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

Baren Digest            Wednesday, 25 November 1998    Volume 05 : Number 354

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From: Gayle Wohlken <blueman@pantek.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 09:44:03 -0500
Subject: [Baren 2200] Re: Baren Digest V5 #353 

Dave, regarding your misprinted and smudged prints;
why can't you use those prints as teaching aids.  It's good
to have examples of what can and can't happen.  Any prints
I have ever received from artist friends (prints that are sometimes not
perfect, but came to me as little gifts), I appreciate them
and I use them as study material--what better way to learn!

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From: "David Stones" <stones@mb.i-chubu.ne.jp>
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 00:24:16 +0900
Subject: [Baren 2201] RE: Phantom posts and Reject prints ... 

Dear Dave (B) and others who have interest,

You asked for an opinion on the above [2193] and, as I've been away for a few
days, the mail has piled up so I could read all the comments on this in one
sitting - and some of them reflect what I think/do. From the technical point, in
my case, I do the best I can at the time but have come to know when it's time to
shut down and take a walk before destroying a day's work. Some "faults" become
so magnified, that progress can seem impossible. I remember reading in one book
(that's probably on the Encyclopedia) that it's wise to put the prints you're
not satisfied with (ink blobs, slipped sheets etc. aside) away, forget about
them for a while,  then go and look later - and judge. This doesn't fit in with
the present day of "everything a.s.a.p." but it is good sense, especially as
colours and effects DO change over a few weeks at times.

Some would say that the maker is 100% free to frame, display and try to sell any
work he/she considers suitable but this is missing a point that has not been
mentioned as yet - the customer (and I exclude galleries here). For people like
myself, who create prints for a living as well as because I like to, the sales
of a print are often an indication of whether it's both accepted and technically
o.k. - the customer is, in most cases, the judge and will reject sloppy work.
Whether or not you think your latest  print is the best one since time began
gets a shakedown on gallery walls and, however much you promote or hang a work,
the message will get through. IF you like a certain "faulty" print or even a
whole edition though, keep it - please don't throw it away. It's a valuable tool
for future reference - also, accept that others don't allow for your ideas this
time around.

Here I will add the warning to those who need it to NOT blindly follow potential
customers' opinions - this weekend, a (non-Japanese) lady said she'd like a
print if I'd change the sky to turquoise - as everything she owned had that
colour in it. No sale.

Recently, I have started exhibiting in unknown (where I'm not known by name and
where I've never been) places here and are showing a cross-section of work -
some created over 20 years ago next to the latest - the signed and dated works
show the (design/carving) age - some sell some don't but the point is that I'm
still confident of what I tried and am still trying to do... and if it's
rejected, so be it. I will add though, that the earliest print I will personally
show is one numbered 64 (1982). Many of those previous to this were study
pieces/Christmas cards/postcards etc. and were done in the 10 years before I had
my first solo show ('83). No. 59 was the first "accepted" by teacher Tokuriki
Tomikichiro as displayable...

The above then, is what I personally think is a reasonable (and the "shortest" -
sorry) answer I can come up with... but, I repeat, do not throw anything away
before you've taken time out... Print on

Dave S

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From: Jean Eger <jeaneger@LanMinds.Com>
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 09:44:46 -0800
Subject: [Baren 2202] Re: Baren Digest V5 #353 

Roger,
You're getting better technically.  Also, it seems to me that the
simplicity and directness of your flower print is in the tradition of Asian
printmaking and very appropriate for a print exchange. 

Jean

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From: Graham Scholes <gscholes@islandnet.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 13:05:04 -0800
Subject: [Baren 2203] Re: Phantom posts and Reject prints ... 

Dave Stone wrote....
>Here I will add the warning to those who need it to NOT blindly follow
>potential customers' opinions - this weekend, a (non-Japanese) lady said she'd 
>like a print if I'd change the sky to turquoise - as everything she owned had that
>colour in it. No sale.

You missed a grand opportunity Dave......
When some one asks me to modify a painting, print, for framing for that
matter I always agree to do it on the promise......that when they change
the colour of their decor they come back and buy something that matches.
(<:

Graham eh.

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End of Baren Digest V5 #354
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