[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Thursday, 17 December 1998 Volume 05 : Number 380 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 09:15:20 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2370] Re: Elmer's wood paste Graham wrote (re patching wood ...) >The little trick I use is with a hot palette knife smooth on some wax. >Works like a .....well you know. >I prefer the cabinet makers wax sticks as they set up much harder that >common variety wax ... ie candles. Excellent suggestion. May I suggest to David that ideas like this be placed in the encyl. Cheers Ray ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 09:13:08 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2371] Re: Distinctions April wrote: >Didn't someone post the Tamarind suggestions for labeling editions one >time? It seems to me that the most important concept in numbering prints is >that it should be useful and descriptive, a tool for the artist to describe >what he has made, to be honest w buyer. April, you have said in one paragraph what I was trying to point out in my dissertation. Wonderful way to phrase it. >Is there any way to make a distinction between artist-printed and >publisher-printed prints? I will have to give this some thought but off the top of my head the only way is through the certificate of authenticity. I assume everyone is giving a certificate to their clients. ------------------------------ From: Cucamongie@aol.com Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 10:06:50 EST Subject: [Baren 2372] Re: Elmer's wood paste Mario wrote: >I remember somebody saying that Elmer's wood paste works well to repair > a small area that has been accidentally carved. > Is it true? I mentioned a ways back that Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Filler works well to repair small holes or cracks - it's also nontoxic, which is great - you can pick it up at any hardware store -- Sarah ------------------------------ From: "Roger A. Ball" Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 08:30:04 -0700 Subject: [Baren 2373] Fred and stuff Jeanne wrote, >The texture of the paper seems to be coming through, or is it the way >that you handled the watercolor? ... >... done on walnut. That is a hard wood to carve!!!! >... a pet named Fred {really}. A pet badger. Thanks for the comments. Well, lessee. I think what you are seeing are brushstrokes in the background. As Dave says, I need to make those last strokes _silent_. Stonehenge ain't got that much teeth on either side... I love walnut. It has great texture and grain and will really hold detail over many printings. It does take a bunch of patience and some extra strength, but that's what it's all about --even if we use softer woods, it seems to take forever. Since I only use Dremel and X-Acto, hardness isn't that big of hurdle for me. I must say that these birch ply planks I'm using right now are okay. I wish: the top verneer was thicker, the "under" plys weren't like balsa and weren't so stinkin wavy. I intend to use birch ply, cherry and walnut in the future. Each has a reasonable application. Same goes for PCs vs. Macs... "Fred B." the badger ( pic with my late father at http://www.inquo.net/~beckorro/dad1.jpg ) was released into the wild in about 1982 after a period of determining if he had the necessary hunting skills to survive on his own. We became satisfied of this when he caught about 20 mice in about 30 minutes in a local bog. He got lonely for a girl badger after he turned about four. He spent some of his youth in a bathtub. He preferred gophers and sparrows but didn't seem to mind dog food smeared with bacon grease. Funny stories about Fred abound; including the time he came up under the car seat while I was driving and latched onto the tendon behind my knee... Mostly he liked car rides, but I guess he wasn't up for it that day! I will satisfy further curiousity regarding Fred off list anytime, just ask. This of course, has nothing to do with referring to Richard or anyone else as "Fred." Blessings and Joy to you, - --Roger http://www.inquo.net/~beckorro/woodcut/woodcut.htm ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 09:53:35 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2374] Re: editioning James, You pretty well got this right..... Actually you got it all right..... Well done James Someone asked about the Tamarind editioning guidelines. Dave posted this Sept 16th 98. If anybody wants it I can send a copy. Graham ------------------------------ From: Jean Eger Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 11:13:40 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2375] Re: Baren Digest V5 #379 Cabinet makers wax..I'll try it. I was going to the hardware store today anyway. I wish I'd carved my print in basswood now. The cherry was heartwood (red instead of yellow) and awfully hard. The wood seller warned me, but did I listen? I like hearing about close-knit families and ancient woodcuts in old steamer trunks in attics. We're having a waifs and orphans Christmas eve party, but no ancient woodcuts, I'm pretty sure. Jean ------------------------------ ('off-topic' posts deleted) ------------------------------ From: Sheryl Coppenger Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 19:07:42 -0500 (EST) Subject: [Baren 2378] Re: Baren Digest V5 #377 Somebody wrote: >Maybe I just like to see my work stamped all over coffee-mugs and t-shirts Graham answered: >If you do, it could well be categorize as Mall Art. It could well be, but I've also seen an awful lot of pretentious, hand-pulled-by-the-artist editioned-by-the-book art that I would categorize as Mall Art as well. And on the other hand, the museums don't seem to think it devalues their Monets and Van Goghs when they print works on mugs. When it comes to art, snobs abound and they don't agree. :-) I guess it's a matter of how much one wants to be part of a certain kind of tribe in the art world. I've never been much of a follower in that way. And I guess that makes me a certain kind of snob as well. I respect your choice of career path, Graham, but it's not the only way to look at things. > Jean: I think that is categorized as Design. Design is closely related to > Printmaking because of the mass communication nature of the product. I agree, and my little "bolshevik" soul likes the populist aspects of having good design reach everyone, instead of trying to turn printmaking into something only within reach of the upper middle-class. Speaking of Fred: When everyone starting talking about Fred here, it brought to mind a fellow by that name who was in some of my painting classes. He did painting in jeans and sweat shirts like everybody, but one time I bumped into him on the metro when he was on his way to his job (I think he worked for a government agency). He was wearing a sage green suit and a purple spotted yellow tie that somehow seemed to go well with the suit. Fred had white hair an a rather large mustache. In painting class the mustache was relaxed but when I saw him on the metro it was waxed and curled up on the ends. Quite a sharp character, especially for conservative DC. One time Fred wanted to paint a copy of a famous painting as a gift for a friend. He bought a post card, a calendar, a book and a slide and they all had different colors in the. He found out the painting was in a local museum and called them up. They told him the painting was there, but not on display. He asked if he could go down to the storage area to see it. As he related the story, they asked him who the he was. He replied, "I'm a American Taxpayer, that's who the I am." He got to see the painting. After Fred retired, he used to set up his easel on the side of one of the highways coming in to the city and paint landscapes. He sold several of them to commuters driving by. Fred's a delightful guy, one of my favorite characters I haven't seen in a while. Thanks to the list for bringing him to mind. Sheryl Coppenger ------------------------------ ('off-topic' posts deleted) ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V5 #380 ***************************