Today's postings

  1. [Baren 40121] Re: Ichibei Iwano and Echizen Hosho (Annie Bissett)
  2. [Baren 40122] Re: Ichibei Iwano and Echizen Hosho (David Bull)
  3. [Baren 40123] I'm happy! (Mark Vosmeier)
  4. [Baren 40124] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification (Blog Manager)
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Message 1
From: Annie Bissett
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:55:58 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40121] Re: Ichibei Iwano and Echizen Hosho
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Wow, Mark, thanks for that link showing Iwano san's papermaking process.
http://www.washiya.com/shop/iwanohousho/kodawarienglish.html
When you see all that goes into making the paper it no longer seems
expensive!

I visited a similar home-based papermaking operation in Shiroishi,
not too far from Sendai in northern Japan, in 2004. I posted some
photos here:
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com/2005/09/japanese-washi.html
Like the Iwano family, the Endo family has been making washi for many
generations. I bought some blank business-card-sized sheets of washi
from Endo san in '04 that I've yet to print on as well as some
postcard-sized washi that prints beautifully. My sense is that these
family papermaking businesses are in grave danger of becoming
extinct. I would love to buy paper for woodblock printing from the
Endo family now that I know what I'm doing, but I can't find them on
the internet and I don't know enough Japanese to figure out how to
reach them. Frustrating.

Annie
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Message 2
From: David Bull
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:10:23 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40122] Re: Ichibei Iwano and Echizen Hosho
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> I would love to buy paper for woodblock printing from
> the Endo family now that I know what I'm doing, but I
> can't find them on the internet and I don't know enough
> Japanese to figure out how to reach them.

Here is their contact info:
http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/shinsan/chusho/dentoukougei/04wasi.htm

And there is a (Japanese) Wikipedia page about their paper:
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/白石和紙

Dave
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Message 3
From: Mark Vosmeier
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:42:02 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40123] I'm happy!
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Today, I received my CD version of "Your First Print" - all in good
order. (It took about nine days.) Thanks, Dave!

I'm happy!

Mark

Digest Appendix

Postings made on [Baren] members' blogs
over the past 24 hours ...

Subject: White Heron in Snow
Posted by: Julio

For my latest print I wanted to include some of the traditional Japanese techniques. Here is the background block which will later be used for three more impressions. Note the traditional kento registration marks. Image size is about 3 X 9.5 inches.

The first color impression shows a very beautiful wood grain pattern
for the background color. The block is made of birch plywood and Japanese hosho was the paper selected for these prints.

The baren flattens out the paper in the color areas leaving behind whites areas with a light embossing (karazuri) effect. Actually what we are seeing is the natural thickness of the paper !

For the next impression I tried a "double" gradation (bokashi). Using the same background block as before a little pigment and paste was applied to both the top and bottom of the block. First I brushed in the gradation at the bottom of the image (pigment area on brush toward the bottom) then carefully turning the brush around (pigment area on the brush now towards top) I brushed on the gradation at the top. Proper brush alignment is key during gradation to keep the paste and pigment areas from messing up. The impression was then taken with the baren. Although not traditional the white cardboard pieces are used to keep the edges of the print smudge free, they flip out of the way while applying color to the block and then flip back in place just before placing the paper on the block.

CIMG2166.JPG

Here is the before and after photo for the "double" bokashi.

Proofing for the desired amount of bokashi turned out to be as tricky as getting the same results on every print. Eventually I settled on one of the darker tones near the right of the photo. In case you are wondering the sharp metal tool in the photo was used to cleanup the small crevices from accumulated pigment.

A third and darker gradation was applied at the top of the image for additional contrast.

The key block was next and a black/blue tone was used for the branches, tree trunk and legs. Not happy with the original heron beak I . . .
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This item is taken from the blog BarenForum Group Weblog.
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Subject: Working Some Greens
Posted by: Annie B

WorkingTheGreens

More studio time this morning. It feels so great to be making progress on this print. Today I worked with the greens. Actually, I got these deep greens by printing blue on top of that yellowish azo green. I still want to develop these front elements a little more. I want them to be very dark so that the hills seem to glow in contrast.

In a few spots the wood grain is coming through in an appealing way:

WoodGrain
Copyright Woodblock Dreams blog

This item is taken from the blog Woodblock Dreams.
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Subject: Pregnancy Portrait
Posted by: Amanda


The drawing on the block.

Here, on the sleeve, I accidentally carved out part of my line. I patched it with some scraps from carving and wood glue, then carved the patch. I'm really surprised it worked.


The carved block with ink.







My stencil to cut the shirt from decorative paper. This was my first time doing chine collé with woodblock. My idea is to do a varied edition and try different papers within the edition.

. . .

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This item is taken from the blog Amanda's Art Blog.
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