[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Monday, 2 November 1998 Volume 05 : Number 329 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Jean Eger Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 09:19:33 -0800 Subject: [Baren 1963] Re: beginners Hi Wanda, Glad to have you on board. I have been making woodcuts off and on for years and still have a lot to learn. As far as $ goes, there are lots of great tips on baren on how to save money--like making your ink from powdered pigment or pigment that is kept in alcohol, instead of from tube watercolor. Maybe some of our members can remind us of the pigment sellers web sites. Despite what Ray says, it is not necessary for a beginner to buy an expensive baren. All the retailers have "student" equipment, so start with that. I am sure that McClain's is an ethical business and so if you tell them you are a beginner, they will advise you appropriately. I am looking forward to seeing your prints also! Sincerely, Jean EGer ------------------------------ From: "Roger A. Ball" Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 10:49:48 -0700 Subject: [Baren 1964] Clarification Hello kind woodcutters, Happily in progress on the third block of my cut for the exchange. Perhaps I'm cheap or looney or just dense, but as a point of clarification, is it the intention to sort of make it a requirement for exchange members to purchase the fine case that David is kindly offering? Or will Jim just ship in a cardboard box? I intend to make a wooden case and while the paper case my be a nice addition I think that I won't opt for it unless we (the collective exchange members) decide that this is the best/most efficent/most convenient method for Jim to ship the collected 29 prints. I'm not adverse to the the $25 or whatever but not having had the time yet to dash to the PO for an MO, I just wondered what others thought... Thick as a brick, - -Roger ------------------------------ From: Chris Bremmer Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 09:55:39 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 1965] Method of printing colors Hello, First of all, let me say how much I enjoy the Baren list.... I'm wondering what the proper method of printing from different color blocks is. Let's say you are going to print 10 prints. Do you print one sheet of paper with all the colors at one time? i.e. keeping the same piece of paper in the press all the time? Or do you print all 10 sheets of paper a certain color, then move on to the next color and reprint all of them again etc.? Hope I'm making myself clear here. All responses will definitely help this beginner out! Thanks, Chris ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 14:10:32 -0500 Subject: [Baren 1966] Re: beginners WHOA there Jean!!!!!! Where in the world did you get the idea that I suggested Wanda or anyone else buy an expensive baren???? I don't know what you have been taking but I suggested that she could get into woodcut very cheaply by NOT buying a lot of expensive equipment. Besides, since I do not EVEN USE a baren, I would not have any idea of what anyone should buy. I believe it was Graham who wrote about barens and not in the context you suggest. I don't mind being put in my place but please....let's get our facts straight. I get into enough trouble on Baren all by myself without any help!!! :-)>>> Cheers Ray ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 14:11:58 -0500 Subject: [Baren 1967] Re: Clarification Roger I believe it is volunteery. That is why Dave originally asked how many would be interested so he could place a solid order. Your wood case sounds great. Go for it. Ray ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 14:16:10 -0500 Subject: [Baren 1968] Re: Method of printing colors Chris There are two methods; the official Japanese (or Dave Bull) method and the Esposito method. The Bull method is to print all of one color than each color in rotation. You get wonderful prints as a result. The Esposito method is to grab a few Brownies (well mixed with certain green leaves) and...hey man, go for it. The results are.....well, surprising. :-)>>> (Sorry gang, I just couldn't resist.) Cheers Ray ------------------------------ From: Chris Bremmer Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 12:24:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 1969] Re: Method of printing colors Hi Ray, Ha... thanks for your reply, much appreciated... And just so I understand it right, Dave Bull prints black on ALL the sheets in his edition, and then prints the red in ALL the sheets in the edition and so on, until the print is done? I just got done looking at your nicely done write up under the newbie section...very nice... One thing I haven't been doing is thinning my inks out. I'm using just regular Speedball woodblock inks. Is this pretty much a standard thing do? (thinning the inks) Thanks for the help again Ray Chris ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 15:35:25 -0500 Subject: [Baren 1970] Re: Method of printing colors Chris Thanks for the kind words about the Newbie Journal. I am too new at this to answer further. Dave will be able to give you more but I think you are correct so far as you now see it. However, permit me to add, if you go back into the archives, you will see a discussion about Speedball inks (everyone seems to hate them) and what to do about thinning inks. I have never used them but then again, I use etching inks while I think 95% of Baren members use waterbased, or pigment inks. May I also suggest to all newbies that in no way do I want to discourage you from asking questions. There are a lot of us happy to answer them. At the same time, I suggest all of you review the archives. There is a wealth of information sitting there and I would bet 99.9% of all questions can be answered. I routinely review them to get answers to questions. Having answered my technical questions, I am then free to raise hell on Baren. :-)>>> Cheers Ray P.S. While I am thinking about it, what in the heck ever happened to the video that was being passed around? I was high on the list but that was months ago. Has someone's VCR recorder eaten it? ------------------------------ From: Marco Flavio Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 10:02:29 -0800 Subject: [Baren 1971] Re: beginners hello Wanda, there is an excellent pigment seller where I live (San Francisco) and they do ship in the U.S. They are Sinopia (www.sinopia.com) Check them out. Marco Flavio ------------------------------ From: Marco Flavio Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 10:04:11 -0800 Subject: [Baren 1972] How do I join? Hi, I'm Marco Flavio Marinucci. Some of you replied already to some of my questions and I would like to join "Baren". Is there something I should do? Thank you for the help. ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V5 #329 ***************************