Baren Digest Monday, 3 December 2001 Volume 17 : Number 1638 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Bea Gold" Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 08:22:55 -0800 Subject: [Baren 16325] Re: Exchange media and rules Hi Michele, I went back to look at the "Rules" work-up here it is on lino prints - 3. Method Used: The Baren Exchange is a program for forum members to create, exchange and display editions of woodblock prints. At this time only linocut prints have been allowed in addition to woodcut prints. IF PRINTS OTHER THAN WOODCUT OR LINOCUT ARE RECEIVED THE PRINT PACKAGE WILL BE RETURNED USING THE ENCLOSED RETURN POSTAGE. IF NO POSTAGE IS INCLUDED THE EXCHANGE PRINT PACKAGE WILL BE HELD BY THE COORDINATOR. UNTIL POSTAGE IS RECEIVED and you are right about when the "Rules" were to take effect, Michele - but then 9/11 happened and ??? So Mike it's up to you now! Mover/Shaker, Bea >From Michele, >I checked back on the baren forum exchange page but didn't see it--could >have sworn lino cut was an acceptable exchange medium. I vaguely remember >reading that woodblock, wood engraving, and linco cut were okay, but that >certainly is not what it says for either exchange #11 or 12 now--just >woodblock (not specified as to plank wood, plywood or endgrain). > >It was my understanding that the exchange rules were to take effect with >exchange #11. At November 1 (the due date), we had slightly over half the >prints in hand. Unfortunately, a month later we still do not have all the >prints in nor the portfolios (cases) . What with the disruption of postal >and air service this fall in the US, there seems no point in getting steamed >about deadlines. I should bore you all with personal stories of delayed >mail and misery in the airports, but the topic doesn't interest me, either. >:o) > ><^><^><^><^><^><^><^><^><^><^><^><^> > Michelle Morrell > jmmorrell@gci.net >http://www.MichelleMorrell.com ><^><^><^><^><^><^><^><^><^><^><^><^> > > ------------------------------ From: "Jean Eger Womack" Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 10:15:39 -0800 Subject: [Baren 16326] Methylcellulose Methylcellulose is an archival glue used in bookbinding. It doesn't mold and stink. It absorbs water incredibly. When April used it, it worked like a charm. When I use it, it globs up the ink and I always use too much ink which gets into the knife lines. For some reason, rice paste--the stuff I make myself with rice flour or rice starch--works better for me. It's just eaier to put the jar of methylcellulose in the art bag at 7 am than to get up early and make fresh rice paste. April printed a flat background with this kind of magic that went into her hands that enabled her to get a smooth print. I guess I have not offered enough to the gods. Also, I am not good at expressing myself in words anymore. Sorry this is so garbled. Thanks for the certificate. I never thought of corn starch. I'll try it. Jean Eger Womack > I have never used Methyl Cellulose as a binder. What does it do that you don't like. > If you can't get rice paste then an alternative is Corn Starch. > > Graham ------------------------------ From: Sunnffunn@aol.com Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 13:49:35 EST Subject: [Baren 16327] Re: Baren Digest V17 #1637 well I need to know if this lino cut is acceptable for #12. I have most of them printed but will not push to finish and drop out if it is not acceptable. I had thought they were and I guess did not check that part of the new rules, which I did read. I thought the concern with the new rules was mostly to get the work on time and the payment and size restrictions right. I have a lot going on and now a family matter that will take a lot of my time so if it not acceptable please let me know. There is not time for me to carve a new plate. Marilynn ------------------------------ From: Graham Date: Sun, 02 Dec 2001 11:02:11 -0800 Subject: [Baren 16328] Taking to woodblock printing. Marilynn wrote..... >Yes I am taking Grahams workshop in June and than I will know if wood will >really take for me. >Seems many of us have taken the plunge, but should I leave if i do not become >primarily a wood person? Not to worry about wood being suitable for you. By the time you finish Boot Camp you will definitely be a convert. How do I know that???? You don't leave until you are converted. You will be lock in chains until you get it.... Got it? Not to worry, the food is good and the beds very comfy. All we ask in return is.... Gardening, Cut lawn, Housework, Dishes, Cook and serve us in every possible way.... (<: Graham/Sidney BC An Island in the Pacific Home of the Boot Camp http://members.home.net/gscholes/ ------------------------------ From: "Maria Arango" Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 11:55:31 -0800 Subject: [Baren 16329] RE: Certificates > Go to http://members.home.net/gscholes/certif.html > I do not have it linked on my site any more. > I don't want to bust your balloon but a certificate will not > encourage or generate sales. > It is only after a sale is made that I show it to people. It is > more a reminder of some of the specs on the print. Au contraire, mon ami! In the customer-direct business, you have about three seconds to get someone's attention, then you have to retain that moment until their "buying-ticker" kicks in. That is in a very small part of the action-brain, usually accessed through the "interest-module" and triggered most often by the "Now I get it!" neurotransmitter. The whole sequence of events is a catalyst for the "grab-the-wallet-pull-credit-card" motor nerves, which result in the action described. Sorry about the hard-core physiology here. Now, many folks "out there" don't know a woodcut from a twinkie, but once they hear the word "print," a whole series of brain activity goes on (tattle-tale signs of brain activity are: blinking eyes, breathing, twitching of the lips). This releases the locks of the "print-knowledge" center, however atrophied by the poster industry, and questions come out such as: - -Are these limited editions? Default answer = yes - -Do you have any one-of-a-kinds? Default answer if blocks are present = yes - -Do you furnish a Certificate-of-Authenticity? Default answer = yes - -How exactly are these made? Default answer = ACTION [hand out -->'original prints'(see below)] - -Did you make all these yourself? Default answer = BLEEP! Point being, you better be ready for all that with info-sheets and such things. Don't forget to smile the entire time. Moving on to the sales thing, I learned this simple trick from a photographer that seemed to be getting many more "lookers" than I did. I noticed that people stopped by his images, turned the matted ones over, and stood there reading something. Curious as I am and wanting to succeed in this "sales" thinguie, I tip-toed over there and checked it out. He had an info sheet attached to the back of his photographic prints, which people seemed to read. Once they had held the print on their hands for that length of time, they tended to buy the thing. Every one of my prints, especially the browse-bin matted prints, has the following attached to the backing board: ****************** Original Woodcut Prints by Maria ArangoÉ How are these made? First a design is drawn on a wood plank. The wood block is cut so that all parts of the design that are not to print are cut away. Then the design, now in relief, is inked with pigment. Finally a sheet of paper is laid upon the inked design, pressure is applied and a transfer of the design is obtained on the surface of the paper. Wood, ink & paper My blocks are usually cherry or birch plywood, although I have been known to also cut oak, pecan, maple and pine. Hardwoods hold more detail, while softwoods are easier to cut. Inks are permanent and color-fast oil based relief inks which will retain their beautiful sheen and will not fade with time. If you are observant you will notice that I like to mix metallic inks in many of my prints. Papers are of archival quality and acid-free, many are hand-made. I enjoy printing on diverse surfaces and often let the color of the paper take a big role in the final work. Editions Editioning refers to how many prints are made form one block, vary from 10 to 200 for artist hand-pulled prints. In order to truly limit the edition, the wood block is defaced and in some cases, destroyed. If the block is suitable, I sign across the face and make this one-of-a-kind art piece available to collectors. All Maria Arango prints are originals, designed, cut and printed by the artist More information and all the prints at http://www.1000woodcuts.com ********************** Once the "grab-the-wallet" sequence takes place, as Graham sez, only then I pull out the information/authenticity sheet. I call it a details sheet and sign it in front of the customer. I modeled mine after the WEN info sheets that we use to send our prints with on their exchanges. This serves as a Cert.of Auth and looks roughly like this (formatted nicely in MSWord): ********************* Work Details Sheet Maria Arango 2544 Casey Drive Las Vegas, NV 89120 (702) 798-8430 ORIGINAL WOODCUT PRINTS maria@mariarango.com http://www.1000woodcuts.com Authentication Signature: Date: Title Year Media Series Dimension H inches Dimension W inches Print run Paper used Block used Print type Process comments: Image comments: Caring for your print: Your original woodcut print was printed by the artist Maria Arango in The Printmaking Studio, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The paper, matting and backing are all acid free. Paper and ink are lightfast and will not fade excessively over time. -No material that is not acid free should come in contact with your print. -The face of the print should never be touched, even with clean hands. -Keep print away from excessive direct ultra-violet light or dampness. -Frame with dust cover covering back and do not remove dust cover. Enjoy your print for years to come and thank you! 1000 Woodcuts Updates will keep you up to date on exhibits and events; subscribe here: http://www.1000woodcuts.com/1000woodcuts/subscribe.htm ************************** Notice the shameless marketing and web site present on every piece of paper I hand out, works for post-festival sales (approximately 15% of festival sales are web sales in the days just after the festival). I have other handouts, a History of the Woodcut, a Meet the Artist, and a Woodcut Prints, How They are Made. Plans are to put all of them up on the website along with the above diatribe very soon. Feel free to steal anything you like. Health to all, Maria <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Maria Arango Las Vegas, Nevada, USA http://www.1000woodcuts.com maria@mariarango.com <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> ------------------------------ From: Cate-Earthlink Date: Sun, 02 Dec 2001 14:22:38 -0600 Subject: [Baren 16330] Re: Baren Digest V17 #1636 > From: Mike Lyon > Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 08:11:22 -0600 > Subject: [Baren 16292] Re: Baren Digest V17 #1635 > > Hey! I always wondered what 'make an honest woman of me' meant, and now I > know that it has something to do with 'slithering snakes' !! Good to read > your voice again, Cate !! So how is it being the Publisher, Editor and > chief bottle washer at the 'Tornado' news ?? By the way... I hope yours > is not the last snake to come slithering in (with its head between its > tail?), 'cause there are several behind you, I believe. > > Mike Hi Mike, Making an honest woman of me involves not only snakes but also delivering them to a large group of people. The Tornado ran out of steam. No problem though, I was just hired as the new assistant professor of advertising at Bradley University. I am packing to move to Illinois as we speak. I will get the snakes out before the year of the horse. Then I will sign up for the horse exchange. Thanks to all everyone in the snake exchange folks for being so patient. Hope that the year of the horse is better for us oxen. Cate ------------------------------ From: Printmaker Date: Mon, 03 Dec 2001 10:45:35 +1100 Subject: [Baren 16331] Linocuts/viruses Michelle said "I checked back on the baren forum exchange page but didn't see it--could have sworn lino cut was an acceptable exchange medium. " Michelle, to my knowledge linocut has always been accepted as an alternative media to woodblock in baren exchanges, and this was clarly stated on the website. If this has changed it is news to me. I am using lino mostly these days, primarily because of my disability. It is too physically stressful/diffcult for me to carve wood. A ban on linocut would effectively be a ban on people like me ... As for Virus discussions. A few points 1. I have received a number of these blank emails since badtrans came out, one apparently from phillip. I say 'apparently' because this virus lifts email addresses from not just the mailing list, but from past messages stored in your mail program. 2. I have posted the URLS for the information to this new virus to the Print Australia list already, but I will include them here again for those who may have missed it. Looks like this Badtrans thing is making the rounds. Information about it can be found at: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.badtrans.b@mm.html or http://vil.mcafee.com/dispVirus.asp?virus_k=99069& 3. Wanda asked "Please don't send any posts about viruses to the list. And please don't cc or blind copy your messages as it just sends the server in Japan into a frenzy & it starts bouncing messages like crazy." Wanda, this shouldn't be happening. May I suggest that you get the support guys in Japan to look into this for you? Wanda said "These virus things just go round & round & most of the time they are mostly talk! If you do seem to have some kind of virus - just e-mail someone personally & they can tell you where to go to solve the problem." If its a virus message that says "forward this mail to everyone you know" its probably a hoax. It just clogs up the airwaves with people posting it to everyone they know. On the other hand, there are many valid and very useful warnings coming through the net which are real. The trick is to tell the difference. Most important is the need for anyone who has been infected to let the list they are on know of the problem. THis helps other persons on the list being infected. Some list servers strip attachments (as the PA one does) but some viruses are not attachment based. So while I understand why Wanda would like to keep everyone on topic, there is a very real need for everyone to be informed concerning viruses. If you wish to continue to discuss the virus, come do it on PA, then we wont upset Wanda any further. I'm not sure which 'someone' Wanda means when she says 'just e-mail someone personally'. ANything related to list settings and security is the moderator's responsibility. And mailing the apparent sender may not be any use as it may not be them. ANd if it is them and they got virused, they probably wont be much use to you anyway ... at least not until they have learned how to fix and prevent virus problems themselves. But remember even the most prepared people get caught occasionally. That's enough from me for one day Josephine Print AUstralia http://www.acay.com.au/~severn ------------------------------ From: "Bea Gold" Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 16:18:35 -0800 Subject: [Baren 16332] please read the rules Hi Marilyn, Please read the rules - You will see: "At this time only linocut prints have been allowed in addition to woodcut prints." Bea >IF PRINTS OTHER THAN WOODCUT OR LINOCUT ARE RECEIVED THE PRINT PACKAGE WILL >BE RETURNED USING THE ENCLOSED RETURN POSTAGE. > ------------------------------ From: Graham Date: Sun, 02 Dec 2001 18:21:22 -0800 Subject: [Baren 16333] Re Au contraire, mon ami! This is a very lengthy and informative post from Maria. It covers her situation and sale arena. Mine is totally different. All my work is framed and sold from my studio. I do not like or get involved with mall, outdoor, and festival exhibitions. I have done a few over the past 25 years but it was not something I enjoy. The part that truly bothers me is the selling (I call it flogging) my wares, it seems so degrading to me. I know others love doing it. Maria is certainly one. I also found out early on that the price sticker has to be low and my work has always been one buck away from impulse buying. The space for me is private galleries, institutions with exhibition space with my favourite is the Public Gallery System. Getting accepted at this level is akin to getting published. It take a lot of hard work and much writing and sending of proposals The average level of acceptance is 1 in 10 and then there is the need to assist with funding. So Maria is it very dependent on the venue in which you exhibit. Graham/Sidney BC An Island in the Pacific >In the customer-direct business, you have about three seconds to get >someone's attention, then you have to retain that moment until their >"buying-ticker" kicks in. That is in a very small part of the action-brain, >usually accessed through the "interest-module" and triggered most often by >the "Now I get it!" neurotransmitter. The whole sequence of events is a >catalyst for the "grab-the-wallet-pull-credit-card" motor nerves, which >result in the action described. Sorry about the hard-core physiology here. ><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> ------------------------------ From: heather nichols Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 21:34:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 16334] somerset studio somebody asked about finding the somerset studio magazine? It's available at most craft stores (I usually find mine at joanns) and I have also gotten it at art supply stores as well. They do have a website and you can order back issues... http://www.somersetstudio.com Heather ------------------------------ From: Graham Date: Sun, 02 Dec 2001 21:58:18 -0800 Subject: [Baren 16335] Fwd: Over lapping There seems to be a problem with my e-mails. Wanda tells me that some parts of my e-mail are overlapping. I don't know what that means but it is causing Wanda problems. Is any body having trouble with this when receiving my mail. There is no problems on two other list servers I am on so am perplexed. It would be nice to get to the bottom of it and simplify Wanda life. Thanks, Graham >Yup, you changed ISPs in between my recieving & sending a message. And yes, it's >still doing the lap-over thing. Here's the message recently sent to your >@home.com address: > >THurs Nov 29, 2001 19:30:17 > > >On my computer, this has been happening since you subscribed to Baren this last >time. You might put a question on Baren asking people to tell you if they are >having the same problem with the posts. It could be a browser thing - or a >computer thing, but it is only happening with your posts or when someone responds >to one of your posts. > >I'm doing pretty well - had a show last June (with my painter daughter) and sold >several hanga pieces. I'm going more and more to the hanga method - whereas I was >about 1/2 & 1/2 oil before. It really grows on you! > >Cheers, > >Wanda ------------------------------ From: Kim Medina Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 02:34:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 16336] Re: Baren Digest V17 #1637 Hello all, I'm not sure _exactly which issue of Somerset in which Jan was featured. It's probably either the current issue available on the shelf or the one for Jan/Feb. 2002. Maybe Jan can elaborate on this. Somerset Studio is, IMHO, the best arts/crafts magazine currently being published in the U.S. right now. They encourage submissions and the many pages of the publiscation are devoted to these submissions. In the past, they have featured printmakers like Jan. They also did an article on Japanese woodcuts. I also remember an article on the fabric prints of India and they had photos of the people cutting on these ridculously large boards. Somerset has a pretty good mix of what is considered today to be "craft" related issues, like rubber stamp art, calligraphy, paper crafts, paper making, fabric arts, book making, and to some extent - printmaking. The URL for the magazine is http://www.stampington.com/html/somerset_studio_magazine.html Congrats again to Jan! Kim End of Baren Digest V17 #1638 *****************************