway, hope you like the new pots! I
I don’t always show work in progress, because I don’t want to get people excited, only to be disappointed if it doesn’t make it through the kiln firing.
But this squirrel themed butter dish is too stinking cute to keep to myself!
Keep your fingers crossed that this makes it through the firing. I’m excited about it because i don’t do a lot of handbuilding. Most of my functional pots are thrown on a wheel. This dish was made by a different technique. More like sculpting than throwing. Stay tuned to see how it comes out!
I haven’t been on Facebook or Instagram for the month of July, as part of the #stopHateForProfit boycott. I thought I’d check in and let everyone know that I’m doing ok. i miss my ‘friends’ but life is actually nicer in some ways without facebook. I’m getting a lot more done: staying productive, learning to work with porcelain..and today, i carved a mug with a horse!
Feel free to comment and let me know how you are doing…i do miss hearing from you all!
My first kiln load using only porcelain. Porcelain is a beautiful clay, with a rich history. It does take some extra care, and there is a learning curve. Still—over half this load are beautiful. Some are going to need some touch ups, and a few are going to end up in the garden. They are on my front porch, if you want to see them in person.
Click any of the photos below (or right here) to see the gallery with photos of all the pots from the firing
I have been working on a series of cups with saucers.
The saucer is a new form for me, but I LOVE it! it’s relatively flat, so i can approach surface design similar to the way I would a painting or 2d art. It’s not so big, like a plate, where I run into technical problems, like warping, cracking (hopefully!)
one thing that attracts me to functional pottery, is that it is art made to be used; to be picked up, to serve food, it’s a kind of art that can become a part of people’s daily rituals.
I imagine the joy these saucers will bring other people, when they lift their cup, and see the surprise looking up at them from the saucer. THAT IS WHY I MAKE POTS!
Stay tuned to see how they turn out!
Some of the best inspiration comes from playing and having fun in the studio! I was squishing a little ball of porcelain in my fingers, until the clay became a opossum!
I poked a hole on it, and now its a bead! The first one brought me so much joy, I made another! What in the world will I make next?!?!
…once you get to know them.
These weeds were the inspiration for todays pottery design. I think the plant is called chickory. It is blooming EVERYWHERE along the highways (and in my garden) here in Kentucky. I don’t know if it’s a native plant, but it has a big presence this time of the year. I like the idea of handmade pots reflecting the time in which they were made…
This still needs to be fired, once it is, it’ll be porcelain, and the blue will be a deep cobalt color.
Stay tuned to see how it works out!
I just opened the kiln filled with plates, sugar bowls and bowls in stoneware, English porcelain and porcelain. I need to setup my photo booth and get a good photo of each piece, but here’s a sneak peek!
Yesterday, I had a pretty good kiln firing. A couple of losses, and some lessons learned, but also some beautiful pots! This was my first time firing translucent porcelain with the sgraffito technique. It is beautiful. Something you have to see in person to appreciate.
you can visit the gallery and see better photos of each piece by clicking here or the image below
Like all my pottery, it is for sale, but not online. you have to visit my home in old washington, KY; where you can hold them in your hands; to decide which is the right one for you. They are dishwasher/microwave food safe. The design technique is labor intensive and carved by hand. Plates are $80, sugar bowls $55, bowls and the mug $40 each. First come, first serve. They are sitting on my porch and first come, first serve. If you are going to travel a long distance for something in particular, contact me first to make sure it is still available. I wear a mask and have hand sanitizer for safety, and ask one household to visit the porch at a time. Hope you can make it! It’s a nice day for a drive in the country!
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 he uses art as the vehicle 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.
Before the pandemic, You could visit Ken every Final Friday of the month at studio 400 at the Pendleton Art Center in downtown Cincinnati. Now, he's mostly sitting on his front porch ,keeping a social distance, in the Historic Village of Old Washington, KY.