[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking.

Baren Digest               Tuesday, 4 April 2000       Volume 11 : Number 959

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From: Gayle Wohlken <blueman@pantek.com>
Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 09:43:00 -0400
Subject: [Baren 9121] Re: Baren Digest V11 #958 

I read the Baren-Suji, all of it, and I'm impressed with the group
effort.  What a job you did!  The information is wonderful and I hope to
keep a thick notebook with these to refer to (aside from all the
encyclopedia entries I have printed out).  

It's interesting.  I was reading a friend's recently published book
called "A Plain 
Life--Walking My Belief" (by Scott Savage) who has dropped out of
society as we all live it with our TVs, computers, cars, etc.  He has
joined a group of plain dressed Quakers, and he has given up driving a
car and now uses a horse (named Ned) and a buggy for his and his
family's transportation.  His pilgrimage was to walk from his home to
the state capitol to give back his driver's license.  This is what the
book is about, but is about more for he talks about technology and where
it is taking us.  One of the things he mentions is the lack of community
in our lives, and that community over the internet isn't real, but
virtual.  I'd have to disagree with him on this.  I've found a great
deal of community on Baren.  We not only exchange our work with each
other, but we meet and talk and share in a way I don't with the
community I live in.  His book makes wonderful points, and it worth
reading, but I will write him a letter and tell him about Baren.

Gayle
Ohio, USA

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From: John and Jan Telfer <jtelfer@iinet.net.au>
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 00 22:46:16 -0000
Subject: [Baren 9122] Re:Baren-Suji 

Congratulations Maria and all your Contributors to Baren-Suji...a very 
informative newsletter on all aspects of our group...and a good way of 
introducing individual member profiles.

Joephine,
Salvatore Zofrea's Exhibition:
>Jan, the catalogue is A$30. It has all the 100 works illustrated (and
>currently dribble all through it, *grin*). Well worth the money. If you
>would like, Grant has volunteered to get one for you and we will post it
>out to you. Send money.
$30 is in the post.  Thank you Grant. Yes, I am sorry that the trip in 
person would cost $500.  May be the WA Art Gallery here could request it 
to tour here.  I'll ask.
Thank you, Josephine. 

I have found a Japanese hanga printmaker here who is going to give me a 
few lessons to "brush up" on my techniques.  She used to teach but now 
has two small children and "the interest just wasn't here" for teaching 
groups... well, she now has me!!
Jan

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From: "Philip Smith" <smithart@pacifier.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 08:49:42 -0700
Subject: [Baren 9123] Re: exhibit at Metropolitan Museum

Sarah,....'Glad you enjoyed the show.....I pick up my daily news in the art
world at WWW.absoluteart.com every morning,...I saw Sarah's exibit listed a
couple of weeks ago,...here in podunkville it makes one feel a bit closer to
the art world,..........Philip

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From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 18:23:22 -0500
Subject: [Baren 9124] Exchange Print Exhibit - Opens 04/03 !!!!! 

Okay gang............the [Baren] Exchange Print Exhibit opened today at the
Skokie Public Library. At last count here are the numbers...............130 Baren 
prints up, 31 New Year Dragon cards, 7 carving knives, 5 woodblocks on display,
4 colophons, 3 barens, 2 brayers,  1 [Baren] dedicated PC, assorted other tools
and a partridge on a pear tree!

If you have family or relatives nearby, have them stop by and take a look. It's
quite a display!

Barry Johnson's twenty years of experience and past work for the Chicago Museum
of Contemporary Art really adds a professional touch to our exhibit. Thanks Barry!

For more info on the exhibit: http://www.skokie.lib.il.us/happen/baren.html

This show was made possible because of your wonderful participation in the
exchanges and your determination to "make" prints regardless of time constraints
and all the other little surprises that life throws at us. The hard work was put
in by all of you with the countless hours dedicated to carving and printing. I
am very happy to be able to share our work with others. CONGRATULATIONS.

THANKS to everyone for your support....Julio

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From: "Daniel L. Dew" <ddew0001@tampabay.rr.com>
Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 19:45:08 -0400
Subject: [Baren 9125] congradulations 

what a group.  i don't know where to begin with the congradulations and 
kuddos.  Maria for the Baren Suji, Julio for the Skokie show, Sarah, James,
Dave, Graham, wow, such an awesome group!

I still can't believe I'm allowed to play with ya'll.

Dan Dew
USA

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From: krisalder <krisalder@cc.usu.edu>
Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 17:31:31 -0600
Subject: [Baren 9126] Re:Baren-Suji 

Thanks Maria for all your efforts!  Baren Suji is great!  As a "newbie" to 
this group I just want to say thanks for all of the great information!  The 
forum provides insight into some of the practical dilemas we all encounter.  
Thanks to everyone for your great advice and the familiar atmosphere found in 
the group.

Kris

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From: "Philip Smith" <smithart@pacifier.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 17:20:22 -0700
Subject: [Baren 9127] Re: Exchange Print Exhibit - Opens 04/03 !!!!! 

Julio,...Time for a break I think,.....Thanks for all of the hard
work,....I'm sure your effort will be appreciated by all. Put your feet up,
have a Carta Blanca.......relax a little.          Philip

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From: B Mason <bemason@concentric.net>
Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 17:41:30 -0700
Subject: [Baren 9128] Welcome 

Welcome Kris and any other new people. The baren is a great place and
the more great people who post the better it will be!
Barbara

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From: Pedrobot@aol.com
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 22:45:34 EDT
Subject: [Baren 9129] New Print 

http://www.geocities.com/pedrobot2000/xmaskiss.jpg

This is my latest print.  No actual carving-  All of the imagery is created 
by sandblasting and masking tape.  Sort of like a wood aquatint.  Sorry about 
the large size of the image, but the print is pretty subtle, and it doesn't 
come through at all if it is smaller.

The image is me and my girlfriend on Christmas Eve.  It's a birthday present 
for her.

Let me know what you think.  (She loved it.)

- --Pete

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From: ArtfulCarol@aol.com
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 23:19:06 EDT
Subject: [Baren 9130] Re: Exchange Print Exhibit - Opens 04/03 !!!!! 

Congratulations Julio and thank you for all your time and effort on this 
exhibit ;also thank you to Barry for all his help to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     Carol Lyons enjoying Savannah, but missing cutting and printing every 
day.

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From: B Mason <bemason@concentric.net>
Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 20:18:49 -0700
Subject: [Baren 9131] skokie show 

Julio,
Thank you! You have done a huge job and we appreciate it. Take some
pictures at the opening for us, maybe your wife would volunteer to be a
photographer for an hour! We would love it!
Barbara

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From: "pwalls1234" <pwalls1234@i-55.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 22:36:09 -0500
Subject: [Baren 9132] most excellent

Maria,

Baren Suji is excellent!!   Thank-you from a somewhat new member!!   

pete walls
baton rouge

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From: David Bull <davebull@woodblock.com>
Date: Tue, 04 Apr 2000 13:11:00 +0900
Subject: [Baren 9133] NewsFeed, April 4th 2000 

************************************************* 
   [Baren] NewsFeed ... April 4th, 2000 
*************************************************

Here is the latest [Baren] NewsFeed to help you keep you up-to-date with
what's going on ...

ACTIVITIES

Barbara Mason has been busy teaching the 'kiddies' about printmaking,
and has posted some photos and a short description up on the Show & Tell
Board ...   (Get to it with the 'Show & Tell' link on the main portal
page at http://woodblock.com)


EXCHANGES

Sign up for Exchange #6 is now under way, and things are off to a
'rocket' start - this Exchange is already more than half-way
subscribed.  In a few more days, it will open for general sign-up ...
anybody in [Baren] will then be free to join.  As it looks like space
will be limited, anybody who wants 'in' should submit their application
as soon as possible after the 'deadline'. This will be at 12:00 midnight
(Japan midnight) on the night of April 7th~8th.   We've chosen that
moment as being a time when most [Baren] members around the world are
awake (everybody except the Hawaiians!) ...

For those of you who have trouble with the International Date Line, here
are a couple of samples of 'translated' time:
USA West coast - 8:00 AM, April 7th (summer time has started, right?).
England - 3:00 PM GMT, April 7th (Note that's _GMT_, not adjusted for
summer time : I don't know if you've switched over yet ...)

A further reminder will be sent out shortly before the deadline ...


MEMBERSHIP

[Baren] membership currently stands at 185, and there has been quite a
flurry of new subscriptions this week (perhaps people who read the
'Baren-Suji' newsletter and decided to hop aboard).

The 'Who is Baren?' page has also been updated ...


EXHIBITIONS

As you are all aware, the Skokie exhibition is now up and running. 
We'll bring you some photos just as soon as they are received ...  
(Julio's wife has perhaps chained him to the kitchen table, so it might
be a little while before he can get 'out to play' and get some shots for
us ...)


IN THE MARKETPLACE

Two _very_ interesting books for woodblock printmakers were spotted out
on Bibliofind this morning:

The Tranquility and the Turbulence (Roger Boulet), the gorgeous 'coffee
table' book containing most of Walter Phillips' prints. An absolute
treasure, and well worth double the price currently being asked ...  
(Two copies available ...)

How Prints Look (Ivins).  'Photographs with a commentary' ... a guide to
what prints are, how the various methods differ, and how to enjoy them. 
Informative, interesting, and essential.  Buy it!  (More than thirty
copies available ..)

http://www.bibliofind.com


ADMINISTRATION

Remember that a section of 'quick links' to [Baren] affairs is always
available on the main website.  When you can't remember 'where to go',
check that page at:
http://woodblock.com/forum/admin.html

***

This has been the [Baren] NewsFeed, trying to keep you in touch with
what's going on in [Baren].  We encourage submissions of items that
members feel would be of interest to other members, but which can't wait
three months until the next newsletter ...

********************************************************************
 Send items for the NewsFeed to news@woodblock.com
********************************************************************


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From: Arafat Alnaim <ar_alnaim@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 22:59:09 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 9134] Re: New Print 

Dear Pete,
Your latest work is interesting. could you give me
more information about the process of sandblasting and
masking tape, instruments and used matirials (even if
you want off line). I don't know if you know about
Heliorelief printing technique but it seems to close
to yours from what I heard from some people.
Any explanation and detailed information is welcome.
cheers
arafat 

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From: Pedrobot@aol.com
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 02:11:27 EDT
Subject: [Baren 9135] Re: New Print 

Arafat-

I am not familiar with the heliorelief technique... what is it?

To do this print, I took a piece of pine and masked off the areas that I 
wanted to remain the most dark (black).  Then I sandblasted the block, to 
remove the softer areas of the wood.  I then masked off the areas that I 
wanted to be the next most dark (dark grey), and sandblasted again, etc. 
etc... I did the details and edges on the tape with an exacto knife.

It is kind of like an aquatint, but insted of light to dark, you go dark to 
light.

Part of my print for Exchange #5 is done this way, and I thought it was an 
interesting effect.  Sort of reminds me of some of the Munch woodcuts.  I 
want to expiriment with it further.

- --Pete

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From: B Mason <bemason@concentric.net>
Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 23:37:33 -0700
Subject: [Baren 9136] black only 

Dave,
I have been thinking again (sorry, it just keeps happening) and the
reason most new people to woodblock would welcome working in black is
that line is a big part of traditional prints. My work in my monotypes
is more about color than line, so that may be part of the problem I am
having translating what I do to woodcut and why I am  frustrated.
Actually I feel good today, #5 is away to Maria  and I am looking
forward to doing what I want on the next plate. This theme was hard for
me and a few others if I read the whining and crying right in the posts.
The problem wasn't either or, it was 10 or 10 that made me crazy.

To work in black line would mean totally changing my work. So I think I
will work in black areas and work up to the lines. I liked the
randomness and freedom of the "white" lines in the print I did for #5.
There is a well known Englishwoman wood cut artist, maybe an engraver,
very old or perhaps deceased now and I remember when seeing her work
loving the quality of her lines. As I remember her first name was
Gurtrude. Her lines or maybe I should say marks were so varied and
textural. I need to look for her work again, think I gave that book away
so will have to hunt it down. I have looked at lots of woodcuts since
joining the Baren and I do marvel at the talent of the artists and the
work involved. This forum has certainly given me a greater appreciation
for woodcuts.

So I am off to the studio to work in black. Don't think I can do it for
three years without adding color though. I am a color lover, that is for
sure. The print I did for #5 is probably the most subdued print I have
done in 15 years. Think I will start with a total black block and carve
in the white, this is opposite to the way I have tried to work and it
may be easier for me.
Cutting and printing,

Barbara

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From: Arafat Alnaim <ar_alnaim@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 00:19:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 9137] New Print, Helio relief and Sand plasting  

Dear Pete,
helio relief is a photomechanical process for creating
a wood block. most often a lightsensitive screen
printing emulsion is used to create a stencil through
which wood is removed by sand blasting. graphicstudio
in florida named the process and says they developed
it. photobrasive systems in duluth minnesota (800)
643-1037 sells a products that work well for the
process that were developed for decorative abrasive
blasting of glass.
I've missed a demo of this process by Graphicstudio
when I've missed the IMPACT Conference! 
I have traid to get detialed information about the
process through contacting graphicstudio but my 
e-mails never recived. there web site is
(http://arts.usf.edu/gs/).
I will greatful if you could contact them and find
more detialed and clear information about this process
and the used materials.

regarding your technique please explane who do you do
sandplasting? do you use any machines or you do it
manually?...exlpane!
regards
Arafat

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End of Baren Digest V11 #959
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