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Message 1
From: "M. Bucanelli"
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 10:30:51 -0400
Subject: [Baren 28405] new to baren
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Hi,

I'm new to the forum and a beginner...I live in the mountains, in Central PA..
I am a graphic designer , but 15 years ago, after graduated from the art school I enrolled in many courses, including an introdutory course about linocut. I was living in Brazil.at that time......

So, I would like to start doing linocuts/woodcuts to learn the techniques...
Since I haven't found any workshops close to where I live (northumberland county) I have a few questions
about material...

what is the softer / easier linoleum to carve? I got a linoleum from speedbal, wich is the tanned one, but I found it to be a very thin block and hard to carve.....Is there anything more rubbery???
About wood - ..
I saw somewhere that peach wood would be the softer ---or maybe birch or pine?
What about cherry wood???

Last:
Is there any directory of workshops in the country? I really would love to learn the reduction technique

thank you all

Monica

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Message 2
From: Jeanne Norman Chase
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 07:59:19 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 28406] Re: new to baren
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Welcome Monica

As far as your inquiry about linoleum and being hard to carve.
I have a hot plate when I carve lino and when I want it easy to carve I put it on the hot plate for a little while. It softens up and is very easy to carve.

Happy printing
Jeanne

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Message 3
From: Daniel Dew
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:05:25 -0400
Subject: [Baren 28407] Re: new to baren
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Welcome!
I'm chime in, since a lot of your questions fit into my materials and
techniques (plus I am bored and have a few moments to "talk")
> what is the softer / easier linoleum to carve? I got a linoleum from
> speedbal, wich is the tanned one, but I found it to be a very thin
> block and hard to carve.....Is there anything more rubbery???
There is, but the tan or gray speedball is the best. When I carve, I
start with a little pressure and cut a shallow groove. If I need it
deeper, I can always go back over the first cut (using it as a guide)
and add more pressure. Oh yeah, it sounds as though you are using the
unmounted Speedball blocks. Always mount the blocks, either on
masonite of your own or buy them with the composite wood already
attached (just don't get the whole block wet when cleaning or it will
warp!). I've tried using the Speedball linoleum without a backing and
it is a nightmare.
> About wood - ..
> I saw somewhere that peach wood would be the softer ---or maybe birch
> or pine?
> What about cherry wood???
When I am not using lino blocks, I like to use cherry. Very tight
grain and easy enough to carve.
>  
> Last:
> Is there any directory of workshops in the country? I really would
> love to learn the reduction technique
Wow, a big one! If you find a workshop on reduction printing, let me
know! I've never seen or heard of one.
Reduction is my absolute favorite way of working, but I have learned it
all by trial and error. Here are some things I have learned.
- REGISTRATION IS KING! Without proper registration, everything falls
apart.
- Work light to dark
- Think ahead
check out my sight for some reductions I've done, my favorites being:
http://dandew.com/isaiah40_31.htm (17 colors)
http://dandew.com/proverbs15_30.htm (7 colors)
http://dandew.com/meg_tina.htm (look at the detail for
thin lines)
All on linoleum. All reductions.
I am currently working on a reduction and am into the 22nd color!
Quite tricky.

Daniel L. Dew

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Message 4
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 08:08:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 28408] Re: new to baren
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Monica,
If you buy lino from McClains printmaking supply,, www.imcclains.com it is from the Portland LIno block company and is made from the best stuff available in the world, I think it comes from Germany. You will find it a joy to carve. Also all the blocks are routed on the edge and so precise that if you use a registration board, you can drop the blocks in and they will line up almost perfectly.
Best to you,
Barbara

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Message 5
From: bridget pilip
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 08:25:29 -0700
Subject: [Baren 28409] Re: new to baren
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Monica:
I have used unmounted linoleum extensively (bought a large roll of
battleship gray) mostly for reductive. Some prints have been as large as
18x30.
The secret for easy carving is a warm iron.
Just keep a crappy iron turned on when you are carving and warm each
section as you cut...I pull all of my prints by hand so I use a rolling
pin and then finish with the back of wooden spoon...
I think my mother tried to tell me there were other uses for these
implements...
But, I haven't found a need elsewhere in the home.
Bridget ( Baren Mall Assistant)
p.s.
Since the linoleum is unmounted I just eyeball the placement for the
next color and set the bottom edge and "roll" the rest into place.
It is almost like you would do with paper. As you create more reductions
the linoleum becomes very flimsy...
I know some bareners are cringing at the thought of no registration
marks...but just getting the bottom lined up has worked extremely well
for me.

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Message 6
From: "Ellen Shipley"
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 08:53:46 -0700
Subject: [Baren 28410] Re: Blogging thoughts
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Born in the valley of the machine smashing Luddites

I like that! What an image. What valley is that, if I may ask? I'm always throwing around the phrase and it would be nice to know where it originates. 8-]

Ellen Shipley, CA

http://pressing-issues.blogspot.com/
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/philippaschuyler/my_photos

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Message 7
From: "Ellen Shipley"
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 09:06:58 -0700
Subject: [Baren 28411] Re: new to baren
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Oh my goodness Daniel, those are reduction blocks?! Amazing. I've always been afraid to try one, tho a couple of people in my printmaking class have given it a try. It looks really neat when it works. 8-]

Ellen Shipley, CA

http://pressing-issues.blogspot.com/
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/philippaschuyler/my_photos

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Message 8
From: "Doug"
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 10:40:28 -0600
Subject: [Baren 28412] Daniel Dew
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Those prints are awe inspiring, Daniel! I have done a couple of reductions,
and a whole lot of misstarts and misprints. I think you should consider
doing a workshop.
Doug
www.haugdesigns.com
719/473.4284

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Message 9
From: Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 15:22:54 -0500
Subject: [Baren 28413] Re: new to baren
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Welcome to all the new members....

I think one of the great things about Baren is that you are never quite
sure who is lurking around reading our posts or looking back at the seven
years worth of archives.....because subscribing to the forum is automatic
and not moderated... at anytime any number of new comers could be
'checking' us out....sometimes for days..sometimes for weeks....just
waiting for the right moment to post that very first message to the group.
And yet all the old-timers are there too....getting their daily dose of
Baren stuff......and just when you think there is nobody around...they
come to the rescue with some terrific tip or encouragement.. With over 300
members onboard, Baren posts are reaching printmakers in all parts of the
world.

The work I seen online by new members is really outstanding.......Ellen,
Annie, Jim, Doug and all the other 'new' bareners....welcome and thanks
for sharing
your printmaking passion with the group.


Julio Rodriguez (Skokie, Illinois)

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