[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Tuesday, 17 November 1998 Volume 05 : Number 346 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Steiner Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 21:55:08 +0900 Subject: [Baren 2114] burning brushes from Richard Steiner/Kyoto Jean Egar wrote (Baren 2089) that she burns her brushes in order to flatten them. Jean, we don't burn brushes to flatten them but rather to round their edges. Any extra long hairs that may be sticking out from somewhere in the middle of the brush's surface will get burnt back, but that is coincidental. The four edges need to be burnt round so that the brush, when spreading the pigment over the block, will do so smoothly and evenly. The original edges are too "sharp". And it is no wonder your ink blobed at the block's edges. From the way you described your ink and paste mixtures, they are way too thick. With that thickness, you ought to have to print only once. Thin your pigments down, then try printing 2 or 3 times (which is always recommended, anyway). After you have spread the color all over the area to be printed, tip the brush slightly and gently clean out the pigment from the narrow cuts. That will eliminate that problem. There is some talk about camellia oil and the washi. Since it has been used for years and there seems to be no discoloration to the prints, it follows that camellia oil is probably OK. The ukiyo-e people used it. Here in Kyoto, we also use Johnson and Johnson's Baby oil (with the blue cap, not the pink, which is scented) and so far no tell-tale mark on the prints. Three hundred years from now, who knows? But then, three hundred years from now, you all and I will be working on other projects and not much concerned with discoloration to the prints we made back then, I suspect. Steiner/Kyoto ------------------------------ From: kim and paul Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 07:12:25 +0000 Subject: [Baren 2115] Am still here... Hello, this is Kim.... Just a note to tell everyone I am still here and reading postings. Have been busy with printmaking workshops and a couple of recent shows. The more I read, the more I want to actually learn traditional Japanese printmaking. I was taught to use a soft roller and press. I am wondering who teaches Japanese printmaking in my city, Tucson..... will research. adios.... ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 09:46:31 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2116] Garbled Mesages To All Dave informs me that I have been sending my posts in HTML format. This resulted in those of you using the digest or more simple e-mail reading programs getting a lot of garbage along with my pearls of wisdom. Knowing how much all of you look forward to hearing from me, :-)>>>, I want to apologize if this caused any problems. I believe I have corrected the problem and this post should come through to all of you without difficulty. If any of you are still having problems, please let me know. Cheers Ray What WAS the best thing before sliced bread? ------------------------------ From: "Roger A. Ball" Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 08:53:53 -0700 Subject: [Baren 2117] Frame April and Richard: The bottom board (what I call a layout board) holds two frame pieces that form an upside down 'L'. The frame sticks up about 3/8". I use flathead screws to mount it and won't loosen those screws ever. Frame is on Left and Top with carved kento. Right side has two screws set into the layout board sticking up about a 1/4" at a block width away from the frame. Loosening/Tightening screws decreases/increases pressure fit of block against frame. Bottom edge of the frame is left open to allow block to slide out toward yer tummy (when you loosen the screws so you can change blocks). I don't actually have a screw into my printing block, just wedged against. Thanks Graham for a most succinct decription to Jean regarding paste and pigment. These are the kind of notions I need to keep pondering as I take off on my latest. Pictures soon, working on fourth color. Welcome to new members and regards all around, - -Roger ------------------------------ From: jimandkatemundie@juno.com (James G Mundie) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 13:29:01 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2118] new website Baren folks, I just had word that the new website for the Townhouse Gallery in Belfast, Northern Ireland is up and running (although incomplete) at http://www.townhousegallery.com If you happen to click on "1st Northern Ireland International Exhibition of Small Prints", you will be able to see a new woodcut of mine at number 53 of 70, and a lovely mezzotint by Don Furst at number 61 of 70. Don's print is called "Leap of Faith", but my "Untitled" has mysteriously become "Slide 6". The index is searchable by country, artist, or medium. Strangely enough, the vast majority of these prints seem to have been gathered from the US, Canada, and Japan -- as one might expect -- but also from Puerto Rico and Indonesia. Little did I expect that Indonesia was a hotbed of printmaking activity. Enjoy your visit, James Mundie, Philadelphia USA P.S. Warmest greetings to all of the new members of Baren that have signed on recently. ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 12:15:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 2119] Confused There has been discussion here about the use of camellia oil and it possibly causing discolouration of prints. Maybe I have missed something in the postings but I don't understand how the small (like a drop ... actually less than) of oil on the Baren which is then spread with a tissue can discolour a print. The baren does not come in contact with the print ..... only the protective paper laid over the damp print comes in contact with the baren. Graham/Victoria BC eh ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 12:31:24 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 2120] Re: new website James wrote.... >I just had word that the new website for the Townhouse Gallery in >Belfast, Northern Ireland is up and running (although incomplete) at >http://www.townhousegallery.com James Congrats on acceptance in to the competition. Graham ------------------------------ From: woodcuts@concentric.net (D. Joseph/R. Sexauer) Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 03:04:50 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2121] Re:new websites Dear All, James' posting vis-a-vis the Townhouse Gallery reminded me that finally, through no fault of my own, one of my woodcuts is on line. The URL is http://www.wright.edu/~rgeibert/dem.html/ This was part of a Survey of Contemporary Woodcuts organized by Wright State University and titled "The Democratic Print." I was in the non-virtual exhibition along with Karen Kunc, Nancy Palmeri, Charles Cave and others. The web site is selling the CD Rom catalogue. ALSO - If you visit the site - http://fly.to/angels.insects you will be able to see what my infidel beginning etching students (it seems vaguely inappropriate to speak about etchings to this forum) have been up to. We put together an exchange portfolio titled: "Angels & Insects" inspired by the A.S. Byatt novella "Morpho Eugenia" and/or the film by Director Philip Haas. The site is rife with errors, but is still under construction, so bear with us. Roxanne Sexauer who posts from Southern California ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 18:53:04 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2122] Re:new websites Roxanne wrote: > one of my woodcuts is on line. The URL is >www.wright.edu/~rgeibert/dem.html/ Roxanne All I get are those little gray squares when a photo will not come up. Is anyone else having this problem or is there just a problem with my system? Ray ------------------------------ From: Gary Luedtke Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 19:17:38 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2123] Re:new websites I had the same problem, Ray. It appears the pictures haven't been loaded in yet. I was not able to even get to the Irish site as listed in the recent post. I copied the URL verbatim and it was not retrievable. Jim, I think that was from your posting, could you check it and resend it if there's any correction. Or am I the only one having a problem with _that one_? Gary ------------------------------ From: "Fatima Ferreira" Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 00:59:34 -0000 Subject: [Baren 2124] Re: BIG paper and welcomes Allo : First, I thank you all, the friendly welcomes you gave me. Graham, about finish with brush I was meaning just what I read about Kwang-Jean Park works that goes like this: > ...then, after the block is cut, inked, and the image is pressed onto > paper, Park finishes the cycle of her process by returning to the paper with > her brush, adding elements of color and giving additional richness and depth > to the finished print. Because Park employs meticulous brushwork, her > editions are very small (usually 6 or 9). Her finished works can be > classified somewhere in between multiples and originals. ... I think you responded my question when you say that it depends on jury criteria, more or less purism in their printmaking and multiple definitions. I agree with you. Dave, Here in Portugal biggest fine paper for printing that I may I find is about 1000 mm x 75 mm. In Spain there is a little bigger, but not much, I think. Thanks for the informations about the papers you referred. They are surely big enough for me... Do you know how much costs the Yamada Shokai general catalog and do they have other printmaking suplies, I mean, not only for woodblock ? is it everything written in japanese ? ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 20:53:57 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2125] Re:new websites Gary wrote: >I had the same problem, Ray. Gary I did get into the site and of the eight or so options, one got you to the works. I do not remember the exact one but click on the list on the right and you should get in. But I think they have problems. I e-mailed them to alert them to them. Jim, excellent print. You are underpriced. Cheers Ray Why do they call it the Department of Interior when they are in charge of everything outdoors? ------------------------------ From: Gary Luedtke Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 21:42:11 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2126] Re:new websites Ray, I never even got to the site, so the options were not available to me. (The Irish one) I'll try again and see if I have better luck this time. What's the deal here, with your one-liners too. Did Graham sell you one of his old joke books???? Gary ------------------------------ From: Wanda Robertson Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 19:23:17 -0700 Subject: [Baren 2127] Re:new websites Hi Gary, I got the Irish one, but can't get Roxanne's. The Irish site is very interesting - not all woodcuts, though. Wanda ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 22:39:08 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2128] Re:new websites Graham wrote: >Did Graham sell you one of his old joke books???? No way....but since he is preparing for his big shows, he is out of pocket and someone has to dumb down the place. :-)>>> Cheers Ray Why are they called apartments, when they're all stuck together? ------------------------------ From: Gary Luedtke Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 22:49:14 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2129] Re:new websites Wanda, I get a completely blank white page when I try the Irish one, and I get gray frames with white blanks inside and little red x's, which seems to me to indicate the picture is not loaded to the site yet. Any computer guru's out there that can clarify this? I'm going to switch to the Netscape browser and see if I have any better luck. Thanks. Gary ------------------------------ From: Gary Luedtke Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 23:09:11 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2130] Re:new websites Finally switched over to Netscape browser and had no trouble getting to the Irish site, though encountered a few "syntax" problems with the Java script. Anyway, nice print James! It was worth the trouble. Roxanne's still had difficulties in that again no images came up. Will try that again tomorrow to see if the images are loaded on then. Gary ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 22:06:04 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2131] Re:new websites >Finally switched over to Netscape browser and had no trouble getting to the >Irish site, though encountered a few "syntax" problems with the Java >script. Anyway, nice print James! It was worth the trouble. No problem with my Mac.... Graham ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 22:04:42 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2132] Re:new websites >No way....but since he is preparing for his big shows, he is out of pocket >and someone has to dumb down the place. :-)>>> Thanks Ray.... When you get a low down as me I will be the first to let you know. Graham PS Gary My joke books aren't old they are antiques. ------------------------------ From: Steiner Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 20:49:31 +0900 Subject: [Baren 2133] oil it up, please from Richard Steiner/Kyoto Lynita told a story about Tokuriki (Baren 2105) rubbing the baren in his hair to put camellia oil up there. Lynita, that is not what he was doing. He, and my teacher, Tokumitsu, and countless others are rubbing their own natural hair oil onto the baren. In fact, I have seen printers rub the baren on their face to pick up some of that oil, too. They certainly were not applying camellia to their cheeks. As for Johnson and Johnson's Baby oil, they may rub that stuff on their faces, for all I know. Steiner/Kyoto ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V5 #346 ***************************