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I have had some feedback that my website needed some attention, and the job is so overwhelming to think about, I have’Quietly’ been making some updates to the website.

Most recently: A gallery of plein air paintings from this spring, which you can see by clicking below

I also added photos of the pottery from my most recent kiln firing. Click below to view:

I recently made a commitment to log out from social media -and to check in only one day each week. My goal is to spend more computer time working on this site-and less hanging out on the socials.

I’m actively working on the site, so please feel free to comment with suggestions of what you would like to see on this website in the future.
Thanks for all your support and hanging in there with me!
Ken

I know better than to celebrate a pot before it’s been through the kiln BUT I’ve had a bumper crop in my cherry trees this year, and I want a photo of my new design with it’s inspiration before the bears eat all the cherries!

Hope you all are having a great day!

oh, pottery break is officially over—stay tuned!!!

I was honored that Mark Errol invited me to Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts for their #springpentaculum2024 . My idea for the residency was to spend the week studying the ‘boneyard’; a library of unglazed pots that have been left behind by previous instructors. When I took this photo, i had just arrived and had a combination of ‘imposter syndrome’ and being a child in a candy store: so many beautiful ceramic objects to explore!!!

It’s impossible to summarize all the growth that I experienced during that week with a social media post, but I’ll just say, the magic of Arrowmont is something you need to experience in person.

I learned a lot about throwing last week at Arrowmont and made a ”few” New forms. I tried to give as many as I could away, but still have these to deal with. They have been fired once, so I can’t use the underglaze techniques Im familiar with. Time for glaze experiments!!!!

A quick plein air study of the ‘boneyard’ at Arrowmont. They have an impressive collection of unglazed pottery that was made by previous instructors–it’s a learning tool for future students (like me!)

More important than the things I learned was the amazing artists I met and now consider friends!
A million thanks to Mark and Arrowmont for this opportunity!

painting from life – step 1 – work out the composition and values: no colors

step 2 – figure out what colors you want to use, and get them all on the painting- light is changing fast, so you want to capture the moment

step 3 – work out details and keep painting until its finished, OR the light has changed so much its nothing like the painting

every days a good day when you paint 
-Bob Ross

every day is even BETTER when you paint with FRIENDS!!!
-Ken and Dawn Kincaid

Dawn’s painting
Federal Hill
8×10”
oil on canvas

My painting!!!
Federal Hill
6×8”
Oil on Canvas

We chose to paint Federal Hill to bring an artistic flair to the upcoming event to help raise funds to restore the historic property.
Some work local artists (left to right)
Sue Ellen Gorman, Dawn Kincaid, Ken Tucky Swinson + Ruvonna Bevard. Hope you can come see the paintings on 11 May at the event!

Making block print notecards with my dear friend, Barb Clarke. The cards will be offered as part of a fundraiser on may 11 at federal hill in old Washington. The historic property will be open to the public with tours and activities.

I also made some cups

and donated this original oil painting

All proceeds will go toward helping with the restoration of the building. Hope you can make it!

i believe in the open web, and miss the good old days of Internet– before a couple of monopolies became the gatekeepers of our ability to communicate with each other.

Mastodon is an open source decentralized social network having a moment right now. I just joined and am still learning how it works, but it’s in line with my core values, and I feel good putting my energy there.

If you are using mastodon, you can follow me here:

@kenSwinson@indieweb.social

I need to practice all the things I learned during my “summer of clay workshops” at Arrowmont. My first project will be to make 100 cups. My goal is to make them all before the end of August, but I like the symbolism of 100 cups in 100 days, so lets make THAT the goal.  

Here are a few cups I have already made. If you are familiar with my work, these forms probably look more refined and less ‘self-taught’! Stay tuned to see what cup #100 looks like. you know what they say about practice makes perfect!

August 2- I had to move things around in my tiny 6x12ft clay studio to make things fit. The new shelf is not as photogenic as my old one, but it holds a LOT more cups! Here are a few of the cups in different stages. My goal is to have enough to fire the kiln next week. I’ll be out of the studio most of today, but I want to get some trimming and handles attached before the day gets started.

100 Cup Challenge UPDATE- August 4

If you caught me throwing cups on the wheel on facebook LIVE this morning, you might remember a curvy, beehive style cup.

I’m sad to announce it lost its battle with gravity, and its final remains will go to the recycle bucket. We already knew that it had some pre existing conditions, so we should be happy that it’s struggle is over. When I tried to flip it over, it wasn’t dry enough to support itself.

Here’s to all the little cups, that don’t make it to the finish line!!! RIP little beehive cup.

100 CUP CHALLENGE UPDATE-August 8
We hit a milestone today! Enough finished cups (i think 28?) to have our first kiln firing! If all goes well, we will have some pretty new cups (or a pile of rubble) to enjoy on wednesday! 

I have 31 MORE cups in different stages of completion. I can already tell, this challenge has been good for me. I’m developing a lot of different skills: throwing, trimming, handbuilding, surface design. 

Stay tuned to see what happens!