[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Sunday, 1 November 1998 Volume 05 : Number 327 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 13:20:34 -0500 Subject: [Baren 1952] A Wager I have been rereading the money order posts and am astounded by some of the responses. After all of the posts written how to get money orders, posts still came in afterwards telling us how difficult it is. People just don't read. Graham has a word for it but I will resist using it here. I want to make a prediction. After all of the effort to be simple, clear and concise, I will lay 6-1, no.... 10 to 1, that someone, I do not know who, but one of the 28 participants will send Dave a US bank draft. The draft will be for around $25 and will have cost the sender around the same amount going through a bank, instead of $3 at the post office. Dave will be charged $50 by the Japanese bank to cash it. Of course, being a softy, he will simply tear it up and eat the lost. An absolute waste of money and no benefit to anyone, especially Dave. Does anyone want to take me up on this wager? Ray ------------------------------ From: Wanda Robertson Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 11:13:17 -0700 Subject: [Baren 1953] Re: A Wager& some ?s Well, Ray, I don't want to take you up on the bet. But, being new here, I have some questions and hope someone has time to answer. I was glad to learn there are 28 participants in the print exchange. I was wondering about that. How do you set up a print exchange? Does everyone send their prints to a central location and then they are sorted and sent out from there? The print case is lovely. I hope if the list does this again, I will be confident enough in my abilities to participate. Also, besides the books recommended in the Encyclopedia, do any of you have favorite books to recommend to a beginner? I have ordered the "Hanga Primer" from McClains and a few tools and a set of sample papers. Just getting my feet wet, here. I do feel very fortunate to have McClains right in my back yard (about 40 miles from home) but I can see that I could spend a lot of $ on the wrong stuff, too. I was happy to see work from the Baren list in the catalog. Maybe some day I can be in there, too! Wanda ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 14:26:50 -0500 Subject: [Baren 1954] Re: A Wager JIm is best suited to answer the first part but being a Saturday, he is probalby working on his print so I will jump in. This all started with a simple idea and grew int osomething special. Everyone will produce at least 28 prints (the edition can be larger if the artist wishes) and sent to Jim Mundie in Philadelphia. Jim got sucke.....ahh, volunteered to be the pivot around which the exchange would revolve. He will combine all of the prints from each artist and send the combined packages to each participant. Simple and rather straight forward. For those not participating, Dave will put them on Baren. I am not a big fan of books. Just take some simple tools and start cutting. Believe me, when you see my print in the exchange, you will realize talent is not a major ingredient. :-)>>> Some of us do not use the "normal" tools. Jim uses a razor blade. (An idea I am trying my best to steal.) Go for it. I am sure we will be seeing your woodcuts on Baren in the near future and they will be great. Welcome to the greatest, and sometimes most contentious, forum on the internet. Ray ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 14:33:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 1955] Re: A Wager Ray wrote.... > Does anyone want to take me up on this wager? Ray, Its going to be the easiest buck ... .(Canadians..... 50=A2 to the neighbours south of us) .... I will ever make. I will take 20 to 1 US on this baby. Thanks for the wake up call Ray ....it was get pretty silly with all the blah blah blah about a subject that was more than abundently clear even to us little guys here in BC with seasonal web feet.......(The rainy season is upon us). Now don't disappoint me you people. I do have two solutions for this happening...... 1. It happened during the full moon. Can you check this? 1. It is because it is Halloween time. 1. Blue moons happen in the spring so that's not it..... Graham ------------------------------ From: Jean Eger Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 15:30:02 -0800 Subject: [Baren 1956] Re: Baren Digest V5 #326 Hi all, Where did everyone go? I had no trouble sending an international money order for $22 plus $3 in case the exchange rate changes. I certainly hope we have enough prints to fill up the case. Jean Eger ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 18:51:38 -0500 Subject: [Baren 1957] Re: Baren Digest V5 #326 Jean The holidays are slowing most people up I think. That's why I am trying to stir things up. What do you mean by having enough prints to fill up the case? We will have 28 unless someone else drops out. Graham dropping out made sense because this is too much of an opportunity for him to miss but I have not heard of anyone else quitting. Do you know something we don't? :-)>>> Ray ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 17:29:32 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 1958] Re: Welcome Wanda Hi Wanda, If you are serious about this sport then purchase the best tools and paper. I mean by serious, that you will do only woodblocks for the next 5 or more years and set an objective of doing 6 to 10 new pieces each year. If you have more modest goals then by the non professional tools which are Japanese design but poorer quality steal, and good quality Hosho paper, the thin stuff. You should be able to find what you want at McClains. You can get along with the inexpensive Baren. I think they are $100 bucks for the Yoshida design. I'm sure I can get the same thing out of Vancouver for about 35 bucks. 5 years ago I purchased one for $25. I believe McClains is over priced. On the subject of learning the sport... Sure read all you can find on the subject but don't let of the techy stuff stiffle your creativity. I prefer to have the image dominate ...not the slick technique. Great technique and lousy imagery will not get you browny points with your peers or adjudicators. I have seen some wonderful innovative imagery that boardered on crude technique that was an absolute winner. If you have any specific questions about tools or equipment then I will be glad to help. You must live close to Portand.... How's the web feet..... Graham PS Have you heard of Noboru Sawai. He teaches out of Vancouver BC ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V5 #327 ***************************