[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Friday, 7 January 2000 Volume 10 : Number 849 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Daniel Dew" Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2000 08:30:10 -0500 Subject: [Baren 7511] Re: General Questions > Did you use a photo retouch program to try to blacken in the bottom? Ooops, busted! I didn't think it would look as bad as it did. Dan Dew ------------------------------ From: "Daniel Dew" Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2000 08:43:30 -0500 Subject: [Baren 7512] Exchange question Is it customary in the exchange to only print enough for the exchange or can you print more. i.e. only 30 prints or can I do 35 and keep 5 for myself? Dan Dew ------------------------------ From: SKHeidel@aol.com Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000 09:33:49 EST Subject: [Baren 7513] Re: Dan's Wood Questions I'm with you Pete. Let's here it for woodcuts for the common man (woman)! I joined the list about a week ago and have not seen/read a lot for us beginners. Don't misunderstand me, I have a great deal of respect for those of you who take the art to new frontiers. I am content to follow along behind at my own pace. I have made just a few prints, mostly of my gardens. I use pine as well. My ancestors made their way here to Wisconsin from Sweden via Canada chasing the white pine. I like the feel, the smell, and yes, even the grain. I also bought cheap tools, those I could afford. I spend a bit on paper and clearly not enough on ink! Hoping to remedy that. I was first inspired to do woodcuts by artist/author Betsy Bowen from the Boundary Waters area of far northern Minnesota. She has written several children's books, my favorite is "Antler, Bear, Canoe. It is an alphabet book featuring northwoods examples. She illustrates her books using woodcuts. Very popular in Wisconsin and Minnesota. You can see her work at www.sivertson.com/artbb.htm I also visited Carl Holmstad at his studio this fall during the North East Iowa Artists Studio Tour. His Iowa landscapes are fantastic. Yes, there is too great scenery in Iowa! You can see his work at www.carlart.com My big question is...Where can I see all the dragons?? Thanks for providing such a great forum. Sandy ------------------------------ From: Adrian Card Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2000 07:30:22 -0700 Subject: [Baren 7514] New Guy Hi folks - My name is Adrian Card, and I am currently working on some woodblock printed papers for the decoration of harpsichords, using the same patterns which were used in the early 1600s. Yesterday I had a little slip of the gouge through an area which is supposed to remain black. 1/2" long, 1/16" wide. Does anyone know any tricks for filling a small cut which will not show up on the final print? It is an intricate arabesque pattern, and I'm 90% done with the cutting, so starting over isn't a very desirable option. ------------------------------ From: Shireen Holman Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2000 10:33:35 -0500 Subject: [Baren 7515] Re: General Questions Dan, Your image is very strong. I wouldn't try to remove the grain of a woodcut. That's one of the strengths of a woodcut, and the reason to use wood as opposed to another medium. You could make a powerful etching and aquatint with that image if you don't want grain. But wood is alive, and you want to use part of that life in your work when you use wood. Of course, it helps to choose a piece of wood with grain that will work to complement your image. And not all woods will have grain that will show up as much. I wouldn't use oak. If you need an inexpensive type of plywood, birch works well as long as you don't need too fine detail. It doesn't rip or tear as much as pine, although it does do it some, so you can have more control. Shireen ------------------------------ From: David Bull Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2000 00:45:30 +0900 Subject: [Baren 7516] Re: New Guy Adrian wrote: > Does anyone know any tricks for filling a small > cut which will not show up on the final print? It is an intricate > arabesque pattern, and I'm 90% done with the cutting, so starting over > isn't a very desirable option. Adrian, Check out one of the stories in the Encyclopedia: http://w.com/encyclopedia/entries/006_04/006_04_frame.html ... for some info on block plugging. If you do the job carefully - and if you can make a _harpsichord_ then that certainly shouldn't be a problem - the lines won't show in the final print. Your harpsichord work sounds most interesting. Got any photos and stuff that we could see? *** Jack - good questions ... but too much for me to answer right now. Rain check please? Dave ------------------------------ From: Brian Lockyear Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000 09:31:42 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7518] I carve a sute-bori with a hangi-to. Even if I am not leaving a very detailed key block line I then feel safer when clearing. The problem is that sometimes I'm wanting to leave a textured carved area outside the space and that little trench really shows up! So instead, if I'm using a U-gouge to partially clear a space while leaving a lot of carving texture, I'll cut the first first edge outlining the solid area and then gouge up to it. In some cases that will leave a very faint cut between the solid area and a bit of carving texture but usually is not noticable. Regarding the use of the flat blade edge against the line, I believe that you can purchase both left and right hangi-to knives. This is usually mistaken as meaning for left and right handed people but in reality it is to put the flat edge of the blade on the desired side without requiring rotating the block. - Brian - ------------------------------ From: CHRISTY BLANK Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000 09:40:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 7519] Re: General Questions Dan, You have nothing to feel embarssed about!! You work is wonderful. I was telling Micheal the other day, that you get to a point where you feel you've done a marvelous job, and then you meet someone who has done better, you see new possibilities. When I looked at your work the other day, I felt like my horizon was expanded. That's what I love about this group, the sharing and the different approaches really help me expand. I personally think your one of the people I want to be like "when I grow up"!!! (when ever that is supposted to happpen...still waiting) I think you did a fabulous job!!! (and I hate you (grin)) Christina ------------------------------ From: B Mason Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2000 10:06:28 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7523] hanga to Brian, I have just barely learned how to use this tool, there is no way I can use one that is backwards! But thanks for the enlightenment! Barbara ------------------------------ From: B Mason Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2000 10:22:40 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7524] Re: Exchange question Dan, you can print as many as you like, there are no limits that I know of. Some do 100 of more, some do 30. Barbara ------------------------------ From: Studio Dalwood Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2000 07:40:46 +1100 Subject: [Baren 7525] Tools Interesting thread about tools. I have a student set of five. I 'draw' directly onto the block with the little 'v' then clear out with the 'u'. Sometimes if its a big area I use the big 'u' and sometines I trim the edges of the raised area with the 'u' as I go. The 'v' is dying so I am now drawing and clearing with the 'u' and saving the 'v' for the fiddly bits. You can all hit me now. Josephine ------------------------------ From: Studio Dalwood Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2000 08:27:29 +1100 Subject: [Baren 7526] Noel Counihan and others, Kampala and Finance John Noel C. I found that site too. I have always admired the strength if his work. Bit like Kathe Kollwitz I always thought. The pathos. The plight of the worker. I'm not sure about the political content but the guy sure carved a mean lino. Thanks to the other people who have posted links to prints the last few days. Some work well worth looking at. Dan, you may be new to woodblock but you are an artist of long standing, right? The strength of the drawing in your work gives this away. Another way to remove the grain in the work is to overprint with another block in the same colour. The grains should cancel each other out. If you are in to hand colouring prints then that is another option. Or use a stencil. Or chine colle in dark paper. So many options. I want to see those harpsicord designs. If they live up to the mental image I got then they are pretty amazing. Folks there has been some interesting stuff discussed on 'after five' about artist statements and the value of black and white. Re funnies, Graham, who won last year? Will you publish them all including the runners up? Kampala Gregory. I have a finance background too. I have moved from accountant to artist. If anyone asks I say I am working through the employment alphabet. When you start looking there are a lot of ex finance people in art history. Gaugain was a stockbroker for example. Maybe it has something to do with 'creative accounting'. Dont know how much finance you need for this. Perhaps an entry fee? Better to get sponsors, but easier said than done. Keep us posted with what you come up with so we can steal your ideas. I take it you mean that you would like to extend the #5 theme opportunity to other baren members who are not in #5 for whatever reason. I cant see this meaning that you want more than one print from the exchange members? You could really throw it open and ask for a print donation from all baren members which would give you over 100 prints if most joined in. I'm sure they all have something from an edition lying around in the studio. If you auctioned off those donated prints that would finance the exhibition. The left over funds could then be applied to buying that airline which we will rename Baren Airlines and replace in flight movies with hanga classes. Josephine ------------------------------ From: Aqua4tis@aol.com Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000 17:30:22 EST Subject: [Baren 7530] Re: General Questions > http://w.com/forum/members/dew/proverbs10.jpg) dan i finally saw your work you are awsome this reminds me alot of kollwitz or max klinger did you use a wire brush for any of the texture on this? georga ------------------------------ From: David Bull Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2000 08:47:14 +0900 Subject: [Baren 7531] OK gang ... OK gang, over you go, to: http://w.com Somewhere there, you will find a new link ... :-) Dave P.S. Let me know immediately if you find any broken links or other trouble in that section. I haven't thoroughly tested it all yet ... ------------------------------ From: "John Ryrie" Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2000 16:56:19 +1100 Subject: [Baren 7538] New Guy I would also be interested in seeing photos of the harpsichords. were the decorations originally done in woodcut? And how have the original prints survived the centuries? Sandy I liked Betsy Bowens woodcuts, but that photo of her working is a good example of how not to do a woodcut, if you want to keep all your fingers. I hope she keeps a first a aid kit handy. John ------------------------------ From: "Bea Gold" Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2000 00:43:34 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7541] RE: Exchange critiques ... Just looked exchange #3 and all I can say as a critique to all of you - is WOW! Bea ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V9 #849 ***************************