[Baren} the mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking Baren Digest Saturday, 29 April 2000 Volume 11 : Number 992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Vollmer/Yamaguchi Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 09:22:04 -0400 Subject: [Baren 9552] The most common error Shireen, my heart goes out to you! But don't give up. The most common error is too much. Too much of everything. For the first print, the block can be brushed lightly with water all over so it's not too thirsty. Then just enough color (watercolor, goache, pigment disperson) to cover the block thinly, and a dab of rice or wheat paste. Brush out with a horsehair brush (or some kinds of shoebrush can substitue). No dry spots, no puddles. What are you using for a baren? I find glassine helps the baren slide smoothly across the back of the paper. It is VERY helpful to see someone else do it, especially after you've been struggling with it. (I hope I can make it to Pyramid again to demonstrate!) We all say the most important things we know about the technique, but there are a million little things I do unconsciously that students notice in a demonstration. April Vollmer ------------------------------ From: Shireen Holman Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 10:38:10 -0400 Subject: [Baren 9554] Re: beginning printing Thank you everyone, for your advice on my printing. Graham, I like your site very much. But for some reason, on your Maru Bake page I was only able to get four of the pictures. The rest all had X's on them. You asked "What kind of ink?. When you say sticking can you give me a degree. i.e. does it pull the fibres on the surface of the paper? It is important that there is surface tension when lay/drop the paper on the plate. Other wise it would move about when burnishing." I'm using water colour paint in tubes, mixed with water. Jack said "First, make sure you are using properly sized paper, unsized will stick no matter what. " I tried two different papers: Okawara Handmade and Sekishu. I'm sure the sekishu is sized, but I'm not sure about the okawara - from the feel of it I would guess not. That could well be the problem. That paper did stick so that the fibres were pulled away when I took the paper off the block. The sekishu fibres didn't stick, but felt as though they might. But the other thing is ,I first made several prints on the okawara and then used the sekishu, so maybe my block was too dry in the beginning. Anyway, now I have several things to think about and try to change the next time. Thanks again. I'll let you know what happens. Shireen ------------------------------ From: B Mason Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 21:40:17 -0700 Subject: [Baren 9558] Paper I know we have talked about paper a zillion times, but can we do it a zillion and one? I found paper of unknown origin, you know, mystery paper, and it worked well. How can I find out what it is? Any ideas? It looks like printmaking paper, smooth and white, no bumps like BFK of Arches Cover. Could it be stonehenge? Has anyone used this for hanga and if so what results? I swear I will mark my paper, but I always forget. I know I bought some stonehenge, but cannot find a sample. Wanda? Where are you? Have you tried this? Gary? I also got some fabriano paper, maybe it is fabriano, there is no watermark. I know what you are going to say, Graham, use the oriental paper I got from you. As soon as I learn to carve, I will do so! Thanks to all, Barbara ------------------------------ From: CHRISTY BLANK Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 23:30:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Baren 9559] Re: Baren Digest V11 #991 Hi Baren, I've been watching the discussion of memberships and fees with great fear, because 20 dollars to me means a lot. My budgets pretty fragile. I understand the need to support the shows and have eaten a lot of peanut butter to participate and pay my part because it is worth while, and I find the group inspirational. But as Jamie stated in his email (see this digest), I can see where I would be priced out of the chance to participate. I wanted to second his suggestions about alternative fund raising and the exciting idea of corporate support. I like his suggested approach best of all the proposals so far. The fabulous thing about this group is the diversity of the members, the different age groups and skill levels. But youth is less stable, and can't take randomness of multiple fees. And I don't think I would be here in the group if there was a membership fee, that is simply a luxury I can afford now -(until the student loans are paid). I've gained so much from this group in the short 5 months I've been tuning in and participating, the thought of losing that is truly sad. Christina ---------------------------------------------- From: news@woodblock.com Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 15:38:53 +0900 Subject: [Baren 9560] NewsFeed, April 29 2000 ************************************************* [Baren] NewsFeed ... #7 ... April 29th, 2000 ************************************************* A quiet NewsFeed today ... everybody busy cutting and printing, we hope! WEB UPDATES The 'Show & Tell' page has been updated ... http://woodblock.com/forum/messageboard/guestbook.html Two updates to the Encyclopedia this week: - - a small selection of 'Nafuda' from Japan has been added ... - - another entire book has been uploaded to the Libary: Edward Strange's 'Tools and Materials Illustrating the Japanese Method of Colour-Printing' http://woodblock.com/encyclopedia/updates.html NEWSLETTER NEWS No, we don't mean 'Baren-Suji' this time, there _are_ other newsletters out there! Nolyx Anitnegra: Boletín Informativo de Xylon Argentina Sociedad de Grabadores. Año 9 Nº 31 Marzo-Abril de 2000 * Tapa de la Revista Ricardo Tau * Reportajes a Juan Carlos Romero y Florencia Crescimbeni * El rincón del ex-librista * Notas Breves * Sitios para visitar en Internet * Libros y revistas recomendados * Direcciones de Salones Nacionales e Internacionales de Grabado * Estampa de regalo de Corina Bellati - Premiada en la Bienal Nacional de Xylon Argentina 1999 Suscripción por los cinco Números de 2000 $15.= Nacional  - US $25 Internacional * Tel./Fax.: (54-11) 4 584 - 8223 * E-mail: xylonargentina@hotmail.com * Website: http://www.sitio.de/xylonargentina/ MEMBERS' ACTIVITIES For the multitude of [Baren] members who live in the Tokyo environs, you can catch Dave Bull next Monday morning on 'Nishi Tokyo Radio' doing a talk show/interview. 82.5 on your FM dial ... POSITIONS Member Jeanne Norman Chase from Sarasota Florida reports: "I have just been selected to be on the 'Sarasota County for Art in Public Places', committee, for a three year term." 'Public places' perhaps means places like the 'Skokie Library'? Hmmm? BLAST FROM THE PAST (*) Hans Alexander Mueller will conduct a studio class in the art and techique of woodcutting and wood engraving at Columbia University Mondays and Thursdays, 7~9 p.m., beginning September 26. IN THE MARKETPLACE On eBay : * Item#: 316957974 a lovely woodblock print by English printmaker A. W. Seaby, a student of Frank Morley Fletcher. This one will probably end up being too expensive ... but it's an interesting (and rare) item ... so go over there and have a look: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=316957974 FROM THE [BAREN] 'COUNCIL' ... The recent input on how [Baren] can best finance activities like the recent Skokie exhibition has been much appreciated. We are still looking for more feedback and new ideas ... 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 ... (It also includes a link to the 'on-line' copy of the most recent NewsFeed ...) http://woodblock.com/forum/admin.html - ------------------------------------------------------------------- (*) Today's 'Blast From the Past' is from September 1940 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 the membership, but which can't wait until the next 'Baren-Suji' newsletter ... ****************************************************************** Send items for the next NewsFeed to news@woodblock.com ****************************************************************** ------------------------------ From: "Daniel L. Dew" Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 08:47:41 -0400 Subject: [Baren 9561] japanese prints and E-Bay For a dummy like me, new to the Japanese printamking technique and names, if I was to go on ebay or some other auction site, what printmakers or prints should I look for? dan dew ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V11 #992 ****************************