Today's postings

  1. [Baren 42876] Last call for Exchange 47 colophon! ("Maria Arango Diener")
  2. [Baren 42877] for Scott Robertson - EX48 ( slinders # comcast.net)
  3. [Baren 42878] Introduction - Ben Szoller (Ben Szoller)
  4. [Baren 42879] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification (Blog Manager)
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Message 1
From: "Maria Arango Diener"
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:14:56 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42876] Last call for Exchange 47 colophon!
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We ended up with 24 participants and I have 21 colophon entries.

If you have not sent in your colophon (print) info, please do so now. If you
don't want to say anything about your print, that's okay but our archivists
always appreciate the complete information about your prints.

http://www.barenforum.org/exchange/exchange_47/exchange_information.php



Thank you! I'm putting the colophon together as we speak and will collate
this weekend.



Maria



[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]

www.1000woodcuts.com

www.artfestivalguide.info

[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]
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Message 2
From: slinders # comcast.net
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:19:51 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42877] for Scott Robertson - EX48
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Scott, please contact me quickly confirming your participation
in EX48! Thank you!

Sharen, ex48 coordinator
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Message 3
From: Ben Szoller
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:14:51 GMT
Subject: [Baren 42878] Introduction - Ben Szoller
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Hello folks,

This is a long-overdue introduction. I've been "lurking" the Barenforum for months now, and boy have I been learning a lot. I signed up officially just before this year's Chinese Zodiak exchange and am happy some have already received my print. Indeed, I've been very happy to receive some too! I haven't been this excited about the mail in a long time--occasional rabbits are a welcome break from bills and junk mail.

I've done printmaking occasionally over the years, for school and stuff, but working in woodshops over the last few years I saw lots of unused "scraps" going to undue waste. Inheriting some tools from my little brother (too impatient for the work I guess), I got to it occasionally on weekends and evenings. Now, it's the highlight of my day. Man is it slow going though. So thank you to Andrew for calling me out, and thanks to all of you for allowing me to listen in on your discussions, without which I'd have given up long ago.

Yes Andrew, this was my first attempt at some Moku Hanga techniques, none without difficulties. There were four blocks, two of which were reduction (providing the two greys and two brownier colours); the blues of the letters, overpass rails and sky shared a block and the same pigment, but the sky was printed seperately as I attempted a gradation (which few of you will be able to tell--I feel a bit like I did a hundred prints, each different than the last!) I won't go into the many challenges I encountered, but one. I printed the keyblock first using sumi (my first time with the stuff) and overprinted the colours using tubed watercolours. I found the sumi bled a lot though, and each colour I printed over top seemed to push the sumi ink around, blurring the lines. In one sense this was a blessing in disguise: as I fumbled with that fine (read thin, not expensive) japanese paper, simple registration was a problem, so those blurred lines covered up plenty of slightly offset colours. Was my paper too soft? The sumi to wet? Did I press too hard?

And just a quick note: I hope the print's not too disturbing. This is a celebration for sure, but I did want to address what a privilege it is to be able to make art, buy paper and supplies even on a limited budget (scrounging for stamp money!) when so many are hungry and without shelter in our streets, here in Toronto anyhow. To all of the year of the rabbit folks out there making their way.

Thanks again, and sorry about the long post. Making up or lost time I guess.

-Ben

Digest Appendix

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

Subject: Spring ahead? Not with THIS print.
Posted by: Sherrie Y

There's a pile of stuff by the front door, ready to be schlepped to the car and then south to Monte Vista tomorrow. I'm delighted that the weather seems to be cooperating for Saturday's field sketching workshop... although I'd be even happier if the word "breezy" weren't in the forecast. (When the National Weather Service says it will be "breezy" around here it usually means hold on to your hat.

[This was a summary of the original entry. The full entry can be viewed here]

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