Today's postings

  1. [Baren 31054] Re: Finding The Time or The Great Escape (b.patera # att.net)
  2. [Baren 31055] Andy's new career ("Jean Womack")
  3. [Baren 31056] Time? thanks! ("Lee Churchill")
  4. [Baren 31057] Andy's Great Escape (annie bissett)
  5. [Baren 31058] summer plans ("Jean Womack")
  6. [Baren 31059] Re: Finding The Time or The Great Escape (Tyrus Clutter)
  7. [Baren 31060] Pigments (cucamongie # aol.com)
  8. [Baren 31061] p.s. on pigments (cucamongie # aol.com)
  9. [Baren 31062] Re: Pigments (Charles Morgan)
  10. [Baren 31063] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification (Blog Manager)
  11. [Baren 31064] Re: Question about using acrylic paints (Amy Greenan)
  12. [Baren 31065] Re: Amy's Prints (Amy Greenan)
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Message 1
From: b.patera # att.net
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 16:16:29 +0000
Subject: [Baren 31054] Re: Finding The Time or The Great Escape
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Know it's rather scary but I'm sure that with your talent you will be successful.

Good Luck,
Barbara Patera
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Message 2
From: "Jean Womack"
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 09:41:25 -0700
Subject: [Baren 31055] Andy's new career
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[Baren] Daily DigestAndy, it looks like you got the "golden handshake," from your citadel of higher learning. Congratulations on your rebirth as a full time engraver. I read a book jacket by a watercolorist once who said that he was making more money selling watercolors than he could have done doing anything else. As for me, I guess I just have not yet found my market niche. Maria inspires me. Maybe I'll call mine "400 dogs." Or "56 Views of the San Francisco Bay."

Jean Womack
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Message 3
From: "Lee Churchill"
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 10:41:44 -0600
Subject: [Baren 31056] Time? thanks!
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Hi All,
Thanks so much for all your input on the time issue. It's nice to hear that even if there's not one perfect solution, then at least I'm not alone! Sadly, well not really - my husband is 'trained' - he came that way, and truly does do at least half of the housework, if not more (at the times it gets done). *sigh* I do keep asking for a mail order bride but he won't go for it...yet.
I liked the suggestion of taking artwork to work and I might be able to get a flexed work schedule so I could have a longer weekend. I really can't get up at 5 AM, the sleep needed on Saturday to catch up ruins the weekend. In school it was art 16 hours a day everyday but I think I will have to reorganize my thinking and do as many of you seem to, work in small bits here and there with (hopefully) larger intervals on weekends, vacation etc. I just have to find the will power to tell my very much adored husband that I can't spend all my spare time with him... and proceed to my latest dilemma which is deciding whether I want to go to an artist retreat (Emma Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada) or buy a printing press. *Sigh* it's great that those are my choices, but so hard to decide which my lustful heart wants more...time or equipment!
I hope everyone is well.
Lee
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Message 4
From: annie bissett
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 13:34:29 -0400
Subject: [Baren 31057] Andy's Great Escape
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Andy, congratulations! I'm so happy for you that life has extended you this
opportunity to "take the leap" into fulltime engraving. I know you've got
what it takes to make a success of it, and I can't wait to see how this all
unfolds for you. Keep us posted, OK?

Best, Annie B
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Message 5
From: "Jean Womack"
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 11:15:35 -0700
Subject: [Baren 31058] summer plans
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[Baren] Daily DigestBy the way, since summer is upon us, I'd like to welcome visitors from Baren to the San Francisco Bay Area. I have a spare bedroom available for you, with a commanding view of the hills to the east. From the front of the house I can see the Golden Gate Bridge when there's no fog. There's easy access to public transportation directly into San Francisco, which takes about 40 minutes. It's a 15 minute drive to Berkeley. I have a small one room studio with a 13" x 23" no-name press, if your idea of a vacation is printing etching plates. You would have to put up with a young dog, an over-full house, full of books and other stuff, not particularly neat and clean, but livable. The house is 100 years old, definitely not Bauhaus style. Please give me a little advance warning, 510-237-5540 or 510-375-1722. If I am not working that day, I'd love to show you around, as Jan Telfer can testify to. Otherwise, you're on your own.

Jean Womack
Richmond, California, USA
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Message 6
From: Tyrus Clutter
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 17:13:59 -0400
Subject: [Baren 31059] Re: Finding The Time or The Great Escape
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I must admit that I really miss full-time teaching for the fact that it
actually created MORE time for doing my own work. The three months in the
summer provided an uninterrupted time in an empty print studio. The studio
was clean after the end of the year and I could place my state proofs all
over the wall so it was easy to check progress.

My role as director now keeps me busy with administrative tasks which
greatly limits my art production time. Granted, I tell people I am married
to my artwork because I would never have time to do it if I was in a
relationship. The housework just doesn't get done. I make the effort to at
least be sketching or drawing every week, even if I can't get into the
studio.

The good news is that I will be moving from teaching art history to
printmaking starting in the spring (after a short teaching stint in Italy in
the fall). Teaching studio classes is always a good way to keep the
production up because I feel I need to be on top of things and have
plates/blocks in various states so that I can use them for demonstration
purposes. In fact, it was by doing exchanges for Baren and having to teach
various printmaking techniques while in Idaho that I actually finally saw
myself as a printmaker. There is nothing like having to teach something, and
a deadline, to make you work.

tyrus

Tyrus Clutter
Director, Christians in the Visual Arts
255 Grapevine Road
Wenham, MA 01984

978-867-4128: Office
978-867-4125: Fax
www.civa.org

Christians in the Visual Arts is the premier visual arts organization
connecting the artist, the Church, and the culture.
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Message 7
From: cucamongie # aol.com
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 20:50:18 -0400
Subject: [Baren 31060] Pigments
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Linda, everyone has their own preference, but I DEFINITELY

prefer the Guerra pigments to the powdered variety. They are much safer for your health, plus much less hassle as you don't have to fuss with mixing them. They are VERY concentrated so a little goes a very long way. There's no reason to have the mess of powder plus the danger of breathing in the pigments.

my two cents,
Sarah
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Message 8
From: cucamongie # aol.com
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 21:02:23 -0400
Subject: [Baren 31061] p.s. on pigments
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Bobbi, you mentioned not using pigments because of being chemically sensitive. I think you will find that if you use the pigment dispersons from Guerra, you will be fine. I am EXTREMELY sensitive to chemicals and have not had a problem with these. There is no dust because they are already dispersed in water.

Another idea would be to use the Akua Kolor inks, Susan Rostow spent a lot of time looking into ingredients that are not toxic. you can see more on her website
http://www.waterbasedinks.com/

happy printing!
Sarah
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Message 9
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 18:38:31 -0700
Subject: [Baren 31062] Re: Pigments
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>Linda, everyone has their own preference, but I DEFINITELY
>prefer the Guerra pigments to the powdered variety. They are much safer
>for your health, plus much less hassle as you don't have to fuss with
>mixing them. They are VERY concentrated so a little goes a very long
>way. There's no reason to have the mess of powder plus the danger of
>breathing in the pigments.
>
>my two cents,
>Sarah

I have been using Guerra pigment dispersions for about a year, and I agree
completely with Sarah. The Guerra dispersions are in ethylene glycol, I
believe. At any rate, they mix in oil as well as in water. I mix my own
etching inks by using the Guerra dispersions and clear etching ink base
(Graphic Chemical for one example, although others work as well). I have
also used the Guerra dispersions to make screen printing inks with
wallpaper paste as a base. The folks at Guerra are very friendly and
reliable, and they give good advice. They are very prompt shipping out
orders ... their service is next to none.

Cheers ..... Charles
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Message 10
From: Blog Manager
Date: 13 Jun 2006 03:55:05 -0000
Subject: [Baren 31063] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification
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This is an automatic update message being sent to [Baren] by the forum blog software.

The following new entries were found on the listed printmaker's websites during the past 24 hours. (21 sites checked, five minutes before midnight Eastern time)

*****************

Site Name: m.Lee Fine Art

Author: m.Lee
Item: Fall Tree
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com/2006/06/fall-tree.html

*****************

[Baren] members: if you have a printmaking blog (or a website with a published ATOM feed), and wish it to be included in this daily checklist, please write to the Baren Blog Manager at:
http://barenforum.org/contact_baren.php

For reference, sites/blogs currently being checked are:
http://barenforum.org/blog
http://woodblock.com
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com
http://studiodiary.blogspot.com
http://larimerart.blogspot.com
http://artflights.blogspot.com
http://perfect-press.blogspot.com
http://printmakersmaterials.blogspot.com
http://mlyon.com/blog
http://room535.blogspot.com
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com
http://snowgum.blogspot.com
http://onthisblock.blogspot.com
http://pressing-issues.blogspot.com
http://www.1000woodcuts.com
http://theitinerantartist.blogspot.com
http://PLawing-Printmaker.blogspot.com
http://readdevine.blogspot.com
http://mokuhankan.com/conversations
http://mokuhankan.com
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com
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Message 11
From: Amy Greenan
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 23:57:09 -0400
Subject: [Baren 31064] Re: Question about using acrylic paints
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Ellen,

I did post that book over at LiveJournal. :)

Yep, gouache. It worked well enough, and like I said, at the Hanga
workshop that was one of materials they suggested could be used as
"ink". Mixed with the nori on the block, it worked pretty well!

Amy Greenan
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Message 12
From: Amy Greenan
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:07:31 -0400
Subject: [Baren 31065] Re: Amy's Prints
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Annie,

I did have to work VERY quickly when I was printing them. I made a
pretty big mess, and I probably looked like a madwoman while making
them. ;) It was fun, and an interesting experience, though.

And thanks to the others who have said kind things about my prints. I
really appreciate it!

I'm also enjoying the discussion about making time for your art. I
worked as a part-time artist for many years after graduating college,
working in stifling office jobs, until I finally decided to go to grad
school so that I could take the time to focus on my art, really give
myself a chance to "be an artist" and set myself up so that I could
find jobs that related to art (teaching, museum/gallery work,
criticism). I just finished my first year and was surprised to find
that it was still hard to find the time to be in my studio with all the
other obligations I have as a TA, etc.

Anyway... I agree with what some others have said. You make
appointments to be in your studio, and stick to them. It's also good to
always have a sketchbook or journal and any kind of writing/drawing
implement on hand at all times -- you never know when you will have an
extra spare minute to sketch or jot down an idea.

It's a tough battle, but we are worth it, yes?

I recently also realized that if I learn to cut back in other areas of
my life, I might not need to work so hard to make money to pay bills,
and spend more time on the things that matter to me. I've figured out
that my time is worth more to me than an hourly wage. Now, to figure
out how to follow that without starving...

Best to you all,

Amy Greenan