[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Friday, 14 January 2000 Volume 10 : Number 859 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Don Furst Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 08:46:22 -0500 Subject: [Baren 7667] Re: different ideas/Barry Moser My wife gave me a copy of the Caxton Bible for Christmas. The images are stunning wood engravings done on an epoxy-like substitute for boxwood. The images are both powerful in design and superb in technique. The only odd thing about the book is Moser's choice of imagery. This has got to be the darkest, most violent set of Bible illustrations ever. There is little in the way of love, grace or redemption coming through, but lots of violence and death. Great art--skewed theology. Don Furst ------------------------------ From: amoss@mindspring.com (John Amoss) Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 11:16:10 -0500 (EST) Subject: [Baren 7668] happy day Happy Day! Please allow a proud papa to introduce Robert Malcolm Amoss. The 8lb 7oz boy was born this morning 01/13/2000. Mother and baby are doing well. Wife Margaret was amazing- a natural delivery with no pain relief! - -John Amoss P.S. I think he will be a good printmaker as he made such a fine impression! ------------------------------ From: "Jeanne Norman Chase" Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 11:28:52 -0500 Subject: [Baren 7669] Re; edges Michelle Thanks for the tips on getting clean edges. I received both of you posts. I do print with a baren but I think your advice about using foam core for the block would work fine. I will try it!!! Thanks Jeanne N. ------------------------------ From: "Daniel Dew" Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 11:40:11 -0500 Subject: [Baren 7670] Re: happy day Congradulations!!!!!!!!!! May Your quiver be full and your days happy. Dan Dew ------------------------------ From: "Jeanne Norman Chase" Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 11:40:31 -0500 Subject: [Baren 7672] Re: Clean, neat borders Thanks Philip You are probably right about the paint being too wet. I have a tendency to use the paint that way. It is easier to use with a baren when it is not too tacky. In fact my last print in the Exchange was still a little damp, as was reported by a recipient.. Sorry folks!!!! Jeanne N. ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 09:05:33 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7673] Re: happy day >Please allow a proud papa to introduce Robert Malcolm Amoss. Yah on the frist paragraph. Moan on the P.S. ....... Congrats .... another boy to carry on the name. Graham and Marnie ------------------------------ From: CHRISTY BLANK Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 09:08:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 7674] Re: different ideas/Barry Moser > The only odd thing about the book is Moser's choice > of imagery. Yes, I noticed that too, but along with the show there was a catolog that gave you the specific piece of scripture that he drew the image from. But I agree it's definetly not your average hearts and flowers bible. Christina ------------------------------ From: "Jean Eger" Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 02:13:32 +0900 Subject: [Baren 7675] Josephine, Your idea about a "Sacred Tree" theme is a basically good one and I like it because I like to do landscapes. However, each Barener basically pursues their own theme with their own style and what we have in common is our love of relief printmaking. One doesn't expect a mature artist to veer off from their form of personal communication to jump on to someone else's theme, although the dragon theme attracted a lot of people. I like the Baren print exchanges because they give me a chance to explore my own psyche and themes while at the same time exchanging my prints with others. Josephine, if you were to organize a Sacred Tree print exchange separately from Baren, I am sure many Bareners would enjoy participating. Similar to how the dragon thing got started. I sent my dragons through the mail so they could get postmarks and be not only a pretty picture, but art-in-action, so to speak. So the guy got kind of beat up making his way from continent to continent. At least he didn't die in a cargo container. Are you giving him first aid now? What were the nature of his injuries? I am cutting up a bunch of German etching paper to make my next group of prints. I shore hope it works. Jean ------------------------------ From: "Brad A. Schwartz" Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 09:38:42 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 7676] >Your idea about a "Sacred Tree" theme is a basically good one and I like it >because I like to do landscapes. However, each Barener basically pursues Sounds like the poem that I found that inspired me in creating my Exchange Print #2... Pine Print Suite IV... take a look on the Baren website... BS ------------------------------ From: Aqua4tis@aol.com Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 12:50:31 EST Subject: [Baren 7677] Re: happy day john congratulations on your newest work of art :-) georga ------------------------------ From: judy mensch Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 13:06:24 -0500 Subject: [Baren 7678] Re: happy day CONGRADULATIONS ------------------------------ From: "Jeanne Norman Chase" Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 13:05:01 -0500 Subject: [Baren 7679] Re: happy day charset="iso-8859-1" Congratulations John As to making an impression, he already has. Do they still take baby footprints? Jeanne N. ------------------------------ From: Wanda Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 10:23:08 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7680] Re: Kento Hmmm....while I most gratefully thank you for your suggestions, Ishita, I must disagree with you on some points. I very much admire your work and I am sure that your suggestions "clear idea of the design objective, block order and key block use" probably work very well for your way of working. And although you think the exchanges are time-defined projects.....to me they are an incentive to learn. I think it would be nice to have a "clear idea" of the final print- but I have never been able to work in any media in that way. Perhaps I am way off-base here, but I prefer to let the wood, tools, pigments have something to say in the final outcome. And my unhappiness with the registration process just tells me (and those who know me) that my level of construction has risen to the next plateau and I am struggling with concepts and ideas and some of the finer points of Hanga that had never occurred to me before. What I want to do is create my own kind of images with the Hanga materials and methods. And while they may not be up to the standards of more accomplished artists in this medium - I want them to convey *my* meanings - not just to be perfect in style. Wanda Grateful for all of Baren's helpful people! ------------------------------ From: Wanda Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 10:23:26 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7681] Re: happy day Oh, a new baby! How wonderful. And I'm in awe of Margaret - such a small woman & such a big baby & no pain meds! Yikes! Congratulations John! To you and your whole family! Wanda ------------------------------ From: B Mason Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 10:45:23 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7682] Kento marks Graham, Someone posted a message a week or so ago when I wasn't feeling well about Kento marks being cut with a chisel. I meant to respond, but just felt too tired to think. Is there a special chisel for this? It seams I have a hard time getting them perfectly straight. So far I have done prints that required little exact registration. I would like to do one with more exact registration, but Wanda's frustration scares me. Will a special chisel help this so we cut exactly on the same side of the line each time? do you have this magic chisel? Barbara ------------------------------ From: "Rich" Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 11:36:30 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7683] Sacred Tree Josephine, I like the sacred tree idea. It sounds most appropriate as a subject for an exchange. Here is a repeat of my dragon info; I printed my little dragon on a handmade stationary that I found at my local art store. I thought it very pretty with gold marbling swirled through it. The marbling made the printing difficult however as the ink (Daniel Smith relief ink, oil base) did not adhere well to the metallic bits. Andrea ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 13:55:29 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7684] Re: Kento marks Barbara wrote.... >Someone posted a message a week or so ago >about Kento marks being cut with a chisel. >Is there a special chisel for this? It seams I >have a hard time getting them perfectly straight. I think the best way to answer this question is to charge up to my studio with my handy dandy digital (my, that rolls of the tongue nicely) camera and take some shots of tools I use. I read about somebody using the Kento Nomi chisel and I think they said that it was a must for them. Using the good old 1 to 10 scale it ranks about -0 with me. With a 'to' and an Aisuki 6 mm size (Bull-nosed flat gouge) you can cut a perfect kento. .... No sweat Put the money for that chisel into good paper. Hey did you feel the earth move just now...... My teacher, Fred a Scotman, came down from heaven and gave his approval > I would like to do one with more exact registration, >but Wanda's frustration scares me. Will a special chisel help It might but I don't know how it could..... Two cuts with a 'to' and several cuts with the Aisuki and you got it done. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. Lecture coming.......Now both you guys, Wanda and Barbara, when you get here in June there will be no partying or joviality until you get it right. I only teach the same thing once....but will make and exception in your case and go through the procee.........well you get the idea.... I will let you know when I have the pictures on line. Graham ------------------------------ From: michael schneider Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 23:08:01 +0100 Subject: [Baren 7685] Re: happy day Congratulations to you and your wife! elisabeth & michael ------------------------------ From: Gary Luedtke Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 17:36:16 -0500 Subject: [Baren 7687] happy day Congratulations, John and family! When do we get to see a print of the little guy? Gary ------------------------------ From: SKHeidel@aol.com Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 17:42:09 EST Subject: [Baren 7688] Re: happy day Congrats to John, Margaret, and especially Robert. If your birth experience followed tradition he should have already completed his first print...with the bottom of his foot! If not, it's not too late! A happy day, indeed. Sandy ------------------------------ From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 16:53:54 -0600 Subject: [Baren 7689] Re: happy day Congratulations John.......all the best to you and your family. First boy ? Is this the first "Baren" baby ? I don't recall any other birth announcements.....here on the forum...anyone ? All the best.....Julio ------------------------------ From: David Bull Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 07:56:51 +0900 Subject: [Baren 7691] Re: happy day > Please allow a proud papa to introduce Robert Malcolm Amoss. And please allow the 'list owner' to quite happily break the 'rule' about 'Me too!' postings, for this special case ... Congratulations, John! > P.S. I think he will be a good printmaker as he made such a fine impression! A chip off the old block, I'm sure ... Dave (Will your family be with you at Graham's place next June?) ------------------------------ From: Maria Arango Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 15:11:02 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7692] new stuff & sacred trees Greetings everyone! Welcome new members, it's good to hear some new voices. Don't let anyone scare you off this wonderful place, we experimental and oily folks that use birch plywood and cut our shapes with chisels and use creative methods get some slack now and then but we take it right on the chin and keep working. Vive la difference! Ahem, anyhow... A couple of new pieces for your perusal. One is another silly wood engraving for the WEN exchange, the other is a woodcut in the "vessel" series. By the way, those of you who continually give me feedback are helping A LOT! So thanks. http://www.printmakingstudio.com click on the Latest Works To see the Vessels all together, go to: http://www.printmakingstudio.com/gallery11/gallery11.html Sacred trees, ey? Seems a bit of a restrictive theme initially so I understand Jean's reaction, but to think of the collection...ooooh, aaaaaah. I thought about it for a while and I can certainly see the attraction for a sacred forest exhibition and why Josephine picked that particular theme. I'm an incorregible exhibitionist, so count me in, Baren or no Baren. In fact, I would love to try a larger piece than what we've been doing in the Baren exchanges on that theme. No, not a 4' x 8'!!! Maybe a 24x36 engraving??? Wait, hold on a sec, when's that deadline? Seriously, when doing themes, it is a good intellectual exercise for me to fit the theme to my current line of work. For example, self-portrait exchange was done in the "woodpeople" style and I'm thinking of a "vessel" approach to the junin toiro exchange. So I guess I don't see the themes so much as a restriction as I see them as a challenging exercise. Kind of like cutting with the grain versus cutting agin' it. And speaking of monstercuts, I'm in the process of scanning and updating so I should have all the info ready prontito. For those who care only, of course. Salud y felicidad a todos, Maria ------------------------------ From: "Jeanne Norman Chase" Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 19:48:19 -0500 Subject: [Baren 7693] Re: Exchange #6 Hi Josephine I am a people person, but it was a challenge to do a dragon. I like to try different themes. I am still struggling with the "Ten People, Ten Colors" theme, but at least it gives my brain a chance to program it in a different direction. I am game. Gee, I can think of several themes for trees. Jeanne N. ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V10 #859 ****************************