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

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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!