Today's postings
- [Baren 31026] Re: Baren Digest (old) V35 #3507 ("Marilynn Smith")
- [Baren 31027] Re: Time? (Sharri LaPierre)
- [Baren 31028] Amy's Prints, Finding the Time (annie bissett)
- [Baren 31029] about using acrylics for printmaking (Bobbi Chukran)
- [Baren 31030] about using acrylics for printmaking (Barbara Mason)
- [Baren 31031] Re: about using acrylics for printmaking (Bobbi Chukran)
- [Baren 31032] Re: about using acrylics for printmaking (Reneeaugrin # aol.com)
- [Baren 31033] Re: about using acrylics for printmaking (Bobbi Chukran)
- [Baren 31034] Re: about using acrylics for printmaking (Barbara Mason)
- [Baren 31035] Re: Amy's Prints, Finding the Time (edmund # michaelfraley.com)
- [Baren 31036] Re: Amy's Prints, Finding the Time (Bobbi Chukran)
- [Baren 31037] re time ("hanna_platt # excite.com")
Message 1
From: "Marilynn Smith"
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 10:02:35 -0600
Subject: [Baren 31026] Re: Baren Digest (old) V35 #3507
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Art time is tough. I can not be one who sets aside a precise time each day.
My creative juices come and go. My husband will want the day for a trip
somewhere or a friend needs something. We are retired and I am his friend
and companion. Right now, here in Cabo, he has no project, so he want s a
lot of my time. I gave up on much housework ages ago. I had to as a full
time student with 2 kids at home, never would have gotten done if I had
not. Now when I have a project I am working on I simply say today is my
work day and vanish to outside on the terrace or off to the pool area for
carving. Ohterwise for now it is the kitchen counter where I pull prints.
I have found small spaces in the day are okay, I do not have to put in an 8
hour day, just enough for me to be creative. I can not stop doing my
artwork, it is part of my soul. I become cranky when I have no time for
doing art. So my husgand has to just let me have that time. If I find I am
blocked I take a sketchbook somewhere for as many days as I can and just
force myuself to draw, it soon loosens up and things start to appen.
Marilynn
My creative juices come and go. My husband will want the day for a trip
somewhere or a friend needs something. We are retired and I am his friend
and companion. Right now, here in Cabo, he has no project, so he want s a
lot of my time. I gave up on much housework ages ago. I had to as a full
time student with 2 kids at home, never would have gotten done if I had
not. Now when I have a project I am working on I simply say today is my
work day and vanish to outside on the terrace or off to the pool area for
carving. Ohterwise for now it is the kitchen counter where I pull prints.
I have found small spaces in the day are okay, I do not have to put in an 8
hour day, just enough for me to be creative. I can not stop doing my
artwork, it is part of my soul. I become cranky when I have no time for
doing art. So my husgand has to just let me have that time. If I find I am
blocked I take a sketchbook somewhere for as many days as I can and just
force myuself to draw, it soon loosens up and things start to appen.
Marilynn
Message 2
From: Sharri LaPierre
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 10:12:27 -0700
Subject: [Baren 31027] Re: Time?
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Lee,
You have expressed the theme of every female artists life. Not enough
time. As someone once said, "Every artist needs a wife." My solution
to the dilemma, since retirement, is to delegate days instead of hours.
At least four days a week are Absolute Art days, the others may be
interrupted, but not the AA days. I tried doing delegated hours, but
that didn't work for me. Trying to do chores first didn't work either
- I never seemed to get through the chores in time, or with enough
energy left for art. Good luck finding your personal solution! If all
else fails, find a wife - or I like Barbara's idea: train a husband,
though mine is untrainable. sigh.
Cheers,
Sharri
You have expressed the theme of every female artists life. Not enough
time. As someone once said, "Every artist needs a wife." My solution
to the dilemma, since retirement, is to delegate days instead of hours.
At least four days a week are Absolute Art days, the others may be
interrupted, but not the AA days. I tried doing delegated hours, but
that didn't work for me. Trying to do chores first didn't work either
- I never seemed to get through the chores in time, or with enough
energy left for art. Good luck finding your personal solution! If all
else fails, find a wife - or I like Barbara's idea: train a husband,
though mine is untrainable. sigh.
Cheers,
Sharri
Message 3
From: annie bissett
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 14:03:27 -0400
Subject: [Baren 31028] Amy's Prints, Finding the Time
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Thanks, Amy G, for the link to your "Sky & Steel" prints.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agreenan/84960139/
I really enjoyed looking at them. You did a great job working with acrylics;
you must have had to work very quickly. I'm just beginning to explore using
monoprinting with my woodblock prints, so I was especially interested in
that aspect of your work. It's fun being a beginner! What I especially love
about it is that I don't yet know what's "impossible," so I assume anything
can be done if I can just figure out how...
I'm enjoying the discussion stimulated by Lee's question about finding the
time to make art. I'm an illustrator, which theoretically keeps me connected
with my creative self during my work day, but more often than not that isn't
really the case. Although some of my clients give me a lot of latitude to
interpret their topics in my own way, I often feel more like a pair of hired
hands whose job it is to read the client's mind and render their
preconceived mental image. It can be quite taxing, as I'm not actually a
mind reader. So, like most of us, I have to be very diligent in carving out
time to work on my own art, and sometimes I go for several weeks without
being able to find a large enough block of time to do a printing session. I
get very frustrated sometimes and feel like I'll explode just from holding
back the flow of ideas! What works best for me is to schedule the time just
like I do for my jobs and then stick to it whether or not I feel like the
"muse" is there.
Oh for a wealthy patron.
Annie B
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agreenan/84960139/
I really enjoyed looking at them. You did a great job working with acrylics;
you must have had to work very quickly. I'm just beginning to explore using
monoprinting with my woodblock prints, so I was especially interested in
that aspect of your work. It's fun being a beginner! What I especially love
about it is that I don't yet know what's "impossible," so I assume anything
can be done if I can just figure out how...
I'm enjoying the discussion stimulated by Lee's question about finding the
time to make art. I'm an illustrator, which theoretically keeps me connected
with my creative self during my work day, but more often than not that isn't
really the case. Although some of my clients give me a lot of latitude to
interpret their topics in my own way, I often feel more like a pair of hired
hands whose job it is to read the client's mind and render their
preconceived mental image. It can be quite taxing, as I'm not actually a
mind reader. So, like most of us, I have to be very diligent in carving out
time to work on my own art, and sometimes I go for several weeks without
being able to find a large enough block of time to do a printing session. I
get very frustrated sometimes and feel like I'll explode just from holding
back the flow of ideas! What works best for me is to schedule the time just
like I do for my jobs and then stick to it whether or not I feel like the
"muse" is there.
Oh for a wealthy patron.
Annie B
Message 4
From: Bobbi Chukran
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 13:22:56 -0500
Subject: [Baren 31029] about using acrylics for printmaking
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After pondering using the gouache, as Amy G. suggested, I started
thinking. What makes waterbased inks different from the acrylic
paints? Mostly, they are stickier and take longer to dry.
I rooted around, found an old bottle of acrylic "retardant" which
makes the drying time longer, and thins out the paint without making
it watery. I mixed a little with the paint, and it worked! I need
to experiment more with different papers, etc. but I'm encouraged.
I'm still going to try the gouache, though.
I wonder....isn't the possibility of smearing an issue with prints
done with waterbased inks, also?
And WHY doesn't somebody invent a waterbased, acrylic, easy to clean
up, waterproof when dry, printmaking ink? They make thin acrylic
inks, why not inks for printmaking??
Bobbi C.
http://www.bobbichukran.com/woodblock-prints.html
two little woodblock prints...
thinking. What makes waterbased inks different from the acrylic
paints? Mostly, they are stickier and take longer to dry.
I rooted around, found an old bottle of acrylic "retardant" which
makes the drying time longer, and thins out the paint without making
it watery. I mixed a little with the paint, and it worked! I need
to experiment more with different papers, etc. but I'm encouraged.
I'm still going to try the gouache, though.
I wonder....isn't the possibility of smearing an issue with prints
done with waterbased inks, also?
And WHY doesn't somebody invent a waterbased, acrylic, easy to clean
up, waterproof when dry, printmaking ink? They make thin acrylic
inks, why not inks for printmaking??
Bobbi C.
http://www.bobbichukran.com/woodblock-prints.html
two little woodblock prints...
Message 5
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 12:12:00 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 31030] about using acrylics for printmaking
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Bobbi,
I am no chemist, but the binder in Acrylic paint is a type of plastic (polymer) and that is the reason they do dry fast. Most other waterbased inks use a gum as a binder, like gum arabic. Some use proplyene glycol, I think this is a type of starch. Akua Kolor uses honey as a binder but also contains a gum. If you have not tried it I recommend doing so.It does not dry until it is on the paper and you can print with dry paper. www.waterbasedinks.com Are you trying to use up supplies you already have?
Why are you not using pigment and water? Are you just adverse to saving money?
It is by far the cheapest as no one has to mix it up for you and add stuff to it to make it work well. You can also add some pigment to other types of paint to get more saturated colors, I have a friend who uses my mixed pigments in her mixed media work. I mix a paste with a little alcohol and the pigment and then add a tiny drop of this paste to water when I print. A little goes an enormously long way. I am still using pigment I got about 4 oz of 5 years ago...of course some colors have been used up but some have not. I store it in air tight plastic containers. I think Dave uses small instant coffee jars to store his pigments.
The reason the pigment does not smear with waterbased ink is the paper and the sizing on the paper. Western paper is sized internally when it is made. Oriental paper is very long fibered, which makes it very strong, and sized on the surface. Always print on the smooth or sized side of the paper. The sizing holds the pigment in place and keeps it from bleeding. It can offset if your paper is too wet or you used too much pigment and paste. So if it did, you would know you used too much pigment or your paper was way too wet. It is the biggest mistake beginners make, having everything too wet.
Can you come to the summit for instrution???? We will be most happy to help you!
Iliked your work and am impressed you actually published a novel. Good job!
Best to you,
Barbara
I am no chemist, but the binder in Acrylic paint is a type of plastic (polymer) and that is the reason they do dry fast. Most other waterbased inks use a gum as a binder, like gum arabic. Some use proplyene glycol, I think this is a type of starch. Akua Kolor uses honey as a binder but also contains a gum. If you have not tried it I recommend doing so.It does not dry until it is on the paper and you can print with dry paper. www.waterbasedinks.com Are you trying to use up supplies you already have?
Why are you not using pigment and water? Are you just adverse to saving money?
It is by far the cheapest as no one has to mix it up for you and add stuff to it to make it work well. You can also add some pigment to other types of paint to get more saturated colors, I have a friend who uses my mixed pigments in her mixed media work. I mix a paste with a little alcohol and the pigment and then add a tiny drop of this paste to water when I print. A little goes an enormously long way. I am still using pigment I got about 4 oz of 5 years ago...of course some colors have been used up but some have not. I store it in air tight plastic containers. I think Dave uses small instant coffee jars to store his pigments.
The reason the pigment does not smear with waterbased ink is the paper and the sizing on the paper. Western paper is sized internally when it is made. Oriental paper is very long fibered, which makes it very strong, and sized on the surface. Always print on the smooth or sized side of the paper. The sizing holds the pigment in place and keeps it from bleeding. It can offset if your paper is too wet or you used too much pigment and paste. So if it did, you would know you used too much pigment or your paper was way too wet. It is the biggest mistake beginners make, having everything too wet.
Can you come to the summit for instrution???? We will be most happy to help you!
Iliked your work and am impressed you actually published a novel. Good job!
Best to you,
Barbara
Message 6
From: Bobbi Chukran
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 14:39:23 -0500
Subject: [Baren 31031] Re: about using acrylics for printmaking
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> If you have not tried it I recommend doing so.It does not dry until
>it is on the paper and you can print with dry paper.
>www.waterbasedinks.com Are you
>trying to use up supplies you already have?z>
Not necessarily, but I don't want to spend a lot of money on
something until I know it'll do what I need, either. Basically, I
need an ink, that when dry, I can paint back over with watercolors,
markers or acrylics. Basically, an ink that won't smear if it gets
wet again.
I also don't use pigments because of the dust issues. I'm extremely
allergic to most art materials, and am also chemically sensitive
(this comes from having worked in a printshop, BTW, where they didn't
have adequate ventilation for their solvents and oil-based inks).
I also like printing on watercolor papers, or other types of papers,
not necessarily the Oriental papers.
>Can you come to the summit for instrution????
>
Afraid not....I'm pretty much stuck at home right now.
Thanks for the information; I'll check out the website.
Bobbi C.
>it is on the paper and you can print with dry paper.
>www.waterbasedinks.com Are you
>trying to use up supplies you already have?z>
Not necessarily, but I don't want to spend a lot of money on
something until I know it'll do what I need, either. Basically, I
need an ink, that when dry, I can paint back over with watercolors,
markers or acrylics. Basically, an ink that won't smear if it gets
wet again.
I also don't use pigments because of the dust issues. I'm extremely
allergic to most art materials, and am also chemically sensitive
(this comes from having worked in a printshop, BTW, where they didn't
have adequate ventilation for their solvents and oil-based inks).
I also like printing on watercolor papers, or other types of papers,
not necessarily the Oriental papers.
>Can you come to the summit for instrution????
>
Afraid not....I'm pretty much stuck at home right now.
Thanks for the information; I'll check out the website.
Bobbi C.
Message 7
From: Reneeaugrin # aol.com
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 16:16:55 EDT
Subject: [Baren 31032] Re: about using acrylics for printmaking
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Hi everyone,
Dan Smith makes a watersoluable ink for relief printing--I think it must be
acrylic as it does not re-wet or smudge when dry.
I get really cranky also when there seems to be no time to work, my family
just has had to learn to leave me to my work--I make a lot of watercolor
sketches, catch as catch can, in Oregon your timing has to be really good for
landscape painting with the rain and all. But I put these sketches on the studio
walls and little by little one will be interesting or challenging enough to
make into a print. I have to work a little at a time whenever I can. Like
carving while my son does his homework, I am available to help him, but also
can accomplish something. The house work--Hah! Somehow everything gets
done--well, good enough. I also like the idea of hanging out in the studio and
just start organizing things until art happens.
Cheers to all.
Renee
Dan Smith makes a watersoluable ink for relief printing--I think it must be
acrylic as it does not re-wet or smudge when dry.
I get really cranky also when there seems to be no time to work, my family
just has had to learn to leave me to my work--I make a lot of watercolor
sketches, catch as catch can, in Oregon your timing has to be really good for
landscape painting with the rain and all. But I put these sketches on the studio
walls and little by little one will be interesting or challenging enough to
make into a print. I have to work a little at a time whenever I can. Like
carving while my son does his homework, I am available to help him, but also
can accomplish something. The house work--Hah! Somehow everything gets
done--well, good enough. I also like the idea of hanging out in the studio and
just start organizing things until art happens.
Cheers to all.
Renee
Message 8
From: Bobbi Chukran
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 15:18:35 -0500
Subject: [Baren 31033] Re: about using acrylics for printmaking
Send Message: To this poster
>Hi everyone,
>
>Dan Smith makes a watersoluable ink for relief printing--I think it
>must be acrylic as it does not re-wet or smudge when dry.
>
Thanks, Renee. This sounds like what I was looking for.
bobbi c.
>
>Dan Smith makes a watersoluable ink for relief printing--I think it
>must be acrylic as it does not re-wet or smudge when dry.
>
Thanks, Renee. This sounds like what I was looking for.
bobbi c.
Message 9
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 13:28:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 31034] Re: about using acrylics for printmaking
Send Message: To this poster
Bobbi,
You can buy the pigment in suspension from Gurerra in New Your City and several catalogs have it also.
You can paint over pigment...I am not sure about the akua kolor. I doubt you can get watercolor to stick to it, but I have not tried it. Ask them, they are real nice.
Barbara
You can buy the pigment in suspension from Gurerra in New Your City and several catalogs have it also.
You can paint over pigment...I am not sure about the akua kolor. I doubt you can get watercolor to stick to it, but I have not tried it. Ask them, they are real nice.
Barbara
Message 10
From: edmund # michaelfraley.com
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 17:35:26 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [Baren 31035] Re: Amy's Prints, Finding the Time
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I also enjoyed Amy's prints, and especially the book making aspect of it.
I'm new to the concept of fine art book making, which sounds really
intriguing. Of course, I'm new to so many things. If anyone knows of web
links to the subject, I'd appreciate knowing them. I've looked, but
perhaps I'm not using the correct key words.
My "time" situation is similar to Annie's, I imagine, though I find my
creative energy diminished through an office atmosphere. I find a certain
amount of creativity in graphic design in my job. As a matter of fact,
TPTB would probably like more of my energy devoted to designing material
for advertising clients, but realistically I'm more valuable to them as
the last safeguard of quality/accuracy before things go out on the web.
ANYWAY, as I often tell my wife, I'm like the shoemaker with the barefoot
children. Once the creative spark is beaten out of me through the course
of the day, there's little energy left for my own projects. But, I still
manage, pestering blog watchers with generally one entry per month.
Thanks to all,
== MEF
I'm new to the concept of fine art book making, which sounds really
intriguing. Of course, I'm new to so many things. If anyone knows of web
links to the subject, I'd appreciate knowing them. I've looked, but
perhaps I'm not using the correct key words.
My "time" situation is similar to Annie's, I imagine, though I find my
creative energy diminished through an office atmosphere. I find a certain
amount of creativity in graphic design in my job. As a matter of fact,
TPTB would probably like more of my energy devoted to designing material
for advertising clients, but realistically I'm more valuable to them as
the last safeguard of quality/accuracy before things go out on the web.
ANYWAY, as I often tell my wife, I'm like the shoemaker with the barefoot
children. Once the creative spark is beaten out of me through the course
of the day, there's little energy left for my own projects. But, I still
manage, pestering blog watchers with generally one entry per month.
Thanks to all,
== MEF
Message 11
From: Bobbi Chukran
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 16:36:34 -0500
Subject: [Baren 31036] Re: Amy's Prints, Finding the Time
Send Message: To this poster
>I also enjoyed Amy's prints, and especially the book making aspect of it.
>I'm new to the concept of fine art book making, which sounds really
>intriguing. Of course, I'm new to so many things. If anyone knows of web
>links to the subject, I'd appreciate knowing them. I've looked, but
>perhaps I'm not using the correct key words.
>
Hi MEF,
There are tons of sites online with handmade books. Do a Google for
the following terms:
book arts
handmade books
artists books
artists' books
limited edition artists' books
miniature books
If you find one, follow any links on them. This will take you days
to finish.....
Also, I have a links page on my site for book stuff:
http://www.bobbichukran.com/book-arts-links.html
And have fun!
Bobbi C.
>I'm new to the concept of fine art book making, which sounds really
>intriguing. Of course, I'm new to so many things. If anyone knows of web
>links to the subject, I'd appreciate knowing them. I've looked, but
>perhaps I'm not using the correct key words.
>
Hi MEF,
There are tons of sites online with handmade books. Do a Google for
the following terms:
book arts
handmade books
artists books
artists' books
limited edition artists' books
miniature books
If you find one, follow any links on them. This will take you days
to finish.....
Also, I have a links page on my site for book stuff:
http://www.bobbichukran.com/book-arts-links.html
And have fun!
Bobbi C.
Message 12
From: "hanna_platt # excite.com"
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 18:43:21 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [Baren 31037] re time
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Lee,
I quit my 8 hour a day 5 days a week screen printing job. Now I drive a beer cart at a golf course 3 or 4 days a week. I get one day for "life" two or three days if I'm lucky for art and and the rest of the days for work. I don't get much art work done if it is cut up into one or two hours of time here and there. I do much better when i have whole days to work on art. I'm comfortably poor and a bit of a slob as well. Also if I'm not working, cleaning, gardening, eating or relaxing at at home I'm working on art and thats about it, thats my life. I didn't get any artwork done this last week because spent my art time fishing and relaxing. Maybe you could work longer hours and have more days off. I'm also lucky that in that i have a supportive and understanding husband.
viza