[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Sunday, 15 March 1998 Volume 02 : Number 096 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: julio.rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 8:56:26 -0600 Subject: [Baren 481] re:misc/chinese Boy....look what I started....I asked a simple question about technique using small wood cuts to build your color blocks and next thing you know for the last several days the talk is all about Chinese printing.......interesting the paths we follow ! It is nice to see all the new members coming out of the woodwork (no pun intended!). I can understand why some of us are reluctant to send our barens away for re-skinning.... I guess we just can't bare(n) to be without it for any length of time! Where is Ray ? Julio ------------------------------ From: April Vollmer & John Yamaguchi Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 18:19:10 -0400 Subject: [Baren 482] Re: Baren research/methyl cellulose The baren pages are very helpful! When I was in the encyclopedia checking that information, I also found several entries for 'paste.' Paste is added to the pigment to give it some body, so it lies smoothly on the surface and doesn't bead up, as it does in goma zuri. I've found that methyl cellulose is a teriffic substitute. It is easy to mix up (just have to give it enough time to dissolve thoroughly) and it never molds...so you can mix up as much as you like and just keep it handy. I bought a pound of powder methyl cellulose from Talas archival suppplies back in 1980 for chine colle, and have been using it for hanga for four years....almost time to buy more! April Vollmer ------------------------------ From: Matthew.W.Brown@VALLEY.NET (Matthew W Brown) Date: 14 Mar 98 18:55:47 EST Subject: [Baren 483] Chinese Woodblock Baren: Dave, I really enjoyed what you put up on the 'Pedia about the Chinese printing. And it raised more questions: any ideas on how they would be able to print with water pigments on dry paper and not have troubles with wrinkling paper etc.? Perhaps wetting and re-drying papers after printing? Or are they printing with oil inks? Matt ------------------------------ From: David Bull Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 17:33:53 +0900 Subject: [Baren 484] How did you _do_ that? This is a question for April, but rather than ask by personal e-mail, I'm asking 'out loud', as I hope the answer will be of interest to everybody ... April, I've been very much enjoying the images on your web site (note to everybody: if you haven't already - then go and see these prints!), and I noticed something in the 'small print' that was quite interesting. The dimensions of the 'A Simple Formula' are listed as 36" by 16". This is one very large print! Have you got any advice to offer us about how you manage to hold and manipulate such large sheets of wet paper? Dave ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V2 #96 **************************