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STICKERS!!!

I believe that art is for everyone. I love to see my art being shared and part of everyday life. Stickers are fun because it’s a way to put art on all sorts of things: notebook, thermos, car, guitar cover, skateboard, etc. 

These stickers are all printed on vinyl with an outdoor durable ink. They should not fade in rain, snow and sunlight.

You can see the latest stickers in the STICKER section of the PRINTMAKING menu, or scroll below.

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3 Goats – New Woodcut – and a little website housekeeping

I’m excited that printmaking season is here!
Here is my LATEST WOODCUT
3 Goats

woodcut of 3 goats jumping around hills by kentucky artist ken swinson

It’s a nice sized woodcut (20inches wide!) and the blue looks wonderful with this design!
I’m offering them for $45 right now.
Click the image above for a better look and more details on how to order.

Now, the housekeeping part:
If you visit the PRINTMAKING section of my gallery, you probably noticed that a lot of pieces are no longer on display.
To welcome the new printmaking season, I retired the majority of older prints–to make room for the new!
Stay tuned! there’s more coming soon!

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Kiln Firing 6 February 2022

I just opened the kiln–i had some wonderful goodies, like these little cream pitchers. I don’t know why they got me so excited, but they sure are cute!

Another exciting thing is that I’ve ben experimenting with greens, and have some new results.

Here’s a gallery that shows EVERYTHING that was in today’s firing.
Click the arrows or swipe to see all the different pieces from the firing

if you are looking for a unique Valentine’s Day gift, one of these pots might be the perfect thing for you!

I don’t ship or sell online. Pottery should be seen (and picked up) in person before you can truly know if it’s ‘the one’ for you. You can see them in person this Wednesday (February 9th) from noon- 6pm at my studio (studio 400) at the Pendleton Art Center in downtown Cincinnati. Contact me me for more information–or you can visit this facebook link to RSVP:

https://www.facebook.com/events/4834612979908955

All pots are porcelain, lead free, food safe, and can be used in the microwave

Prices for your reference:

Cream Pitchers$25
Cups and Side plates $40
Spice Jars are no longer available

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Kiln Opening 20 January 2022-first fire of the year!

If today’s kiln opening (the first of 2022) is any indicator of what the new year is going to bring-it’s going to be a great year!!!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so I made plenty of red and love themed pots. They would make the perfect gift for that special someone who appreciates a hard carved one of a kind work of art that can be used everyday to eat or drink.

Click the arrows or swipe to see all the different pieces from the firing

I don’t ship or sell online. Pottery should be seen (and picked up) in person before you can truly know if it’s ‘the one’ for you. Come visit my porch in Old Washington, Kentucky to see them in person! 

All pots are porcelain. They are lead free, food safe, and can be used in the microwave

Prices for your reference:


Cups or side plates$40
Spice Jar $60
Plates $100

Update:

As an artist, sometimes there’s a conflict between my creative ideas and REALITY. I’ve had to accept that the front porch idea loses its charm in winter. It’s too cold, and I don’t feel right encouraging people to take an unnecessary long drive in the country during winter.

HERES MY NEW PLAN: The porch will be open over the weekend, but after that, I’m bringing all the pottery to my studio at the Pendleton Art Center Cincinnati. I’ll be there once a week (still deciding the date-probably Wednesdays – what week day works for you?), you’ll be able to visit and take your time while looking at the different pots (and other art) in a heated space.

Sorry for the abrupt pivot, and hope to see you soon!!!


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Kiln Opening 28 November 2021

Another Great Kiln Firing! Jugs with long necks (perfect for olive oil or vinegar), Bowls and cups with a new pear design, and tiny little cream pitchers in a beautiful deep blue. All hand thrown porcelain, Signed (with a date) by the artist. Lead free, Food and Microwave Safe.

I don’t ship or sell online. Pottery should be seen (and picked up) in person before you can truly know if it’s ‘the one’ for you. Come visit my porch in Old Washington, Kentucky to see them in person!

Swipe or click the arrows below to see all the different images:

  • Pear Bowl Blue
  • Pear Tree Cup
  • Single Cream Jug - Flowers

Prices for your reference:

Jugs $60
Full Size Bowls $45
Cups $40
Berry Bowls, Saucers and Small Jugs $25

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Kiln Opening 23 October 2021

It’s been a long time since i’ve had two kiln firings in one week, but I’ve been busy in the clay studio, making lots of shining new porcelain pieces!

This firing was unique, because it’s the first time i’ve made cups without handles. They are great for juice, soda, mixed drinks or your favorite Kentucky made spirits on the rocks.

I don’t sell pots online, you need to see these in person and hold them in your hands before making a selection. I’ll have them on my front porch in Old Washington tomorrow (monday October 25) after 10am. Please stop by to pick one for your collection and to support one of your favorite artist/potters.

Pottery prices for your reference:
saucers: $25
cups without handles: $30
cups with handles: $40
bowl with oak branch: $45

swipe or click the arrows below to see al the pots from the firing.

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New Oil Paintings September 2021

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here is a collection of my new

colorful + imaginative  paintings

These paintings are inspired by my life in rural Kentucky

also influenced by my love of color, animals, whimsy, folk art, and abstraction.

When I can’t travel and have to stay home or in studio

there’s an entire world in of imagination that I can explore. Painting in the studio gives me more time to plan and layer the oil colors in a way that isn’t possible compared to when outdoors, working from life.  

click here to see recent paintings created outdoors from life

Working in studio also lets me work BIGGER

These oil on canvas paintings are bigger than the plein air work I shared with you last week.  At the top of this online gallery, I included myself in a photo, to help you get a sense of the SCALE of the artwork. 

Sorry mom for looking so grubby and unprofessional, i took the photo after a long day of setting the gallery up.  I promise to wash my face and wear a tie in my next photo op.”

Art online is nice, but it’s 1000% better in person

If you are willing to wear a mask and comfortable visiting an indoor public space, I would still love to invite you to my studio at the Pendleton Art Center in Cincinnati.  You can see this series AND another series of more abstract and whimsical style paintings IN PERSON on Tuesday and Thursday from 11-7pm the 21st and 23rd of September.  To avoid crowds, appointments are preferred. You can reply to this email to make a reservation, or call/text me at 859.652.3136.

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Another photo of the paintings 

To help you get an idea of what the paintings look like as a group; in relation to each other with a few measurements. Click the image or button below to visit my online (email exclusive until Sunday evening) gallery of the paintings. 

Thank you again for following, encouraging and supporting my artwork.
Enjoy the exhibit, and feel free to contact me if you have any comments or questions.

Ken

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Plein Air in Old Washington 8 May 2021

I’ve been trying to paint without sharing, so I can have a collection to show you all at once. But I can’t resist showing off, and it’s a rainy Mother’s day here in Kentucky, so I thought I’d share some good weather plein air sunshine with you!

I’m working on a series of iris paintings, and thought these pretty purple irises would make a good painting. Here’s my sketch…stay tuned to see how it works out!
Here’s the messy underpainting. I have the darks and lights worked out…and composition. Now time for the colors!!!
I’m not sure this one is going to work out…Everything has been in shadow, and these colors are a mess…thinking about calling it a loss, and wiping the board clean.
Never easy, but sometimes an artist has to ‘kill their darlings’ I went ahead and wiped all the paint from the board. I’m going to try to use the rest of the day to paint the church (in light) contrast with the flowers (in shadow)
ok, let’s try again…here’s my sketch, lets paint!
Here’s the second try underpainting for today’s painting.
I am already in LOVE with this painting. It has good light/dark contrast and should work! Can’t wait to start adding COLOR!!!
I have the base colors down. The sun hitting the church and green grass are so warm, I almost need sunglasses. Now it’s time to build up the details and colors…stay tuned!
I think i’m done!!! it’s funny how sometimes the best paintings come right after a failure. I’ve joked before how: yo have to push through the breakdown if you want to have the breakthrough!!! This was one of those days!!! I’m thrilled with it, AND this painting already has a home!! Thank you so much for experiencing this with me!
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Plein air old washinton- the barn on old main street 6 may 2021

The wildflowers in front of this barn would make an interesting painting.

Here’s my preliminary sketch…time to paint!!!
I think this wants to be horizontal instead of vertical.
The underpainting
Laying in some colors…I’m getting nervous because they are cutting grass all around the building. I don’t want to delay work, but hopefully they hold off until I paint the wildflowers
Im at the stage of painting where I am calling it a “hot mess”. The sun played some tricks on me(went behind clouds) , and i really don’t know where I’m going with it…I’ve learned to just push through…sometimes these messes transform into masterpieces. Other times they become lessons.
i was able to pull it all together…whew!!! The wildflowers were what attracted me to the scene, and they make the painting!
Thanks everyone for joining me on this afternoon of painting!