Today's postings

  1. [Baren 34789] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V42 #4183 (Jan 8, 2008) ("Jean Womack")
  2. [Baren 34790] wood (Barbara Mason)
  3. [Baren 34791] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V42 #4184 (Jan 8, 2008) (Lynn Starun)
  4. [Baren 34792] Re: Blocks in the UK (eli griggs)
  5. [Baren 34793] Re: pressure gauge ("Terry Peart")
  6. [Baren 34794] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification (Blog Manager)
  7. [Baren 34795] Wheel for your press. (Salsbury)
  8. [Baren 34796] A couple technical questions ("Orgren Alex C (Alex)")
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Message 6
From: "Jean Womack"
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 14:25:20 -0800
Subject: [Baren 34789] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V42 #4183 (Jan 8, 2008)
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Just F.Y.I. My son is in Baghdad. He is in the US Army. He says, "We're not fighting the Iraqis, Mom." They don't send people to Saudi Arabia if they drink. It's a dry country. I assume the same is true for Iraq. I am sure this is related to printmaking somehow.
Jean Womack
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Message 1
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 15:55:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 34790] wood
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The baren mall really does not sell wood....
You need to buy quite a bit to make it worthwhile to
ship from Japan (by boat) and it is a real hassle to
get it organized. That being said we have done it but
usually the shipping is just way too much money for
people to pay.
Please do not ask us for one piece of wood...we
cannot facilitate that at all. One needs to buy an
entire piece of plywood and have it cut to size before
shipping. Expensive.
My best to all
Barbara
Mall Manager
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Message 2
From: Lynn Starun
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 17:07:57 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 34791] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V42 #4184 (Jan 8, 2008)
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Hi to Charles & Eli,
Thanks for all your great ideas!! The bicycle wheel
appeals to me to most and in my town we have a
terrific dump/recycling center with a metal area which
can be a great source. I can also see cutting a
circle out of plywood. I can't wait to try out these
ideas!
Thanks so much, guys-
Lynn
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Message 3
From: eli griggs
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 17:11:38 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 34792] Re: Blocks in the UK
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You might try approaching quality custom furniture
shops for cutoffs that are too small or plain grained
for them to bother with saving or using.

Some of the owners of these places are more than happy
to share with other 'woodworkers' and might even give
you some nice small blocks. They also may sell you
some larger boards on occasion. I have picked up some
nice blocks by this method.

Cheers, Eli
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Message 4
From: "Terry Peart"
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 18:21:53 -0800
Subject: [Baren 34793] Re: pressure gauge
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Maria!
I agree about the Whelan! It's a great, well-thought-out press. I had one, and unfortunately recently sold it, and am VERY sorry I did....I'm missing it tremendously. It will be a long wait to save enough to afford another. Kick,kick, kick...(that's me kicking myself).
Advice to all - NEVER get rid of a press you like, give up the husband, the dog - but never the press.
Terry
West Seattle
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Message 5
From: Blog Manager
Date: 9 Jan 2008 04:55:23 -0000
Subject: [Baren 34794] 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. (41 sites checked, five minutes before midnight Eastern time)

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

Site Name: mLee Fine Art

Author: m.Lee
Item: playful week
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com/2008/01/playful-week.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://woodblock.com/roundtable
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://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/
http://bea-gold-retrospective.blogspot.com
http://www.jauntyrakes.blogspot.com
http://sheiko.blogspot.com
http://studio-window.blogspot.com
http://alynn-guerra.blogspot.com
http://web.mac.com/barebonesart/iWeb/site/blog/blog.html
http://curiouslydrawn.blogspot.com
http://veloprint.blogspot.com
http://kathewelch.blogspot.com
http://serendipityartist.wordpress.com
http://ainescannell.blogspot.com
http://www.pistolespress.blogspot.com
http://1000woodcuts.com/latest.html
http://myhermitude.blogspot.com
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Message 6
From: Salsbury
Date: Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:11:48 -0600
Subject: [Baren 34795] Wheel for your press.
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Hi there,

My husband had a press built for me by a machinist he worked with. He
bought a wheel used to lower and raise boat docks. He said he paid about
20 dollars for it as it wasn't perfect. I have no idea what that means as
it looks fine to me. They have more than one size and I am sure it could
be adapted to connect to your press with out to much trouble. It works
perfect for me.

I got excited about the sign up for #36 and thought about joining in. I
have had some health issues this year and haven't done any printing at all.
I do have a wood block piece that I had worked earlier in the year, but
hadn't proofed yet. It fit the size requirement and was carved and ready
to go. So I went to my studio space and spent the afternoon getting set up
to do a proof. Everything went well. The space was the right temp to work
in, the ink mixed perfectly and the press set up with minimal work. I had
scrap paper the right size and test paper ready to go. I pulled a proof
and it was looking great. It is a dragonfly hanging from a cluster of
flowers. I really thought I was going to get to play and then I noticed
the head and face of the insect. Don't know how I managed it, but it looks
like a cartoon character grin smirking up at me. Guess I am not going to
play after all. Am I glad I pulled that proof before I signed up. At
least I got motivated enough to do the proof, and I did get a good laugh
out of it.

Sue Salsbury
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Message 7
From: "Orgren Alex C (Alex)"
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 00:10:36 -0500
Subject: [Baren 34796] A couple technical questions
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Hello everyone,

It's been a while since my last post, but I finally completed my second moku
hanga: our 2007 Christmas Card. (Webshots link below)

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/561874307Nobgkf

It is carved on 5 4"x6" shina blocks (key block, one detail block, and three
color blocks) and printed on Echizen Kozo with Akua Kolor inks and nori.
Including proofs, I printed 150 copies in three batches.

I benefited greatly from Mike Lyon's advice to print drier, and perhaps also
from the better paper (which was a joy to work with). I also kept in mind
David Bull's observations on the importance of being able to print black.
Although I still have some progress to make in that area, I did learn a few
tricks on using the baren to bring out areas that stubbornly resisted
printing. I also still have a lot to learn about moisture management.

As usual, doing this raised a couple technical questions:

1. Key block transfer method
I transferred the drawing onto the key block using the iron/photocopy method
after getting too much smearing with the solvent technique. Perhaps not
coincidentally, I had much more chip-out trouble than before. Does the
iron's heat weaken the glue between plies? I transferred to the color
blocks by pasting thin paper (Usu Mino) key block prints, but I worry about
paper separating from the block when carving fine details.

2. Color consistency
I noticed that the yellow and green printed smooth, even colors in one
printing, but the purple-red did not, despite being far more intense. A
second printing sometimes improved it, but not by much. Does the paper
naturally take up some pigments less evenly than others? Would more
dilution help? I think the effect is smaller than gomazuri but it seems as
though the pigment does not disperse well.

Thanks for any advice you might have.