Baren Digest Sunday, 10 November 2002 Volume 21 : Number 2023 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: G Wohlken Date: Sat, 09 Nov 2002 11:35:43 -0500 Subject: [Baren 19783] games and a comment on tools Julio, the games are fun!!!!! Speaking of nice traveling tools, I have a set of small tools that are called Dockyard Micro tools. I like those a lot for small areas. They are sharp little things too, and seem to hold their edge a long time. Woodcraft sells them. These tools hone up easily, too. I still use the Japanese tools, especially the bigger ones for hammering out the more open spaces, but my little Dockyard Micro's get used a lot. Gayle Ohio >>The new Lee Valley catalog just arrived, and I see that they have my >>FAVORITE cheap carving tools listed -- the steel in these is laminated >>(hard on cutting edge and soft everywhere else), so they take a very good >>edge and are easy to sharpen -- the only drawback is that the >>snipo >> >> > > > > ------------------------------ From: "Lee and Barbara Mason" Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 09:10:26 -0800 Subject: [Baren 19784] carving tools Mike, I ordered a set of these Lee Valley inexpensive tools on your say so....maybe they will be the thing for my class. These ladies have never done any carving before, sort of like I was when I found the baren. We are down to 6 from the original 12...some have mutinied but I truly don't know what happened to them, maybe they will show up in a week or so. I actually find it easier to have everyone at a different stage. I am emphasizing how slow you should carve, taking care not to push too hard, keeping your tools sharp, taking only small amounts of wood with each push. They are of course ignoring everything I say, and beating the board and tools to an untimely death. Then wondering why the edges are rough, the lines are popping off and they cannot get a clean corner. I see myself here a couple of years ago and I guess it is encouraging to see how far I have come but discouraging to see how frustrated they are. I remember it well. I thought carving was much harder than printing.....but I knew little so I can be forgiven this mistake! I think a good printer could make the worst carving into a passable print. They are working on Christmas cards, very simple designs, two blocks. I am working on #15 and have settled on a picture of Multnomah Falls, an enormously long falls we have here in the Columbia Gorge that drops several hundred feet to a pool and then again about 100 feet to the second pool and then runs off to the Columbia River. Quite a magnificent picture with a bridge above the upper pool where visitors can get wet with the spray and marvel at the power and magnificence of nature. I have many pictures of it and see the same trees in old photos from the 20's....I am currently getting out all my waterfall pictures from the masters and looking carefully at rocks and water......If I pull this off they will think I am amazing and I may even surprise myself. I am taking every minute of the time to do this one.....It will be my only carving and printing project until it is done. Dave, you will be proud of me....I owe it all to the baren and all the knowledge from all the folks here. What a great group! Of course I might sneak in the odd solar plate just to keep in practice.....I do have a show in June so don't want to leave it till the last minute, like I usually do. Best to all, Barbara ------------------------------ From: Aqua4tis@aol.com Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 16:35:45 EST Subject: [Baren 19785] Re: games and a comment on tools In a message dated 11/9/2002 8:36:08 AM Pacific Standard Time, blueman@pantek.com writes: > Woodcraft sells them. gayle does woodcraft have a website? georga ------------------------------ From: slinders@attbi.com Date: Sat, 09 Nov 2002 15:23:59 -0600 Subject: [Baren 19786] Re: games and a comment on tools < http://shop.woodcraft.com/Woodcraft/product_family.asp?family%5Fid=1361&gift =False&0=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D10000%26Tree%3D%2CDepartments&1 =dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D1053%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree%3D0%2CCarving&2 =dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D2266%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree%3D1%2CCarving%20Tools&Gift =False&mscssid=0C9D9AB4553F48FAB3DCDF41C449FF26 > I also love these tools! Wouldn't be without them! -Sharen ------------------------------ From: Louise Cass Date: Sat, 09 Nov 2002 18:12:54 -0500 Subject: [Baren 19787] Re: Lee Valley Tools....Fun & Games update Hey Julio! Very clever!! I love the new "Barematic" (Oh dear, I really thought for a moment there was a marvelous new invention for printing since I don't possess a press but only a worn out baren and a trusty old silver spoon. Thanks for the 'fun and games' Louise Cass At 10:04 PM 11/8/02 -0600, you wrote: > >Hey Mike, Maria....those knives sure look good and the price is right for >the Lee Valley carving set, thank you.......but carving is only half the >job....you guys forgot to tell the folks about the new printing tool >available thru the Barenmall...."The Barematic"....an awesome printing tool >guaranteed to put a wallop on your printmaking. Now you can throw away all >those half -worn barens and sell your printing press for scrap iron....you >won't need them anymore, the Barematic is here !!!!! > >Head an over to the link below to see a printing demonstration guaranteed >to BLOW YOU AWAY !!!! > >http://www.skokienet.org/bandits/baren/fun&games.html > > >thanks..Julio Rodriguez (Skokie, Illinois) >Sound required....earplugs recommended!!! Also make sure you maximize your >browser screens for these games...wider is better! > > > > http://www.LCassArt.com ------------------------------ From: David Bull Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 08:55:19 +0900 Subject: [Baren 19788] Re: 'passable' prints Barbara wrote: > I think a good printer could make the worst carving into a passable > print. A good printer can take a barn board and a hammer and make something much better than a 'passable' print! Without intending to deny the value of the work of the old-time carvers, when it comes right down to it, it's _all_ in the printing! No matter how badly any given set of blocks is carved, someone with good printing skills can make a beautiful print from them ... *** Sure been enjoying the anniversary activities ... but a bit embarrassed about how much time Julio must have spent setting them all up ... Thanks, Julio! Dave ------------------------------ From: Aqua4tis@aol.com Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 19:42:39 EST Subject: [Baren 19789] Re: Lee Valley Tools....Fun & Games update julio youve outdone yourself!!!! bravo!!! georga ------------------------------ From: michael schneider Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 02:00:36 +0100 Subject: [Baren 19790] hope to meet some bareners Hi again! Yes I am still here and following the discussions as often as possible. Some time ago, I could announce, that I have the possibility to visit the US in November. I will be in St. Louis from 12th to 26th. According to the map, ( Thank you Julio!) there is no member of baren located directly in St. Louis, but maybe one of you has to pass through, stays nearby or has another reason to be in close range that would make it possible to meet. On 15th "New Traditions" at Hunt Gallery in St. Louis will open. ( I have no idea at what time.) It is a group show concentrating on new developments in traditional printmaking with work by Yvette Dubinski, Meredith Dean, Lynwood Kreneck, Nathan Oliveira, Dennis Olsen, Nik Semenof, Jeff Sipple, Dan Weldon and me. ( I hoped including all the names might motivate to visit the exhibition.) After the 15th until the 26th I will be working in the printmaking studio of webster university as visiting artist. So if some of you see a possibility to make a trip to St. Louis, I would be very happy to meet some bareners in person. Greetings, michael - ------------------------------------- http://www.t0.or.at/~mikasch e-mail: mikasch@t0.or.at - ------------------------------------- ------------------------------ From: FurryPressII@aol.com Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 23:42:50 EST Subject: [Baren 19791] Re: Lee Valley Tools....Fun & Games update do you have to be a member on NRA to use that device. i beg to differ on the carver vrs printer if the image is not in the block no printer can print it. in western wood blocks the carver is by far the most important part. John Center ------------------------------ From: David Bull Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 13:54:07 +0900 Subject: [Baren 19792] Re: carving vs printing > > i beg to differ on the carver vrs printer if the image is not in the > block > no printer can print it. in western wood blocks the carver is by > far the > most important part. Hi John ... may I disagree with your disagreement? Actually, I guess we're just talking about two different things ... in western B&W work, I guess carving is everything - once the image is on the block, it just runs through the press to transfer it to paper. Printing in that case is just a mechanical process that doesn't add much to the concept. What I was thinking about was (of course) multi-colour work. In this case, printing is everything. Even a plain blank block with nothing carved on it can become anything you want it to be - a deep tone, a gradated tone, a speckled tone ... the whole life and feeling of the image is all created by the way that the printer works with his pigments and tools ... Dave ------------------------------ From: "Lee and Barbara Mason" Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 00:43:39 -0800 Subject: [Baren 19793] Re: carving vs printing - once the image is on the block, it just runs through the press to transfer it to paper. Printing in that case is just a mechanical process that doesn't add much to the concept. Dave Dave, I beg to differ.......putting the ink on the block and printing it just right, especially on a press, takes a lot of repeat doing and skill to achieve what the artist is aiming for. The inking of the block is the print, wether it is oil or water based ink, one color or many. I have almost 20 years experience with oily ink and printing with a press, I really know what that ink is going to do and how it will look layerd over itself or another color. I really understand how to make my press do what I want it to do. Presses all seem to have their own personalities, sort of a mind of their own. Water based printing with the baren is a real challenge for me and I may never do it really well as I will not live long enough. But the challenge is the thing, isn't it? Learning what happens and applying it another time to a different set of blocks. It does just get into your blood. The ladies in my class have had three lessons and already are commenting on how relaxing it is and how much at peace they feel.....they are hooked. I really love printmaking. Lee says if I had to choose between him and printmaking he would lose....well, I think not, after all we have been married 33 years, but I might have to give it a little thought! :~) Best to all, Barbara > ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V21 #2023 *****************************