Today's postings
- [Baren 26281] RE: Baren Digest (old) V29 #2828 ("marilynn smih")
- [Baren 26282] Welcome, Michael of Boston ("Harry French")
- [Baren 26283] "Print Dialogue Day" (Wanda Robertson)
- < ("Michael Horvath")
- [Baren 26285] Re: starter tools,wood,etc. for Michael H. (Bette Norcross Wappner)
- [Baren 26286] Re: (no subject) (FurryPressII # aol.com)
- [Baren 26287] Re: ("Robert Canaga")
- [Baren 26288] reduction block (Barbara Mason)
Message 1
From: "marilynn smih"
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 07:55:26 -0700
Subject: [Baren 26281] RE: Baren Digest (old) V29 #2828
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Welcome Michael of Boston. There are no stpid questions, we are all here to
learn. If any group can get you into woodblock it is this one.
Marilynn
learn. If any group can get you into woodblock it is this one.
Marilynn
Message 2
From: "Harry French"
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 17:58:49 +0100
Subject: [Baren 26282] Welcome, Michael of Boston
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Michael
Welcome to Baren.. don't worry about any simple or complex questions they will all be answered by block printers, print dealers or academics. I have been a member since March and amazed at their wealth of knowledge and experience. Their main aim is to support printers at all levels and encourage individual styles and techniques.
I could invite you to Lincolnshire Arts meetings, but I suspect you are in Boston, Massachusetts,USA not Boston, Lincolnshire, England, UK ?
Bareners are indeed spread world wide.
Tim. The price of the Colombian press, another press I cut my teeth on, is unbelievable. In the early 60's a student friend took one off someone's hands for 7/6d....($1). The nearest one now is in the Lincolnshire museum. I would like to have a session on it, but I suspect that I could get lumbered with a new job. Anyway, Bareners have (almost) rehabilitated me into burnishing the blocks for prints rather than crushing the living daylight out of them!
Regards
Harry
Lincoln,
UK
(Just about 40 minutes away from Boston : home of the Founders of Boston, Massachusetts)
Welcome to Baren.. don't worry about any simple or complex questions they will all be answered by block printers, print dealers or academics. I have been a member since March and amazed at their wealth of knowledge and experience. Their main aim is to support printers at all levels and encourage individual styles and techniques.
I could invite you to Lincolnshire Arts meetings, but I suspect you are in Boston, Massachusetts,USA not Boston, Lincolnshire, England, UK ?
Bareners are indeed spread world wide.
Tim. The price of the Colombian press, another press I cut my teeth on, is unbelievable. In the early 60's a student friend took one off someone's hands for 7/6d....($1). The nearest one now is in the Lincolnshire museum. I would like to have a session on it, but I suspect that I could get lumbered with a new job. Anyway, Bareners have (almost) rehabilitated me into burnishing the blocks for prints rather than crushing the living daylight out of them!
Regards
Harry
Lincoln,
UK
(Just about 40 minutes away from Boston : home of the Founders of Boston, Massachusetts)
Message 3
From: Wanda Robertson
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 11:03:11 -0700
Subject: [Baren 26283] "Print Dialogue Day"
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This just came in from Debrah Santini, Associate Professor at State
University of West GA:
************************************************************************
Hello!
The State University of WEst Georgia will be hosting Print Dialogue Day
on November 6th, 2004.
This is very short notice but: would you be interested and willing to
send flyers re: the Barenforum and all its many activities?
We are expecting printmakers, students, professors, print lovers, etc.
from throughout the S.E.
For more info. please see the website: www.PrintAlliance.org
This event is sponsored by the American Print Alliance and we will also
be exhibiting the national travelling, 9/11 Memorial Exhibition.
Any info may be sent to :
Debrah Santini
Department of Art
State University of West GA
1601 Maple St
Carrollton, GA 30118
(678)839-4963
THANK YOU!
Debrah Santini
Associate Professor
UWG
University of West GA:
************************************************************************
Hello!
The State University of WEst Georgia will be hosting Print Dialogue Day
on November 6th, 2004.
This is very short notice but: would you be interested and willing to
send flyers re: the Barenforum and all its many activities?
We are expecting printmakers, students, professors, print lovers, etc.
from throughout the S.E.
For more info. please see the website: www.PrintAlliance.org
This event is sponsored by the American Print Alliance and we will also
be exhibiting the national travelling, 9/11 Memorial Exhibition.
Any info may be sent to :
Debrah Santini
Department of Art
State University of West GA
1601 Maple St
Carrollton, GA 30118
(678)839-4963
THANK YOU!
Debrah Santini
Associate Professor
UWG
Message 4
From: "Michael Horvath"
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 15:16:35 -0400
Subject:
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Thank you everyone for your kind welcome and words. I'm off to purchase a
few tools and wood this weekend. BTW, are there any benefits to using an
end-cut of wood or a plank with the grain going across the plank? I'll try
both, but wanted to get a few thoughts from folks who have worked with both.
Also, any recommendations for what I may need initially in the way of tools
would be helpful.
Cheers,
Michael
few tools and wood this weekend. BTW, are there any benefits to using an
end-cut of wood or a plank with the grain going across the plank? I'll try
both, but wanted to get a few thoughts from folks who have worked with both.
Also, any recommendations for what I may need initially in the way of tools
would be helpful.
Cheers,
Michael
Message 5
From: Bette Norcross Wappner
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 16:44:49 -0400
Subject: [Baren 26285] Re: starter tools,wood,etc. for Michael H.
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Hi Michael - (its Boston, Mass, right?) I don't know what all you need
but thought I'd send you a bit of info. incase you were wanting to head
out to your local Woodcraft store today. I bought my first set of
knives there for a reasonable $35.00 or so. Japanese-made "Power
Grip" - set of 5 is a decent start for you. For sharpening, I like the
green micro-fine honing compound made by Formax for about $7.00 at
Woodcraft or Lee Valley. Strop your blades on a plank of wood with the
honing compound. As for wood grain - 'end-cut' is mainly used for wood
engraving (more detailed images and specific engraving tools). For
woodblock - 'plank' is preferred. You can get birch plywood at
Woodcraft stores that to start on, even though it has tendencies of
being a little brittle it is a good start. Some people like poplar
plank I think. I prefer cherry plank. Its great for details. The
all-shina plywood found at McClains (link below) is really nice and
takes details fairly well - yet still not as good as cherry, but its
price is better and easier to carve.
A great place to buy tools, wood, paper, barens, etc. online is our very
own http://www. BarenForum.org or http://www.iMcClains.com and also
for tools and sharpening supplies at http://www.LeeValley.com. From
BarenForum - I use the lower priced grade bamboo-sheathed baren to print
with and it does fine for a beginner. Even the plastic baren will do if
you're on a tight budget.
Alot of people use inks from Graphic Chemical or Daniel Smith. Or if
you need something right away a nice art store will probably have
Speedball printmaking inks - water or oil-based.
Hope this helps. I enjoy offering what I've learned because it meant so
much to me when I first started. Others will have great ideas to offer
you, but thought I'd send my beginners knowledge for you to start
thinking about things.
Bette Wappner
(moku-hanga water-based printmaker)
northern Kentucky
but thought I'd send you a bit of info. incase you were wanting to head
out to your local Woodcraft store today. I bought my first set of
knives there for a reasonable $35.00 or so. Japanese-made "Power
Grip" - set of 5 is a decent start for you. For sharpening, I like the
green micro-fine honing compound made by Formax for about $7.00 at
Woodcraft or Lee Valley. Strop your blades on a plank of wood with the
honing compound. As for wood grain - 'end-cut' is mainly used for wood
engraving (more detailed images and specific engraving tools). For
woodblock - 'plank' is preferred. You can get birch plywood at
Woodcraft stores that to start on, even though it has tendencies of
being a little brittle it is a good start. Some people like poplar
plank I think. I prefer cherry plank. Its great for details. The
all-shina plywood found at McClains (link below) is really nice and
takes details fairly well - yet still not as good as cherry, but its
price is better and easier to carve.
A great place to buy tools, wood, paper, barens, etc. online is our very
own http://www. BarenForum.org or http://www.iMcClains.com and also
for tools and sharpening supplies at http://www.LeeValley.com. From
BarenForum - I use the lower priced grade bamboo-sheathed baren to print
with and it does fine for a beginner. Even the plastic baren will do if
you're on a tight budget.
Alot of people use inks from Graphic Chemical or Daniel Smith. Or if
you need something right away a nice art store will probably have
Speedball printmaking inks - water or oil-based.
Hope this helps. I enjoy offering what I've learned because it meant so
much to me when I first started. Others will have great ideas to offer
you, but thought I'd send my beginners knowledge for you to start
thinking about things.
Bette Wappner
(moku-hanga water-based printmaker)
northern Kentucky
Message 6
From: FurryPressII # aol.com
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 18:43:38 EDT
Subject: [Baren 26286] Re: (no subject)
Send Message: To this poster
end grain is what is called wood engraving and plank grain is wood cuts
the main difference is that different tools are use in either case wood
engraving uses end grain maple or boxwood and ues engraving tools
wood cuts are useing plank grain wood and use knives and gouges to cut the
boards.
the printing is generally the same with wood engravin using oil based ink
wood cuts can be printed eather in western style with oil based ink or
printed in the japanese style with water based ink like water colors.
john center
the main difference is that different tools are use in either case wood
engraving uses end grain maple or boxwood and ues engraving tools
wood cuts are useing plank grain wood and use knives and gouges to cut the
boards.
the printing is generally the same with wood engravin using oil based ink
wood cuts can be printed eather in western style with oil based ink or
printed in the japanese style with water based ink like water colors.
john center
Message 7
From: "Robert Canaga"
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 18:24:39 -0700
Subject: [Baren 26287] Re:
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Hi, I have my students buy a set of POWER GRIP tools from Woodcrafters,
Cheep and good.
McLain's is of course the golden source but try all sorts of tools till you
find some that fit...last count I had about 200 different knives and only
use about 7 of them.
Robert
http://robertcanagagallery.com
Cheep and good.
McLain's is of course the golden source but try all sorts of tools till you
find some that fit...last count I had about 200 different knives and only
use about 7 of them.
Robert
http://robertcanagagallery.com
Message 8
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 20:39:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 26288] reduction block
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I have a couple of questions for those who have done a lot of this type of printing. I am on color 5 of 6 on my block for #22. It is an ambitious print, in that I am doing a double edition so I can give one half to Baren and one half to Print Arts Northwest. I started out with what I thought was 65, but amazingly tonight when I got done there were 70....I have no idea how that happened. I lost one printing it upside down. We won't mention that one.
I have had a tiny problem with registration...I am sure I was careful dropping the paper, but on color 4 I had about 6 prints where the registration was off a tiny bit....I guess we can chalk this up to "artist error" but I am thinking it is really the softening of the corner of the paper in the kento. It is slight, but I notice it. Guess I should have used the nail polish, but I thought the paper would be good for 6 drops onto the block.
Now the real problem is on some of the prints I have a tiny shadow. It actually looks good, but impossible to control. I am inking them the same and printing them the same....or so I thought. At first I thought it was the way I was inking the block, but I am now thinking it is pressure and maybe the block is actually compressing a bit. I am printing with a piece of mat board, no blankets. By color 5 the block will have been printed over 300 times through the press. Has anyone had this problem? It is very slight, but I would like to figure out what is causing it.....these things make me nuts. I will do color 5 tomorrow and see if I can control it....I am just way too fussy. Printmakers are obsessed or we would be doing something else! Maybe I should use a piece of plastic instead of mat board.
This has the potential to be a really nice print...if I don't foul it up in the next day or so. I have more sympathy for Dave now, 300 times printing the same image...and more to go. And Dave does 200 copies with way more than 6 impressions...whew! Makes me tired thinking of it! Hope all of you are done with #22.....I don't know why I always am under the gun to finish on time. But I do know why they call these suicide prints......I have comforted myself by telling myself I can always make a second block if I need it. Ha! The cowards way out!
Best to all,
Barbara
I have had a tiny problem with registration...I am sure I was careful dropping the paper, but on color 4 I had about 6 prints where the registration was off a tiny bit....I guess we can chalk this up to "artist error" but I am thinking it is really the softening of the corner of the paper in the kento. It is slight, but I notice it. Guess I should have used the nail polish, but I thought the paper would be good for 6 drops onto the block.
Now the real problem is on some of the prints I have a tiny shadow. It actually looks good, but impossible to control. I am inking them the same and printing them the same....or so I thought. At first I thought it was the way I was inking the block, but I am now thinking it is pressure and maybe the block is actually compressing a bit. I am printing with a piece of mat board, no blankets. By color 5 the block will have been printed over 300 times through the press. Has anyone had this problem? It is very slight, but I would like to figure out what is causing it.....these things make me nuts. I will do color 5 tomorrow and see if I can control it....I am just way too fussy. Printmakers are obsessed or we would be doing something else! Maybe I should use a piece of plastic instead of mat board.
This has the potential to be a really nice print...if I don't foul it up in the next day or so. I have more sympathy for Dave now, 300 times printing the same image...and more to go. And Dave does 200 copies with way more than 6 impressions...whew! Makes me tired thinking of it! Hope all of you are done with #22.....I don't know why I always am under the gun to finish on time. But I do know why they call these suicide prints......I have comforted myself by telling myself I can always make a second block if I need it. Ha! The cowards way out!
Best to all,
Barbara