[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Thursday, 7 January 1999 Volume 06 : Number 401 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Cucamongie@aol.com Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 08:18:16 EST Subject: [Baren 2529] to size or not to size to Jean re sizing your paper: of course you can save yourself the hassle of sizing by buying already-sized paper. McClain's has great paper that is already sized - Nishinouchi is what I've been mostly using most recently (on April's recommendation) - just my 2 cents - Sarah ------------------------------ From: Ramsey Household Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 06:20:48 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2530] Re: to size or not to size Sarah wrote: > of course you can save yourself the hassle of sizing by buying already-sized > paper. McClain's has great paper that is already sized - Nishinouchi is what > I've been mostly using most recently (on April's recommendation) - just my 2 > cents - > Sarah Do you have the address and telephone number of McClain's? Do they have a catalog? Thanks, Carolyn P.S. Has anyone contacted Patrick Press (I think that's the name) in Canada? I sent them an E-mail, but never got an answer about their presses. Would someone send their E-mail address again, please? ------------------------------ From: Jean Eger Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 06:58:51 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2531] Re: Baren Digest V6 #400 Hi Bill, The horse on my seal signifies the year of the horse--1942--which was the year of my birth. However, I chose it. It was not given to me. I could have chosen something else. I went to a street fair in Oakland's Chinatown and the chop carver was there. He carved the characters while I waited. I loved your story about how you got your seal. Like yours, the characters on my seal sound the same as my name, I think. But I don't know what they mean. Jean Eger ------------------------------ From: amoss@mindspring.com (JOHN AMOSS) Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 10:23:34 -0500 (EST) Subject: [Baren 2532] kentos, skin update Thanks to Matt, David S., Graham and all for the kento adjustment input. The glue technique worked great! I hope that David B. will include these wonderful suggestions in the encyclopedia after things settle down. Matt, Ray E. suggested that I look into your "system". I remember something a long time ago about a template you developed, could you elaborate for me and the new arrivals? Also, after nursing the original skin that came with my baren, I tried the timber bamboo sheaths that I found at a farm in S. Georgia- I had mentioned collecting them early last summer. At the time, David Bull asked me for an update on how they work. I hesitated to try because I was too chicken to attempt re-covering it. Anyway, the skins seem to work great, although my tying skills are of course, remedial. After going through at least five of them, I seem to have tied one that will last through a long day of printing. I can't imagine going through the same learning curve with skins from McClain's going at $5 a pop. It's kinda fun to practice knowing that I have a garbage bag full of the things to fall back on.... Hope everyone is staying warm and having good luck printing. - -John from supposed-to-be-warm Georgia ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 09:25:52 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2533] McCain's & Patrick Presses Carolyn, McClain's phone ........ 800 832 4264 or 503 238 8674 PO Box 40163 Portland, Oregon. 97240-0163 Aside......Portland is a beautiful city. Patrick Designs They are located on Vancouver Island 426 Torrence Rd., Comox, BC V9M 3L8 e-mail danpat@comox.island.net I have had positive feed back about these presses. Let me know if you have difficulty getting responce to your enquiry. Ray..... You had some dealings here. Did anything ever come of it. Graham ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 09:34:09 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2534] Re: kentos, skin update John from supposed-to-be-warm Georgia....wrote.... >I tried the timber bamboo sheaths that I found at a farm in S. Georgia John. If you would send one of thoes bamboo thingies I will evaluate it. Graham Scholes 11435 Hawthorne Pl. Sidney, BC. V8L 5J7 Phone 250 655 0600 ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 12:16:00 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2535] Transfer image As indicated last week here is a method of transfering the image to the wood. Of all the method I have read about, seen here on the Baren and been taught, the following is by far the easiest and surest way of transfer. When you have finalized the design, be it: a pencil sketch, a colour pencil sketch, a watercolour or whatever, to the size you intend to make the print, you are now ready for the next step to get the image on the woodblock for carving a plate. Using a frosted mylar film, trace the original image using a waterproof permanent fine liner pen. Do the drawing on the frosted side. I use a Pigma Mircon, 005 size. There are other makes that will give you a very fine black line. This tracing becomes the key line drawing that you will eventually transfer to the block. Your kento marks are to be included in the key drawing. The corner Kento is positioned on the left bottom corner if you want it to appear on the right bottom corner of your plate. You will understand the necessity of this once I explain the transfer method. Take this key drawing on the frosted mylar to your local photo copy supplier and get the number of B&W line copies, as there are plates to be carved. Get a couple of extra in case of spoilage and/or additional colours as the work progresses. It is important to make sure each of the copies are exact. I always check them one against the other on a light box to make sure they are perfect. I have held them up on a window at the copy shop, if they don't have a light box. The copies, by the way, will be a wee bit smaller than the original, over all from corner to corner. This does not matter as long as all the copies are the same. The copies are such that the image is not flopped or flipped horizontal. This will occur with the transfer method to the woodblock. Run home and you are ready to transfer the image onto your prepared basswood. Prepared wood means the surface as been sanded with 400 grit after the coat of varnish. This is one coat of 50/50 mix of varnish and thinner that has dried over night. Position one of the photo copy images, face down on the woodblock. (This position the kento on the bottom right corner). The photo copy needs to be held securely with a corkboard tack. I prefer to tack, diagonally, two corners. This allows you to lift the paper to check that the transfer of the toner is progressing properly. With the photo copy in place, (.....IMPORTANT......IN A WELL VENTILATED ROOM OR OUTSIDE ON A PORCH), take a small amount of Lacquer Tinner on a small clean cloth and smear this on the back of the paper, in a sufficient amount to allow the tinner to penetrate through the paper and desolve the toner. Presto the image is transferred on the wood. Be carefull that you do not apply to much thinner causing the toner to run and smear. Practice this a few times and any spare wood to get a clean sharp transfer of line. The plate is ready to start carving almost immediately. The image has been transferred in a matter of moments and is in reverse, so that the print comes off in the proper orientation. Have fun. 'The Flasher' Graham Yes I know it would be lovely to have images to accompany this discription, but alas I would need a digital camera. Someday. --------------------------- From: "Brad A. Schwartz" Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 12:32:46 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 2536] Re: Transfer image Graham wrote: - ->As indicated last week here is a method of transfering the image to the wood. Unfortunately, this is one of the most dangerous methods of transferring images, be it to wood block or zinc/copper plates. Lacqeur thinner should be used with extreme caution; i.e. nitrile gloves, respirators and ventilation systems. Please take a moment to read the hazard warnings on the side of the lacquer thinner can... there's something about central nervous system damage that kind of turns me off to using the stuff. My professor in undergrad told stories of his professors and how they are now sterile and suffering from a wide variety of unthinkable maladies, especially cancer. I'd much rather use the paste method of transferring or use color copies on thermal transfer (tshirt paper)... Brad ------------------------------ From: woodcuts@concentric.net (D. Joseph/R. Sexauer) Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 01:09:56 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2537] Re: Transfer image Brad, Couldn't agree more! I'm always working to make our shops more green & clean. Best thing I've done was to hire a rag service. At CSULB, we use a safe, non-toxic alternative to lacquer thinner called "Wonder Wash". Works best with press pressure, but I'd imagine you could hand-rub it as well. You can also use it for Xerox & laser print tranfers. Great book out there called: "Artist Beware" - it should be recommended reading for all printmakers. Later, Roxanne ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 13:17:07 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2538] Re: Transfer image Well covered Brad. I got this posting twice. Did everybody? Graham ------------------------------ From: Don Furst Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 17:15:37 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2539] Re: Transfer image Brad wrote: >Unfortunately, this is one of the most dangerous methods of transferring >images, be it to wood block or zinc/copper plates. Lacqeur thinner should >be used with extreme caution; i.e. nitrile gloves, respirators and >ventilation systems. I have been transferring essentially the same way as Graham, but with acetone in lieu of lacquer thinner. Although acetone smells strong, it has a surprisingly low toxicity rating. (It is, however, quite flammable.) Incidentally, many printmakers favor oil of wintergreen for transfers. However, I saw a posting a few months ago that pointed out some health hazards in the wintergreen, too. --Don ------------------------------ From: "Brad A. Schwartz" Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 16:02:30 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 2540] Re: Transfer image - ->Couldn't agree more! I'm always working to make our shops more green & - ->clean. Best thing I've done was to hire a rag service. At CSULB, we use a - ->safe, non-toxic alternative to lacquer thinner called "Wonder Wash". Works I've heard of a soy based solvent replacement for lacquer thinner also... called Soy 2000... supposed to work pretty good... sounds almost like your Wonder Wash... - ->best with press pressure, but I'd imagine you could hand-rub it as well. Brad A. Schwartz ------------------------------ From: "Brad A. Schwartz" Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 16:35:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 2541] Re: Transfer image - ->Incidentally, many printmakers favor oil of wintergreen for transfers. - ->However, I saw a posting a few months ago that pointed out some health - ->hazards in the wintergreen, too. --Don Well you know how things are going now... everything is bad for you. Next thing you know there's going to be a study done on rice paste and it's ill affects on your fingernails. :) Brad A. Schwartz ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 22:31:27 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2542] Re: Gary's web-site Julio wrote: >What is going on ? Is there a revolution going by us or is this just a new >passing phase ? Julio A revolution is going on. Any new tool will give artists the opportunity to be creative. The first printing press was hardly bolted together before some artist said, "ha ha, a new way to do prints". It has always been that way and always will be although we cannot now knoe what tools will be used in the future. I am not quite against the computer as many others when used as a tool. My main complaint is that most of what comes off the computer is garbage. I simply do not consider it worthy art. This is a personal opinion only. My other problem with digital art is the old one of what is an original print. One day I take the position that using a computer is not the same as working on a plate, wood, paper, etc and thus cannot be "original art". The next day, I take the position that the computer is a tool liek any other and while the quality is questionable, it is "original art". The very next day, I take the position that the color printer means the artist can produce thousands of such "original art" and thus cann not be an original print. As you can see, I am still working through it all. For now I will take a wait and see position and as a collector will not include any digital art in my collection unless I can't help it. I am sure a lot of people, collector's and artist alike, are going through the same back and forth. Eventually, it iwll all work out. For now I suggest everyone cool it and wait. If you like digital art, go for it. If you don't, do your thing. Cheers Ray ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 22:36:26 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2543] Re: McCain's & Patrick Presses Actually, Jim has the most experience as he has ordered a press. In fact, it may be here by now. From everyhting I know, I plan on buying a press from Dan also. For one thing, you can't beat the prices. For another, I talked to a number of Dan'r customers including a college art department in Vancouver and they rave about the presses. They also put them though a lot more then an individual artists. My purchase was put back becasue the cost of relocating from Florida has me temporarily tapped out but I plan on ordering within the month. I recommend the presses to everyone. Cheers Ray ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 22:16:24 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2544] Rays response to DA Amen Amen Amen.... The Flasher Graham ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V6 #401 ***************************