No longer Using Blogger

Folks, I am sorry, but my blog has moved to my website:

visit: http://www.kenswinson.com

for my latest news/blog posts

thanks

Ken

5 art shows in 10 days!

What was I thinking! I overbooked myself…but I hate to miss a fun art show. Sorry if I haven’t been up to date with my phone calls, email and website, but here is what I have been up to.

May 8, Show 1 –Maysville Art Walk, Tromp + Trolley

I was responsible for much of the organization for this show…and was busy for at least a solid month getting everything ready. We did our best to organize the artists, market the show, and encourage people to come.

Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side. Promptly, when the show started at 5pm, the skies turned a dark grey, bringing a heavy downpour. Regardless, the art loving public came out to enjoy a soaking wet evening of art.

I was surprised how much work is involved in organizing an art show…and I have a whole new appreciation for the hard work that goes into these events.

May 9, Show 2 – Burlington Sidewalk Chalk Festival

I packed my art, and took it to Burlington, KY for their Sidewalk Chalk Festival the very next day. I don’t have experience with chalk, but thought it would be fun…it was.
Instead of arriving with a plan of what I would draw, I arrived early to walk around Burlington and get a feel for the charming historical town. I did a few sketches of its old federal buildings (including the Tousey House Tavern, on the left) and magnificent courthouse. With the sketches as my guide, I blindly created my chalk painting.

Afterwards, I enjoyed an amazing dinner at the Tousey House Tavern with my wonderful hosts, Butch and Mary Ann Wainscott. (Notice the fine artwork hanging behind me)

May 10, Show 3 – Duveneck Art Show In Covington

The next day was the Duveneck Art show in Covington. I was surprised by my good friends Greg+Mica Darley-Emerson who showed up early with breakfast.
It was a beautiful show, I was lucky to have setup with a riverside view.

May 16, Show 4 – Mayslick Asparagus Festival

I painted frantically in the night to finish my painting for Mayslick’s Asparagus Festival. The festival has an indoor art show/competition inside a beautiful church, and then artists also have outdoor displays to accompany the “All Things Asparagus” festival.

The rain was off and on, but nothing got damaged, and the food was awesome. I had asparagus quiche, asparagus salad, asparagus cornbread, and an asparagus brownie for dessert.

It turns out I have a lot of friends in Mayslick! My painting won the “People’s Choice Award” in the Art contest.

May 17, Show 5 – Wyoming Art Show

My final show was the Wyoming Art Show. Located in a vibrant community that love the arts…I was impressed with the organization for the show. As an artist, it was a pleasure to participate. The weather was perfect, and the attendance was great.

Epilogue

The next day, I packed my kayak, and enjoyed a trip with Jim Lally and friends down the Elkhorn creek…a fast moving and exciting ride with great rapids and riffles. After a few days rest, I took some time on my bicycle for sketching and sunshine. It feels great to have some time to be an artist again.

Thank you to all the kind folks who organized, helped,participated and attended these fun shows. Especially Mike Cowden, who is as crazy as me, and helped me setup/breakdown all 5 shows! I owe you big time

A great idea came out of the Ohio River Valley Artist Guild Blog. We are going to create a chalk mural on the great blank canvas of a floodwall that is at the corner of WALL street and FRONT street. (next to my studio) The event will take place on May 8th from 5-9pm as part of the Maysville Art Walk, Tromp+Trolley and all children between the ages of 1-100 are invited to participate!

It will be a great opportunity for me to practice my chalk drawing skills, because the very next day in Burlington, KY, I will participate in the Burlington Sidewalk Chalk Festival. I have no experience in chalk art, but my good friends Butch and Mary Ann at the Tousey House in Burlington offered me a meal at their wonderful restaurant. I can't sing for my supper, but I will gladly make a chalk drawing! The event is Saturday, May 9th from 9am-6pm. I have an ambitious idea, you will have to come and see how it turns out!

I have been very busy getting ready for Friday's art walk...¦along with other important projects. I have not been making much art, and when I don't make art, it's like a psych patient not getting their medicine… So found some time to do a large drawing with charcoal and chalk on paper. It's titled "What I would Rather Be Doing"

 I am very much in love with this painting. When i finished it, I spent at least an hour gazing at it with a big grin.

www.kenswinson.com

here's some of what you missed last week

I’m running behind on my updates…here’s some of what I was doing last week!

I took a handful of photographs of our local artists for the Tromp + Trolley website

Joe Brannen At His Workshop
 
Photographer, Tom Ross


Planted a tree for Earth Day

Attended a Kiln opening at the Artisan Center At Maple Creek,
and sketched a “Kiln Opening” idea for a painting
Stopped at at Bromwell’s in Cincinnati,to see my good friend Pam Wiseman’s Artwork.

And had my socks knocked off by the clay artwork of Tracey McClorey .

Then finished the evening catching up with the artists at the Pendleton Art Center.

I’m busy getting ready organizing our upcoming art show in Maysville, but hope to get everyone up to date with one more blog post, so stay tuned.

and, If your looking for a good opportunity support the arts and buy a Ken Swinson original on the cheap…follow this link

A Special Offer

 

Hi all, it's been a long winter, and good opportunities come from difficult times .

I usually keep my sketchbooks in tact, but I have torn a few pages from my book, and matted them to fit a 8"x10" frame.

 

I have signed the front and back of each Sketch

I want to sell them for $25 each (I will pay shipping)

If you are looking for a truly unique gift, or a little original work of art to add to your collection, this is a great opportunity for you.

View the sketches here:  http://www.kenswinson.com/specialOffer1.htm

First come, first served...so if you see something you want, send me an email or give me a phone call: 606.217.2106

thanks
ken

running a week late - opening at doodles gallery

sorry folks, It’s been a busy week, and I haven’t been so good at keeping my posts up to date.  I am a little better at posting on facebook, so if you are on that network, here’s the link to my profile…add me as a friend!

I’ll get caught up, but a lot has happened, so get ready for a handful of posts in the couple of days.

OK, here’s what happened last week…

Last week was the 6”x6” and 12”x12” show opening at doodles gallery in Flemingsburg.  Brenda Flynn, artist and gallerist, was a great hostess to a fun group of local artists, including…

Betsy Baltzer, with her beautiful cats in interference acrylic (the 2 cats in the red chair are my cats, Fido and Rover)

 

Mike Wagner, with his country style oil paintings

Stephen Hayes and his film photography (darkroom…not photoshop)

Jennifer Beckett and her musical acrylic paintings (newly moved to the area from Tennessee)

Allen [I need his last name]’s whimsical, mini-mouse sculptures.     

I

Stretching Canvas And Eating Asparagus

I am working on a large painting project, and wanted to make my own stretchers for the canvas.

It is a lot of extra work, but it is satisfying to have a canvas stretched with tacks instead of modern staples.

Makes an artist feel like one of the early 20th century painters...well, with power tools!

I also had a beautiful plate of asparagus for lunch. Food's always better when eaten off local pottery!

Press Release

You are missing out! I have moved my blog to www.kenswinson.com. Go there to see this post's full features!

I have decided to schedule my public opening with a "Gallery Hop" style event happening at the same time as a big opening at the Maysville Museum Center. The event is on April 7th, from 6-9pm.

I had a very hard time writing a description of my work for the press release. Brooke Shaffner, Artcroft's current writer-in-residence offered to write my press release for me, and WOW!!!

Here it is...



PRESS RELEASE

Ken Swinson’s Studio

As part of the event, Ken Swinson’s brand new art studio at 120 W. Front Street will be open to the public. Ken recently spent 30 days at the Artcroft Creative Residency Center, which offers unfettered time and studio space for creative immersion to emerging artists and writers. Inspired by Artcroft’s picturesque pastoral setting and the daily wonderment of farm life (including assisting in the delivery of three baby goats), Ken created a series of vibrant oil and oil-pastel paintings portraying the Artcroft farm and its environs. Rendered in a whimsical, folk art fashion, these paintings joyfully depict rolling ridgelines, full moons rising, crow-filled trees, hay bales, snow-covered fields, baby chicks, and families of goats. This is Ken’s only show this season, so don’t miss the magic! 10% of all sales from his series will be donated to the Artcroft Foundation.

For more information:
www.kenswinson.com
www.artcroft.org

Busy Week

Your missing out!!! I have moved my blog to www.kenswinson.com go there to read this post with all the features!

Moving has been hard work, but I am feeling settled in my new home/studio.

I like living in town by the river. Now, when I run, follow the river from my studio to the 'new' bridge that crosses the Ohio river. Then I follow the river to the 'old' bridge which returns me to downtown Maysville. It's a 7.3 mile loop without any loose dogs. I do have to pay attention to cars though.


Last week, I pretended to be a waiter at The Beehive Tavern in Augusta, KY. I took a break from helping feed the folks long enough to enjoy a beautiful sunset on the Ohio River.

I wanted to store some of my dusty pottery equipment to Artcroft so the equipment can get some use. Robert was nice enough to meet me in Maysville and carry 2 kilns, my kickwheel and other ceramic materials to Artcroft.


Here's a photo of my housemate (Mike) with Robert and the stocked truck...never mind the tornado damage in the background.

I never found my framing tape, so I had to drive to Cincinnati and buy some at the framing supply. I needed mattboard anyway, and a friend needed a ride to the hospital, so I was able to get a few things done in one trip. While at the frame supply, I was browsing their frame moulding, and thought I would buy a few styles of moulding.

Until now, I have made my own moulding from rough lumber. It is very time consuming, but I take a lot of pride in having made the frame and moulding. I think the commercial moulding has a very nice look...and it sheds HOURS off my workload.



What do you folks think? The moulding on the left is my moulding, and on the right is a frame made with the commercial moulding.

Today, I went to the Ohio River Guild Meeting, then worked on some of my clay sculptures. It felt good to get muddy. I have been so busy moving and framing, that I have almost forgot what it is like to do creative work!

Sorry for taking so long to post anything new...I just got my internet turned on at home. Keep visiting my site, I will have some new work to show soon!

Artcroft Day 14

please go to www.kenswinson.com for the full featured version of this post.

Sunday is the day I go into town and do my laundry.

I went to Maysville to have a look at my newly aquired art studio/web design office. I had agreed to renting it over the phone. My home/studio was damaged during the tornado storms last week, and I have a friend who was getting ready to rent a space in her building in downtown Maysville...it seemed like a match brought together by the cosmos. The space was very comfortable, and I know it is going to make a great workspace.

I did my laundry, had lunch with friends, did some grocery shopping, then headed back to Artcroft. The winds were picking up and the sky had a beautiful light and interesting pattern of clouds. I was anxious to get back to Artcroft, but had to stop long enough to take this picture.


After dinner, we bottle fed the baby goats and hoisted Shirley up so she could get used to standing on her feet. She is still very weak from the birth.

She is eating and drinking, and has a good demeanor (as always), but her legs are too weak to support herself. It is important that she be able to stand on her feet so that she can feed the babies, but also for her recovery. I hope tomorrow she gets up and gets to walk around.


I showed Angela my studio after feeding the babies. She is from New York City, but has some country in her, so she's alright with me. She understood the idea of composting banana peels, and wasn't too prissy to sit in the hay and feed baby goats. She noted a few times with amusement that her city boots had mud on them. I have a feeling that her boots are going to have good fun out in the country. Can you imagine being a boot, and not getting to step in a muddy puddle? I have been the only resident for the last 2 weeks, and it was really nice to sit in my studio and talk about art, the artist's life, and those other things that artist's like to gab about.

This experience as an artist-in-residence has been awesome. I can tell that I am making some important developments as an artist. I'm sorry that I can't express them very well with words right now. It's been a long day, and I am so tired that I accidentally erased one of the sketches that I wanted to share with you all. Thanks again everyone who has been so supportive through your comments and emails. I want to personally reply to everyone, but I am not very good at finding the time to write the letters...I do read the comments and appreciate everyone's kindness and friendship.

peace
ken

Artcroft Day 12

please go to www.kenswinson.com for the full-featured version of this article:

Sorry folks, I don't have any pictures of my latest/greatest today.

Yesterday, I hit a creative wall, so I was eager to get my mind off art and help Robert with some construction work to prepare Angela's studio. (she arrives tomorrow).

After finishing the work on the studio, Robert invited me to have lunch with him in Carlisle, Ky. After driving into Carlisle's charming downtown, we discovered the restaurant was closed due to sick children. While walking back to the truck, we met Ed Taylor, a friend of Robert. He offered to feed us at his restaurant 'cafe on Main'.


sorry about the quality of the photo...i had to take this shot with my cellphone.
Although it was not open for business, Ed welcomed us in, and turned up the stove. The Cafe was decorated with beautiful art...real art! Every space on the walls in the cafe were being used to display paintings or drawings. We both had roast beef with a potato casserole and broccoli. It may sound like a normal lunch, but there was nothing normal about it. The food was a concert of flavors! I don't rattle on about food...food is usually a means to an end...it gives me energy so I can paint. This food was a work of ART!


When we returned to the farm, I went directly to my studio and began a new, mysterious project. I don't want to show unfinished work, but you can rest assured that I have broken through the creative wall. Thanks everyone for your encouragement on yesterdays post to keep those creative juices pumping!

Shirley, the big fat mama goat, was making fussy noises this morning. She is ready to have those babies, but they still are not ready to come out.

Artcroft Day 11

To view this blog with full features click here


Tree House

For me, creativity has peaks and valleys. For the last 10 days at Artcroft, I have enjoyed a surge of creative inspiration. Today, I feel like I ran out of creative energy.


I started the day by doing some creative work for a web design project I have been hired to do. Then at the studio, I finished 2 oil paintings. Then took a couple snapshots. I went for a 5 mile jog, came home and did some light cleaning around the house...and then got ready for dinner.

Dinner with Robert and Maureen was delicious and pleasant as always, but when I returned to the studio, I couldn't get anything done!

I felt like I was suffering from creative paralysis. I tried to paint an idea for a watercolor, but from the beginning, the composition was bad, and the colors were not agreeing with me. The worst thing was that I had no enthusiasm for my work. I am always excited to bring an image to life, but tonight, I could care less.

I hope haven't overloaded myself. I am looking forward to helping Robert with some work around the farm so my creative juices can build back up...that should do the trick!

I am curious to know how the other creative folk out there deal with keeping their creative energies in check? (particularly when they hit a brick wall)

peace
ken

Artcroft day 10

Time is passing fast here at Artcroft. I am already 1/3 through the residency. I am having a great experience, and know it is going to be hard to leave when the time comes.

I spent most of the day in the studio, working on my oil paintings. I have 3 that are almost finished...if not finished:


Cat Nap
Lazy cat, was hunting for birds, then fell asleep. He's not very good at catching mice either, but he is still a good cat.


Too Good For The Hen House
When I raised chickens, they rarely went into their henhouse at night. They prefered to roost in the trees...there were many nights I had to climb the tree to bring the chickens down and put them in the henhouse!


Prissy Little Cow
Prissy little cow likes to sit with her front legs crossed in the shade and talk with the birds. Soak in the muddy pond with the other cows...never!


A watercolor painting of Mama goat who lives under the pottery studio at Artcroft, but she comes outside to look at the snow, and let me rub her belly...her baby is overdue. I think it wants to stay in her warm belly!

Artcroft day 9

Today, I woke to the sound of ice sliding off the roof...crashing to the ground. A combination of sleet and snow fell for most of the day. The wintry mix changed the landscape from yellow to white.


I took a break inbetween painting sessions and took a walk around the farm.


A view of the resident's quarters.

I invited Robert and Maureen to visit my studio today. I asked Robert for a critique on my work, and was grateful for his insight. I admire anyone who can put words to the process of making visual art. It's always easy to say "I like this/I like that", but the ability to explain why something is working...or why something is not working. I hope I can develop that skill over time.



Sorry not to have new work for this post, but larger oil paintings take much more time to finish than smaller oil pastel paintings. I plan to have 2 or 3 finished tomorrow, so please keep watching this site!

peace
ken