[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Saturday, 9 January 1999 Volume 06 : Number 406 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: April Vollmer/John Yamaguchi Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 17:45:33 -0400 Subject: [Baren 2609] Re: Baren Digest V6 #399 Wow, have I gotten behind in reading my e-mail!!! This is my (long) catch-up list. Jake: Aha! someone I can ask digital questions! Do you know of a new sort of stylus? I forget the name, but it is supposed to mark darker when you press down to imitate a caligraphic line. I love hanga woodcut, but Photoshop is a great tool. I've been developing images in Photoshop, printing them out, photocopying and transferring them (with wintergreen) to my blocks. Roxanne: Thanks for the "imp" suggestion! I'll have to look up that Kenneth S. Knapton article. I'd love to see the LAPS show, too! I missed the deadline for submissions this year, but thanks for keeping us up to date. Jean: sizing paper can be tricky, easy to get too much or too little. I have used buffalo hide glue. Depending on how much money your time is worth, it might be worthwhile to invest in already sized paper. I like using nishihouchi from McClain's. (as Sarah Hauser mentioned) It's a bit expensive, but it might save you a lot of grief! Real washi will retain moisture more evenly than lightweight Rives. Is Rives the best choice for an inexpensive western paper? I know Matt uses it to good advantage. Stonehenge works well, but needs a strong baren because it is rather heavy. John: I envy you your trial bamboo sheaths! I'm afraid to try, as I have nothing to practice with. It is a real limitation for printing hanga in the U.S.! McClain's $5 ones are not the best, they are a little small. Is there anyplace to order them from Japan? New Members: it's great to hear from all over the globe! I can't believe how much Baren has grown. Welcome! And Dave, thank you so much for the recent newsletter and sample...it is so inspiring to see good printing! And it's exciting to hear about your show, and see the photos. Congratulations and good luck! April Vollmer ------------------------------ From: "D. Joseph/R. Sexauer" Date: Sat, 09 Jan 1999 01:48:49 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2610] Re: Woodcut press Jake, Hello! You never mentioned what variety of the beast you use. I use a Charles Brand Press (so sad that they have gone the way the wind recommends) to print most of my woodcuts. These presses were made to be used for printing either process, & therefore the uppermost roller can be raised considerably. I have also had success printing woodcuts with Ettan etching presses, and my friend Judy Chan swears by her Dave Tachach (sp?) model. I never had much luck on say, a French-American Tool press. Most of my prints are multiple runs in woodcut, with litho, collagraph, or silkscreen additions. I have found it helpful to exclude the catcher from the mix & substitute a thick ply of chip board, atop which the other 2 felts ride. This is mainly because I dislike the look of heavy embossment showing up in areas I have excised. The chip board & felts are always considerably larger than my blocks. I rarely have problems with "grab," but if I do, I create thin wooden "runners" that extend past my block & are just slightly thinner than the block. These act as a sort of "staging ramp" to allow for proper press engagement. I find the "grab" problem happens more if one is using a thick block, or if one forgets to "step" the cardboard & the felts. It is also most helpful to have another person to assist with a "laying on of hands" as the block passes under the cylinders in order that no shift occurs. Hope this is helpful. Kim, The "Wonder Wash" comes from a local CA source, I'll have to look up the address when I go up to school. It is actually manufactured as a roller conditioner for offset printing. Roxanne ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 14:26:56 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2611] Re: Digital art II Ray wrote.... >There are still good arguements on both sides and I for one want to hear >them but I want to suggest that NO ONE bring up the subject of digital art >until March 1, 1999. On that date, we can begin to fight again. We will >have all taken a deep breath and can get it on. :-)> > >Just a thought Good thought......it won't come through my computer ...... maybe never. (Careful Graham, that is a longer than long.) Regards, Graham ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 14:34:19 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2612] Re: Digital art II Dean wrote....... >And I suppose we should restrict discussion of what types of wood to use >to two >postings per month; methods of drying, 3/mo; meaningless short messages 1/day. >Would you have us return to tradition? Okay, get out the flints and stone >scrapers; get out the .22 to mix the rabbit skin glue ourselves. Restrict >discussion of the art to a select family, preferably with similar genes, and >keep the secrets of the trade off the splendid "out of control" tableau here? Oh oh, now you've done Dean. You have gone and made fun of Ray. You are fairly new around here and may I suggest that you ...well you know. (<; Sic 'em Ray. Graham ------------------------------ From: Mary Dornenburg Date: Fri, 08 Jan 1999 17:45:56 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2613] Re: Fire In the Hole > Attacked by a diet Pepsi. I wonder if I can make that > into a woodcut? :-)> > > Cheers > > Ray No, it's called performance art. ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 14:41:47 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2614] Re: Digital art II Dean, Gee I'm sorry my warning came too late. It's a good sic 'em Ray Graham ------------------------------ From: Mary Dornenburg Date: Fri, 08 Jan 1999 17:50:47 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2615] Re: For Mary Jacob Roquet wrote: > Was the foam firm like styrofoam or a soft foam? It was soft foam that you find in craft or fabric stores. ------------------------------ From: Jacob Roquet Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 18:09:08 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2616] Misc. Answers April asked, >Do you know of a new sort of stylus? I forget the name, but it is supposed >to mark darker when you >press down to imitate a caligraphic line. Go to http://www.ptnonline.com/sti_wacom.html. This works with photoshop. Wacom is one of the leaders in tablets and pens. Roxanne, I have a Griffin etching press Regards, Jake ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 18:18:42 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2617] Re: beware of the Flasher! Quality sarcasm.....God, I love this forum. Cheers Ray ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 18:23:34 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2618] ^^&%$%^ hit the fan WOW Now I know how to get a real bruhaha going...just suggest everyone keep quiet. What a response. You know what is really great about all this? All this yelling, all this sarcasm, all this jumping on poor humble Ray? Through it all, we remain friends. You know...I like that. Cheers Ray ------------------------------ From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 17:40:38 -0600 Subject: [Baren 2619] re: Ray's troubles Ray writes: "WOW Now I know how to get a real bruhaha going...just suggest everyone keep quiet. What a response." I don't know about you...but with the kind of luck you been having in 1999, I would not stand to close to your PC. I just don't think it's safe for you to be close to any machinery or other type of appliance for now. Your PC it's liable to catch on fire or crash it's hard drive or just .....whatever. I would not get near your press either...I don't want to hear of any more accidents...... Take care ! ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 19:15:34 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2620] Re: Ray's troubles >PC. I just don't think it's safe for you to be close to any machinery or >other type of appliance for now. Your PC it's liable to >catch on fire or crash it's hard drive or just .....whatever. Julio Great advice Cheers Ray ------------------------------ From: Jean Eger Date: Fri, 08 Jan 1999 17:15:53 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2621] Re: Baren Digest V6 #405 Dean Brink wrote: > And I suppose we should restrict discussion of what types of wood to use to two > postings per month; methods of drying, 3/mo; meaningless short messages 1/day. This is VERY funny. Also it is not short of the mark. When I began to write about trying to sell etchings on the street, Graham and Ray began to growl and snarl at me. When I asked for the recipe for making woodblock ink out of etching ink, David Bull started to swear. (Just add burnt plate oil to the etching ink to make it a shorter ink). Well, David is away until after the 14th, having his opening and visiting the Emperor, so I venture to say that you should get your licks in before he gets back. Graham and Ray will protest at the top of their lungs, but it is David Bull's listserve. Jean ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 20:00:45 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2622] Re: Baren Digest V6 #405 Jean wrote.... >Graham and Ray will protest at the top of their lungs, but it is David >Bull's listserve. Ummmmm I don't think so. It's all of us that make it what it is. Without Old Graham and Pop (can) Ray and all the rest it would be, well I can't imagine quite what. Of coarse the newbies coming on stream are all an added dimension even if the don't realize that really and truly Ray is in command and has final rasberry on all matters. Jacob wrote.... >You may choose not to accept the merits of the discussion. But, I submit, >it is not your perogative to kill the discussion. Hey, you will find out in time. Do hang around and after a year of so you may choose to retract that statement. Be Gentle Ray...be gentle. Father Scholes. ------------------------------ From: Gregory Robison Date: Sat, 09 Jan 1999 22:57:27 +0300 Subject: [Baren 2623] Patrick Designs site? I have tried to reach Patrick Designs (for the presses we have recently been discussing) but couldn't find the site mentioned by Graham (to wit, danpat@comox.island.net). Is there another URL for them? ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V6 #406 ***************************