[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Thursday, 1 January 1998 Volume 02 : Number 028 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: David Bull Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 12:51:58 +0900 Subject: [Baren 125] 'Hatsu posuto' Happy New Year, everyone! Thanks to all of you who wrote to say 'thanks' for the little New Year card I sent out. It was very interesting to read your guesses about the number of impressions ... A while back on [Baren], Keith asked: > I'd love to know more of the technical aspects of many of > the fine prints which are now on member's sites. > If anyone from the group can spare the time to list the > processes and tech-specs for any of their prints > we can access, I would much appreciate it. Maybe this is a good chance to do a bit of that (concisely). (For those new members of [Baren], (and 'those who only lurk'), who didn't get the card, it's on my web site at: http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~xs3d-bull/hagaki/images/1998.jpg) There were 13 impressions taken to make the print (in 198 copies). The design represents a collection of traditional poetry playing cards (karuta). Such cards are sometimes made of thin slips of pine wood, and that's what I was trying to make them look like ... trying! (1) the key block, in 'ao zumi' (blue sumi). Of course, it doesn't look blue, but 'blue sumi' is what the calligraphy people call one particular type of sumi ink. I thinned it with plenty of water (this must be done the night before using it). (2) the background. A simple 'beta ban' (smooth block) impression in a sandy colour. Done with very light baren pressure, so as not to 'crush' the paper for steps 9 and 10. (3) the blue. A mix of indigo, ultramarine, and sumi. (4) the deep black. One impression of a thick sumi. (Leave a bowl of sumi ink sitting exposed. As the level of liquid goes down over a period of days/weeks, keep topping it up with more sumi. Most of the printers here have a bowl of this stuff that they started when they were young, and which has been continually topped up ever since.) (5) the cards. One impression of a sandy colour. (6) wood grain. This is almost invisible ... it's a 'karazuri' (empty printing) block that tries to give a faint impression of wood grain on the cards. (7) Case pattern. This is printed in very light vermillion (too light, I think ...) I tried at first to do this without any colour at all, just the embossed pattern, but it was too 'invisible' ... (8) Green shading. This uses the same woodblock as the basic background colour, but the pigment is only applied to one small area. (9) Background fabric pattern (vertical lines). Another 'karazuri' The general idea was to make the print look a bit like one of those paintings on silk ... The lines are actually carved all the way to the bottom of the print, but the baren was 'lifted' over the area of green shading. (10) Background fabric pattern (horizontal lines). (11/12/13) 'Front printing' on the dark sumi to give the impression of a lacquered finish. There are three separate blocks for this, all carved in 'non-reversed' orientation. The print is dried first, and then placed face-up on these blocks, one by one. No pigments or paste are used, just simply rub the front of the print with the baren. One block is for the base of the card case, one for the top surface of the cover, and the final one is a small triangular segment representing the side surface of the cover. If you hold the print just right in the light, you can see it ... That's all! *** I very much enjoyed the discussions on [Baren] last year. I can't wait to see what you guys will come up with this year! Dave ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 22:50:48 -0800 Subject: [Baren 126] A New Year. Happy New Year, everyone! Well in Japan it's all over but the sobering up. In the Eastern part of this continent it's just over and they are under the tables. Here, we have about 1 hour to get there....under the table. !!!!! Happy New Year to all no matter how you feel. The family left this morning at 5 am. for 20 hour drive home, and Manie and I collapsed. So on this basis we beat all of you under the table. Looking forward to the Baren and the chats. I have a lot to catch up on and will be doing this now....but not to night. Catch up time. Good night. Graham ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V2 #28 **************************