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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

  • 2022 Pigs Plate
  • Squirrel Plate
  • Pear Jar with matching lid
  • Cardinals With Heart Cup 2
  • Peace Tree Cup
  • Heart Tree Cup 1
  • Heart Tree Cup 2
  • Fox Cup 1
  • fox cup 2
  • Red Oak Cup
  • Cardinals With Heart Cup 01
  • cardinal In Berry Tree Cup 01
  • Cardinal In Berry Tree Cup 2
  • Cardinal In Berry Tree Cup 3
  • Bunny Side Plate
  • Bird And House Side Plate
  • 2022 Riverboat Side Plate
  • Cow Side Plate
  • Full Moon Egg side Plate – NFS
  • 2022 Birds And House – bread plate

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:

  • Bird Jug
  • Flower Jug
  • Acorn Jug
  • Pear Bowl Black
  • Goat Facing Right and Pears Bowl
  • goat Facing Left and Pears bowl
  • Partridge In Pear Tree Bowl
  • Pear Bowl Blue
    Pear Bowl Blue
  • Goat And Pear Tree Cup
  • Partridge In Pear Tree Cup
  • Pear Tree Cup
    Pear Tree Cup
  • Goat In Flowers Cup – SOLD
  • Peace Love Berry Bowl
  • Oak Berry Bowl
  • Flowers Berry Bowl
  • dove with branch berry bowl
  • bees and leaves berry bowl
  • Pears Berry Bowl
  • Pear Berry Bowl
  • Leaf Berry Bowl
  • blue tulips berry bowl
  • blue berries berry bowl
  • bee and tulip berry bowl
  • berries berry bowl
  • Single Cream Jug – Leaves
  • Single Cream Jug - Flowers
    Single Cream Jug – Flowers
  • Sheep Saucer
  • Pig Saucer
  • Chicken Saucer
  • Chicken Saucer 2

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.

  • bunny with leaves cup
  • flowers cup
  • flying pig over the rainbow cup
  • flying pig with flowers cup
  • Tulip saucer – SOLD
  • sheep saucer – SOLD
  • flying pig saucer -SOLD
  • bird saucer-SOLD
  • beehive saucer – SOLD
  • oak branch cup – SOLD
  • Oak Branch Cup – SOLD
  • leaf cup-SOLD
  • squirrel cup – SOLD
  • horse cup – SOLD
  • flying pig with stars cup – SOLD
  • flying pig with birds and clouds cup – SOLD
  • flying pig with birds cup-SOLD
  • flying pig with birds cup with handle – SOLD
  • sheep cup – SOLD
  • old Washington cup – SOLD
  • flowers teacup -SOLD
  • flowers and bee cup-SOLD
  • dogs cup-SOLD
  • bunny with heart cup -SOLD
  • beehive cup 1-SOLD
  • beehive cup 2 -SOLD
  • bear cup-SOLD
  • oak branch bowls-SOLD
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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!
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red tulips – plein air painting – 22 April 2021

it’s a grey day…might even get some rain. For today’s painting, i decided to try to capture these red tulips. They are bright and cheerful, and aren’t going to last much longer. From an artist perspective, I like the way the stems are starting to droop.
here’s my sketch…to work out the composition–now time to set up and paint!!!
I’m blocking in the shapes with a muddy mix of ultramarine blue and burnt sienna. also working out the dark and light relationships in the composition..
See the white specks in front of the black car and red truck? I’m painting flowers in SNOW FLURRIES. I’m not cutting my ear off, but I do want some acknowledgment for my dedication to my craft 🙂
#kentuckyWeather
I never know what will pop up in my flower garden!!! Chuck and Mary Lou Keller 🙂
slowly but surely building up colors to capture the moment…
It’s still cold out there…had to come inside to warm my hands up. A good opportunity for an update! We are close to the finish line.
tulips take a bow – oil on panel 8×10″

Art and beauty are everywhere you look. Even on cold, cloudy snow flurry days. Get out there and enjoy!

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Plein Air Painting – Lewis County 16 April 2021

Today, i had the intention to go to Lewis county to paint the Cabin Creek Covered bridge.
I’ve painted the bridge before, it’s a picture perfect scene, but I was in the mood for something a little bit different.

Around the corner from the bridge, was an interesting curve in the road. I decided to paint it instead

My thumbnail sketch
blocking out basic shapes with a muddy mess of colors leftover from yesterday’s painting
working out the dark and light values- still using the muddy paint
starting to add color. I’m trying something different…usually I am a color lover, but I wonder what would happen if i keep my colors toned down?
blocking in the colors – trying to keep it toned down, but the red bush wants to shine bright pink–im going to let it!

building up colors and details
i think its finished!!!

the original is available for sale. I will update with a better studio photo once it is dry (in about a week)

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Grow Through What You Go Through Woodcut

I read this quote and it resonated with me at this moment in history. I decided to use it to make a woodcut. Scroll down to see the different parts of the process.

doodle of saying: go through what you go through
sketch for woodcut idea

photo of design on tracing paper for a woodcut print
design with more detail drawn on tracing paper
tracing design from paper to block of wood for woodcut printmaking
tracing paper used to flip and transfer design onto wood block
painting a sealer over woodcut before carving
wood block tinted orange (to make it easier to see cuts) then coated with a sealer
first quarter section of woodcut carved - work in progress
one quarter finished with the carving process
woodcut block carved and ready to print
The finished block-I decided to print on green paper
mixing green ink for woodcut print
mixing a dark green ink
rolling ink on the woodcut print
rolling ink onto the block
test proof for woodcut print
the test proof
touch up carving woodcut printmaking
fixing some of parts of the block for the final proof
finished prints hanging to dry
the finished print and proofs, hanging to dry

The finished Woodcut! You can add one to your print collection (and support my work!) by clicking below

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Exploring the 25 mile radius from my house

exterior of the poston school house museum in fleming county kentucky

I’ve lived in this area longer than anywhere else in my life, and I’m still surprised at how much I DON’T know about the world directly around me. I love maps and travel, and recently calculated the 25 mile (driving) radius from my house.

google map of 25 mile radius from my house

I know a lot of the people and places in this circle, but there is still a LOT I don’t know. I have decided to start fixing that!

I started at the bottom east corner, just a little east from wallingford at the top of park lake mountain. There I discovered a treasure you won’t see on google maps.

photo of the Poston School Museum in Flemming County Kentucky

The Poston School House Museum!
It’s a historic schoolhouse from the 1800s, lovingly restored into a little museum.

interior of the poston schoolhouse museum in fleming county kentucky

I am a lifetime learner, and am forever grateful to the public schools and teachers who shaped my mind.

sketches of the poston school museum in fleming county kentucky
Some of my quick pen and ink sketches of the schoolhouse

Moving forward, I’m going to try to stay in my little 25 mile radius; to travel, explore and get to better know the place where I live–through ART!

outhouse with moon painted on door at the poston schoolhouse museum in fleming county kentucky

Please share if you know any places (on or off the beaten path) that would make a good subject for an artist!

Stay tuned for more!