[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Friday, 10 September 1999 Volume 08 : Number 697 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: viscult@mich1.telmex.net.mx Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 22:39:47 -0500 Subject: [Baren 5710] Re: Baren Digest V8 #696 Gary, I agree with you. Constructive criticism is the only thing makes you grow up as a human and, of course, as an artist. The tone in wich you propose ("What if you try this ...or that") is exactly what I do with my students. Always there is another possibility of doing the things, just you have yo encourage the others (and in this way, yourself), to turn a bulb on in your brain and start imagining the things in a different way) Let's do it, I don't thing it put in danger our polite relations as members of a forum. juan ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 21:42:47 -0700 Subject: [Baren 5711] Re: web site for presses..= Julio wrote.... > Does anyone have plans on how to build your own press ? Does that sound like a fun thing....it would be my cup of tea. If only I didn't have so many other irons in the fire. Try your local library...they just might have a book on the subject. Graham ------------------------------ From: Gregory Robison Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 07:53:48 +0300 Subject: [Baren 5712] Re: Postal Problems= Kampala, 10 September 1999 Regarding the uncertainties and frustrations of mailing from some locations, I have lost two sets of prints franked & dropped right at the Central Post Office in Kampala, and will never use the local mails again. Sometimes, though, even bureaucratic delays can have a bright side. A few years ago I sent a package of prints from Sofia, on which I had marked, in Bulgarian, "Original Artwork" as required by the form. I received a card in my box a few days later to the effect that the package could not be sent until it had been forwarded to the Ministry of Culture for verification that I was not attempting to export a national treasure. I was delighted, of course, and would have used the line to pick up girls at parties, if my wife had let me. "Why yes, I am an artist. But don't even think of trying to acquire my work: (voice lowering) the Ministry makes it hard to get my pieces out of the country. Possible national treasure, you know." Gregory Robison ------------------------------ From: "Horacio" Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 05:27:49 -0300 Subject: [Baren 5715] Re: my sites Hi Julio. I agree with your judgement about Juan's work. Good poem, beautiful colorful and expressive prints (grabados) and oil (oleo) paintings. A can understand and read Spanish, but I make too many mistakes when I try to write. I intend to practice to improve it. Horacio, ------------------------------ From: Arye Saar Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 10:42:50 +0200 Subject: [Baren 5716] Re: web site for presses.. Julio, Regarding your question about "how to built your own press..." : Go to Manley Banister's book "Prints from linoblocks and woodcuts". There you will find plans for constructing a car - jack operated press. I built one for myself about 30 years ago according to these diagrams. The bed is 53X60 cm. net printing area. You can produce tremendous pressures. I use 12 tons jack and sometimes even 30 tons jack. If you are interested but can't put your hand on this book let me know and I will scan the diagrams and send them to you + suggestions experience based. Arye ------------------------------ From: John Ryrie Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 19:08:02 +1000 Subject: [Baren 5717] Re: press I have used on of these home made presses that use a hydraulic jack it had a gage that went up to ten if it was set to one it gave a good impression but 1.5 would crush the block to about half its thickness. So they take a lot of trile and era to get the hang of. These presses can also be very dangerous so if you are going to leave small children alone with it, make shore that they are children that you don't particularly like. John Ryrie ------------------------------ From: Gayle Wohlken Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 08:51:48 -0400 Subject: [Baren 5718] Re: Baren Digest V8 #696= > I took it to mean that they would be _private_ and > therefore not open to public view so I haven't even looked. Gary, they were private and I like that idea. This way we can hear what individuals say about our work without the whole world watching. That seems fair to me. I would imagine that you could critique our work as well. I, like Graham, don't particularly like critiquing in writing because you don't see the body language or the facial expressions which mean so much. A thing said can sound cold hearted without the person's personality to back it up. If those who received a constructive criticism from me, for instance, could see how I look when I say those things, they might see it's just little old Gayle stammering through with ideas that might work for them (or not). Gayle ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V8 #697 ***************************