Today's postings

  1. [Baren 32782] solarplate (Cucamongie # aol.com)
  2. [Baren 32783] Re: solarplate (Barbara Mason)
  3. [Baren 32784] Re: alec dempster new participant to Baren (alec dempster)
  4. [Baren 32785] Re: alec dempster new participant to Baren (Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com)
  5. [Baren 32786] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V38 #3797 (Feb 9, 2007) (Lynn Starun)
  6. [Baren 32787] Re: toning blocks (Nancy McMahon-Cox)
  7. [Baren 32788] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification (Blog Manager)
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Message 1
From: Cucamongie # aol.com
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 08:52:11 EST
Subject: [Baren 32782] solarplate
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Annie, you definitely can print solarplate in relief, and I have used a
baren to print relief, though it takes a LOT of elbow grease, and when I have
done it, I have used a very strong ball bearing baren.

Barbara Mason, any input on this?

best
Sarah
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Message 2
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 07:11:42 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 32783] Re: solarplate
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Annie and Sarah,
yes, you can print solarplate in relief. If you have hardened it very well after washing out, it will work with waterbased ink quite well. I would use an ink you roll on, not brush on. I think you could use a little less energy printing depending on the consistency of the ink and the weight of the paper. Lighter weight paper seems to equal less pressure and looser ink is easier to print. We have printed small plates (8x10) very successfully with a rolling pin using damp paper and waterloving ink. As I recall we mixed the Akua Kolor monotype ink with the intaglio ink to get the perfect consistency to roll out and print well. It took a little experimenting but it did work very well on damp oriental paper. I think we spritzed the paper on both sides right before printing as it was not strong enough to dampen in the normal way. It was very inexpensive paper. The artist I was working with wanted to make relief prints but had no press and few supplies for printmaking, so it was
like printmaking camping but in the end very successful. We turned that ear into a purse....I think she did buy a marble rolling pin to print with.

On another note..my piggy block is done and awaiting ink...I have been having such fun every year using my method of making the image from masking tape and a lino block. Originally my plan was to take the tape off the block and use the block for something else, but I just liked it too much. I now have a whole series of blocks built up this way and only for year end prints. I have used them for countless demonstrations so they have gone far far beyond just an exchange print for the new year.
I admit the pig was a bit of a challenge, just not much you can do with fat and round and smooth. I am in the studio for the next 3 days...so hope to have these little guys on their way very soon. I hardly have time to read the list now that I have returned to full employment, a double edged sword. I like working but I sure miss all the studio time. I am actually starting to write it in on my calendar like an appointment to be sure I get out there.
Best to all,
Barbara
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Message 3
From: alec dempster
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 12:32:57 -0600 (CST)
Subject: [Baren 32784] Re: alec dempster new participant to Baren
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Dear Baren printmakers,

I am a visual artist based in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
I have spent the last year working on a series of 54
woodblock prints. Each one represents an aspect of the
culture and the identity of a region in Mexico
called La Huasteca. The series is called “Lotería Huasteca”.
It takes it’s name from the popular Mexican game
called “lotería” which is played like bingo
however it has illustrations as well as numbers. In addition
each emblem has at least one verse associated with it
which is called out while playing. For this series
Arturo Castillo Tristán has written the verses for my
images with the intention that we will edit the prints in
a game form in the future. Part of the project was
also to use different types of wood which are available
where I live.


You may see the series as well as my other prints
on my website;

www.alecdempster.com

I look forward to your comments, questions and criticism.

Thankyou

Alec Dempster


www.alecdempster.com
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Message 4
From: Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 17:03:30 -0600
Subject: [Baren 32785] Re: alec dempster new participant to Baren
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Alec,

Bienvenido to the Barenforum....your work is amazing .....in the true
style of 'woodcuts'...congratulations !!!

I enjoyed both the 'Loteria' series and also the portraits in the series
"Rostros del Son Jarocho'... please share al little more about your
background and your printmaking process....what tools you use and what
woods you carve...


gracias....Julio Rodriguez (Skokie, Illinois)
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Message 5
From: Lynn Starun
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 16:08:35 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 32786] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V38 #3797 (Feb 9, 2007)
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Hi Group,
I think I'll add my little insights into the hand
strain thing. I've been through a carpal tunnel time
period and then trigger thumbs which appeared when I
began printmaking. The latest is what I think is
caused by inflammation in areas in the palm of my
hand causing trigger thumbs and fingers. I did a
lot of reading about the mechanism of hands--did you
know there are no muscles in your hand! So it seems
to me strengthening your arm muscles would help avoid
problems. Downward dog yoga pose seemed to cure my
tendonistis/carpal tunnel problem. The trigger thing
is because the tendons (?) that need to slide back and
forth through the bands around your fingers get
snagged. Either the bands are too tight or the
tendons are swollen. Prevention is the best remedy,
in my experience. I'm testing out using biking gloves
which have gel in the palm and cut out finger tips. I
think it helped! Sharp tools mean less pressure on
thumbs or palm so that's good. I discovered that the
trigger issue can be helped by long gentle stretching
into the pain. Sure beats surgery!!!
Lynn
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Message 6
From: Nancy McMahon-Cox
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 19:15:08 -0600
Subject: [Baren 32787] Re: toning blocks
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Hey David, Use a highlighter to tone it and it won't swell.
-Ian Ox
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Message 7
From: Blog Manager
Date: 10 Feb 2007 04:55:16 -0000
Subject: [Baren 32788] 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. (29 sites checked, five minutes before midnight Eastern time)

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

Site Name: Belinda Del Pesco Fine Art Blog

Author: Belinda Del Pesco
Item: Monotype & Mixed Media: California Mission
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com/2007/02/monotype-mixed-media-california-mission.html

Author: Belinda Del Pesco
Item: Five More Minutes - Monotype & Watercolor
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com/2005/11/five-more-minutes-monotype-watercolor.html

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

Site Name: Blue Notes - A Printmaking Sojourn

Author: AG
Item: Not Clicking, but Printing Anyway
http://azuregrackle.com/blogs/index.php?blog=2&title=not_clicking_but_printing_anyway&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

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

[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://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
http://vizart.blogspot.com
http://phare-camp.blogspot.com
http://amymstoner.blogspot.com
http://williamleeholtfineart.blogspot.com
http://web.mac.com/g_wohlken/iWeb/Site/Blog/Blog.html
http://curiousmatthew.blogspot.com
http://laine.lainegreenway.com/index.html
http://azuregrackle.com/blogs/index.php?blog=2
http://blog.olansa.co.uk/