[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking.

Baren Digest                Monday, 11 May 1998        Volume 03 : Number 152

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From: Ray Esposito <brassring@brassring.org>
Date: Sun, 10 May 1998 13:12:40 -0400
Subject: [Baren 730] soft wood carving 

Folks:

I am on my third block and wanted to do something different from my series.  

I am doing a take-off on one of Hiroshige's water prints.  If you are
familiar with his work, he has great giant crashing waves.  My version is a
modern interpetation with bright vibrant coloring.  Hiroshige's prints show
a lot of small water droplets and a lot of tiny curves where the giant
waves are crashing.  When I changed directions I do not fool around.

This is a three block print but the main two color block is the problem.
Someone, I believe it was Dave, noted some time back that Shina wood does
not hold a line and boy, is that true.  I am also finding that when I try
to carve the small curving droplets, the wood just pops of the block no
matter how slowly I go or how careful I try to be.  Shina splinters very
easily.

Shina is great for the abstract prints I like doing but perhaps for very
detailed prints, it is not the best choice.

Question:  Obviously I am going to try to save the block as it is an
excellent learning experience.  But is this kind of carving too intricate
for Shina or is it just that I do not yet have the experience.  If you
would use another kind of would, is basswood the best next choice?  I doubt
anyone would disagree that cherry is the best but who can afford it? 

Any suggestions?  (All comments concerning "talent" need not be offered :>))

Cheers

Ray Esposito

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From: Matthew.W.Brown@VALLEY.NET (Matthew W Brown)
Date: 10 May 98 13:29:32 EDT
Subject: [Baren 731] Hokusai 

Ray,
	Are you sure your "man" is Hiroshige and not Hokusai?
	I have had the same experience with the shina plywood, it doesn't take
line too well. Don't you have some basswood blocks? You'll get better lines,
not as fine as cherry but the easier carving will allow you to get some nice
curves. 

Matt

(You might be careful mixing shina plywood blocks and solid basswood on the
same print: as the weather changes they will grow or shrink differently and the
registration may go 'off')

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From: Ray Esposito <brassring@brassring.org>
Date: Sun, 10 May 1998 13:58:48 -0400
Subject: [Baren 732] Re: Hokusai 

Matt wrote:
>	Are you sure your "man" is Hiroshige and not Hokusai?

No, it is Hiroshige.  I got the print to serve as my guide from Basil
Stewart's "A Guide To Japanese Prints".  They are from 60-odd Provinces.  I
did look at 36 views of Fuji by Hokusai.  Both are similar but the one I
likes most was by Hiroshige.  The problem with Stewart's book, which I
recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about Japanese prints, is it
could use a lot more pictures and the softcover I have does not show them
in color.  I of course redrew it to recreate a totally modern print.

>	I have had the same experience with the shina plywood, it doesn't take
>line too well. Don't you have some basswood blocks? You'll get better lines,
>not as fine as cherry but the easier carving will allow you to get some nice
>curves. 

My first thought was the basswood which you sent me.  The problem is they
are all 8x10 and the print I want to make is 12x16.  I just may redraw the
design to fit the 8x10 format.  That means however recarving all three
blocks.  On the other hand, it is good experience no matter what I do.

>(You might be careful mixing shina plywood blocks and solid basswood on
>the same print: as the weather changes they will grow or shrink
differently and >the registration may go 'off')

I understand.  Thanks as always for your thoughts.

Cheers

Ray Esposito

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End of Baren Digest V3 #152
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