Baren Digest              Saturday, 18 August 2001      Volume 16 : Number 1525


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From: Daniel Dew <ddew@tampabay.rr.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 15:50:14 -0400
Subject: [Baren 15417] FW: Ink Quality

Thought this was worth sharing.  I will forward the additional info as they
supply it.

P.S.  I left all the names off to protect the innocent.

dan dew
- ----------
From: "albert l. spizzo" <spizzal@twave.net>
Reply-To: "albert l. spizzo" <spizzal@twave.net>
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 12:43:50 -0400
To: "Daniel Dew" <ddew@tampabay.rr.com>
Cc: "tom gregory" <tomgregory@speedballart.com>,
<tonyahill@speedballart.com>
Subject: Re: Ink Quality

Dear Mr. Drew:
  I'll be back in the office on Tuesday and will give you a call.  If you
submit a FAX No., I'll send you pigment composition information and
lightfastness ratings from the office on Tuesday.
  All of the SPEEDBALL Water-Soluble Blockprinting Inks utilize vegetable
derived gums as the carrier.  The pH is slightly basic; they are acid-free.
Sincerely,
A.L. Spizzo
- -----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Dew <ddew@tampabay.rr.com>
To: spizzal@twave.net <spizzal@twave.net>
Date: Friday, August 17, 2001 10:48 AM
Subject: Ink Quality

Hi, I'm the fellow who contacted you via e-mail about the quality of your
block printing inks.  You called me back and left a message, then I called
today......yada, yada,
I am a member of an international woodblock printing group called "Baren",
we communicate via the internet and conduct exchanges internationally. As I
said, I am constantly teased for used your "student grade/quality" inks.
Attached are the e-mails that started the latest round of discussions.  I
thought you should read them yourself.  I would like any response to be by
e-mail so I can share them with everyone in my group, if that's O.K. with
you?
My home e-mail is:  ddew0001@tampabay.rr.com  (I work from 9:00-5:00, Mon. -
Fri.).
Anxiuosly awaiting your reply.

dan dew
http://www.dandew.com/gallery2.htm


- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Daniel Dew" <ddew@tampabay.rr.com>

> Someday I will figure out what the heck the deal is with the Speedball
ink.
> i.e. why does everyone turn their nose up at me when I mention I use them?
> It's the only ink I've ever used and I love it.  I've tried others and I
> don't like them.  Is it just 'cause they are "kiddy inks"?  Or is there
> really a difference?



> Hi there:
> 
> Yes Dan, there -is-a-real-difference between student grade material and
> artist grade stuff and if you are not intending for your work to deteriorate
> at speed faster than what would be expected for permanent works of art, (in
> your medium) than you owe it to yourself and your future patrons to 'bone
> up' on artist materials.
> 
> You should, at the very lest know the difference between fugitive and
> non-fugitive pigments and what falls in between.
> 
> You, as artist, must need be aware of manufactures labelling practices and
> stay away from companies that will not share truthful information about
> their products.
> 
> Companies that claim that disclosing what pigments and binders (oils, gums,
> resins, dryers, etc) are use to make them will compromise their secrets
> should be avoided like a plague.  That company's products should be
> boycotted.
> 
> You are, after all,  not asking for exact methods, only enough truthful
> information to make a considered decision.
> 
> Too many works of art have been compromised by the 'secret formulas' of
> companies that have lost sight of the most basic premise that the artist is
> the one to make decision about what they will or will not choose to use.
> 
> Dan, your work is well crafted and calls for sound materials.  Unless there
> is some compelling and unique quality that the Speedball inks offer that can
> not be found if artist grade inks, and if you are using good papers in part
> because of their archival properties and can afford the artist grade stuff,
> then it makes no sense at all for you to use less.

>From another:
> Here in Sydney we have nice
> warm (and sometimes extremely hot) weather with high
> humidity and the water based inks tend to dry on the slab
> and on the roller before you can get them on the paper -
> ughhhhhh! *shudder* Its impossible to keep the tack
> consistent and makes printing a painful experience.
> 
> I've tried speedball inks Dan and I agree with everyone else
> that the quality of your work deserves better materials. In
> comparison to what I am using, they are crap. Not to beat
> about the bush ;-) This is about having respect for your own
> work - not about being 'superior'. And its also about the
> materials being able to do the job you want them to do -
> IMHO speedball inks dont rate, they are student grade.  I'm
> frankly amazed that you have acheived the results you have
> with these inks.
> 
> Some art work is non-archival - I can think of dozens of
> examples. The point is knowing what the purpose of your
> making the prints is - if you want them to be archival use
> archival materials. If you are making art for other reasons
> - and that is quite legitimate too (I agreed with your
> comments Maria) then use 'a thumbnail dipped in tar' to
> quote one of our aussie poets.

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End of Baren Digest V16 #1525
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