[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking.

Baren Digest              Saturday, 11 April 1998      Volume 03 : Number 124

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From: jimandkatemundie@juno.com (James G Mundie)
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 10:55:36 -0400
Subject: [Baren 602] Welcome Don, more about Gayle's prints 

Welcome aboard, Don.
	I'm a bit omnivorous print-wise myself (oily as opposed to
watery, as well).  I look forward to seeing your work and reading your
contributions to Baren.
***

	As I mentioned yesterday, Gayle sent me two new woodcuts in the
mail-- representative of "my" needle-scratching/razor cutting technique. 
If I'm not mistaken, I believe Gayle told me the were cut (scratched?)
from poplar.  	She managed to achieve a wide range of tones and
marks reminiscent of etching marks through soft ground.  The ink on the
paper has the look of litho crayon.  That seems to be a property of
poplar with oil-based inks.  	The ink tends to build up in little
clusters. I myself have had this happen in the past and found it annoying
as all get out, because I'm a guy that likes a dense black. I was working
from a smooth 2x12 poplar plank a friend had given me.  It cut like a
dream, but printed like a bastard.  The block wound up being 28x13, with
large areas of what should have been flat black.  After many, many, many
failed attempts to get a satisfactory proof, I had to stop and think of a
different approach.  The board seemed to repel the ink rather than accept
it.  I decided that I should "prime" the board (I wiped it down with
turp, and allowed that ink and solvent mixture sit on the board for an
hour). I altered my ink to include more oil than I've ever added and
switched papers, but still I got only five impression I could live with
(after sacrificing the fineness of many small lines).  I theorized that
the board was cursed.  I must have angered the printmaking gods in some
way.  I haven't returned to cut the other side of that board for three
years because of that experience.  I have simply got to get over that,
though, because it is a beautiful board, and I shouldn't ignore it's
siren song much longer.
	This crayon-like texture works fine in Gayle's print however,
nicely complementing the size and marks (an illustration of my earlier
advice of letting some things just happen, incorporating the natural
qualities of the board into the print).  For her, the poplar ink texture
works.

Mise le meas,
James Mundie, Philadelphia USA 

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From: julio.rodriguez@walgreens.com
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 10:38:55 -0600
Subject: [Baren 603] Gods 

James wrote:
>but still I got only five impression I could live with
>(after sacrificing the fineness of many small lines). I theorized that
>the board was cursed. I must have angered the printmaking gods in some
>way.  I haven't returned to cut the other side of that board for three
>years because of that experience.

Yes, you are right ! ....you did anger the printmaking gods. This happened to 
me too before I knew better. There is one particular God, the old masters 
called "kame-torito" (translates to the  "grand fuddieduddie"). He/She is very 
easily upset. You may as well throw that board out or use it for 
firewood........you will never be able to get a decent print out of it.


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From: Graham Scholes <gscholes@islandnet.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 09:47:54 -0700
Subject: [Baren 604] Re: The Ongoing Esposito Project 

Good morning James

> Geez, guys. When do the two of you have time to cut boards?

Easy  .... I'm baby sitting grandchildren and between images. Tuesday all
this come to an end.

> Your average Joe hasn't a clue as to want a print is-- let
> alone what a woodblock print is--

Amen..... but we must keep trying.

>Joe's ignorance is understandable when you consider that most
>of the "art world" doesn't 'get' prints either. [Good luck trying to get
>into a juried works on paper show with a print

I would suggest you pick and choose your shows. Not easy but important to
do some research.

> The traditional forms are abandoned because the majority of
>modern artists are too lazy to become craftsmen as well.
>Not only are most artists these days lazy but so is the art buying public.

Amen to that. And you know they willing admit it.

> Only kooks such as ourselves are so old-fashioned as to make art from
>_wood_.

Amen to that.

>Has the world become so addicted to instant gratification that we accept
>closing the lid and pushing a button as a legitimate art form?!

Amen to that.


>I'm just free-associating here.  I think that an MPBaren show is a sound
>concept.  Enough of that from me for now.


>Way to > go, Gayle!  Keep it coming.  We'll turn around all of these
>traditional > Japanese-style fuddiduddies yet.

Oh yessss .....It is so important to break out of the norm and persue a new
way to create the image.

Traditionism is fine - Experimentation is finer - Improvisation the finest.

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From: Phil Bivins <pbivins@ac.net>
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 16:02:58 -0400
Subject: [Baren 605] Re: Welcome Don

Welcome Don to Baren. Also wanted to say, that recently my computer 
crashed, hard drive failure. My computer has been in the shop for 
overhaul. I just got it back today and was suprised to see over 60 
messages from BAREN! It's good to be back. Later

Phil

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From: David Bull <davebull@asahi-net.email.ne.jp>
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 06:29:44 +0900
Subject: [Baren 606] 'Bounced' messages 

To all:
The [Baren] server sent me a couple of messages this morning - messages
that had been posted by a couple of people it didn't recognize as
[Baren] members.

Please note that you _must_ send your messages from the same address
that you used when you subscribed to [Baren]; if you send from a
friend's computer, you won't be recognized, and the message will be
rejected.

Note also that if you 'Forward' a message to [Baren], it too cannot be
accepted by the server.

I'll copy/paste the two messages here ...

***

First message - from Gayle ...
Baren:

> My name is Don Furst, and I have just joined this group.

Hi, Don, and welcome.  I'm sure we're all anxious to hear about 
your slant on woodcuts.  If you get started on Hanga before I get
the  "stuff" I've ordered, I for one would be interested to hear 
about it so I can gear up.  


Dave,

It was thrilling to see the article I wrote for the encyclopedia
appear before the sun set!   You said:

> - the piece you sent has a mix of 'technical' and 'philosophical'
> stuff, so I put it in the same place as last week - the 'Letters From
> the Studio'.  Do you think that's the best place for it, or should it 
> be 'out' in the technical section of the Encyclopedia ...?)

Dave, whatever feels right to you.  I don't mind at all.  


James wrote:

> I received two lovely woodcuts in the mail from Gail today which
> represent her first attempts with the oddball razor and needle 
> approach I favor.  The portrait of her husband is especially well 
> realized. 

They were fun to do, James, and I thank you for introducing this
different way to approach the wood.  I want to try some of my more 
mysterious poetic ideas with this method.  

Gayle


***

Second message - from Graham ...
Hi Baren Folks.

Does any body know anything about this Print competion?

Graham


>INFORMATION ABOUT WORLD PRINT FESTIVAL
>
>From 10th November 1998 till 20th December 1998 big World Print Festival
>will take place in Slovenia in organization of AGART Art Association.
>Slovenia is a small middle European country having a great print
>tradition and as such is very suitable for such a project. In seven art
>centers , expositions of print artists from the whole world will be
>opened at the same time. In each gallery a separate print technique will
>be presented.
>In such a way the artists will compete for prizes in the same technique.
>Maybe this manner of presentation and competition will be more
>interesting and attractive as classical forms of print bienales.  The
>number  of grand prix will be equal to the number of presented
>techniques.
>
>During the Festival a Congress of print artists will be organized in a
>beautiful touristic center Bled, that will try to give answers on the
>problems of modern print creation.
>
>The organizer expects that the majority of artists will present
>classical techniques, but newer print suggestions (maybe electronic) as
>well as print inovations will be welcome.
>
>The Statute and Entry Form can be seen on  Internet
>http://www.src.si/~agart
>
>WORLD PRINT FESTIVAL
>Cankarjeva 10
>1000 Ljubljana
>SLOVENIA
>tel/fax ++386 61 1258449
>
>DAILY INFORMATION ON FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES AND NEWS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON
>INTERNET http://www.src.si/~agart
>
>Stane Zerko


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From: Ray Esposito <brassring@brassring.org>
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 20:12:24 -0400
Subject: [Baren 607] Re: More on Ray's Exhibition 

Julio wrote:
>One suggestion if I may, is to include in the exhibit a
>"how-a-woodblock->print-is-made-step-by-step" series 
>of photographs to accompany Ray's introduction & artist info. ...etc.

Not a bad idea but remember one of the major worries most have had and that
the exhibition would be too much work.  Adding this would be a little much.
 If however, someone waited to do the work and send the completed effort to
me, I would treat it like another print.

Cheers

Ray Esposito

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From: Ray Esposito <brassring@brassring.org>
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 20:16:14 -0400
Subject: [Baren 608] Re: More on Ray's Exhibition 

Graham wrote:
>I am seeing more and more the Iris Print crap....ops sorry......CRAP  (now
>I feel better) being promoted and scamming people into thinking they are
>valuable art forms.
>As most of you know I am dedicated to exposing this new technology for
>what it is...... (Calm down Graham, calm down)
>But we must endeavour to educate John Q about the real thing.

CRAP is the proper version


>I have made a large story board showing step by step as you suggest.  It
>took a fair amount of work but was very effective.  What about a slide
>presentation that goes into a slide projector and just keeps repeating.

A wee bit far out.

>Just thinking out loud.  What ever it is it must be easy for Ray to handle.

Amen

Ray Esposito

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From: Ray Esposito <brassring@brassring.org>
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 20:19:15 -0400
Subject: [Baren 609] Re: Ray's idea 

Graham wrote:
>The need of a Theme is good and will certainly open doors - and maybe
>some important ones at that.  


My title is just a working title.  You have some good ones.  The idea is to
create a theme that would appeal to today's curators.  In order to obtain
quality locations we need to be able to get into their heads.

Cheers

Ray Esposito

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From: Ray Esposito <brassring@brassring.org>
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 20:22:08 -0400
Subject: [Baren 610] Re: Baren Digest V3 #121 

Gayle wrote:
>Another theme title:
>>From Durer to Cyberspace:
>Woodblocks from the Baren

Thank you for your kind words.  I like the title.

Ray Esposito

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From: Ray Esposito <brassring@brassring.org>
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 20:34:55 -0400
Subject: [Baren 611] Exhibition 

Folks

Posts concerning the exhibition are taking over Baren and we need to slow
down.  We are not at a point were we are beating it to death but getting
close.  What I propose is to permit me to sit back for a week or two and
digest what everyone has written, both pro and con.

In a couple of weeks I will come back with an up or down proposal, give
everyone a chance to join or not (via private e-mail).  If we have enough
joining, we will set up a private group e-mail to communicate our ideas.
If not enough join, the idea will just die.

And of course, everyone is welcome to communicate privately.  Let's get
Baren back to the technical.  We have a lot of new talent joining in and we
need to hear from them.

Cheers

Ray Esposito

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From: jimandkatemundie@juno.com (James G Mundie)
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 22:12:27 -0400
Subject: [Baren 612] proofing paper 

Matt Brown said:
>Can you speak of some of the inexpensive proofing papers you've used?
>(Reminding us all you are printing on them with oil inks, no?

I'm hard pressed to give you names for these papers, Matt.  I was trained
to use newsprint for proofing because it was handy.  Newsprint is alright
for a _general_ proof, but when you need to read the detail grab some
crappy mulberry.  I've used nearly everything in a pinch-- even copier
paper; but chintzy mulberry is best.  Where can I get this junk paper,
you ask.  Anywhere, really.  I had built up a pretty good relationship
with a couple of dealers who would give me sheets of stuff they were
unable to sell or had lost track of what the paper was (and so being
unable to ascertain what they should charge).  My advice is to keep your
eyes open.
	If you look around your average art store that carries paper, one
can always stumble on some cheap thin mulberry (much of the cheap stuff
tends to be thin or unevenly laid).  I think Utrecht even carries their
own brand--  utter crap, but just what we're looking for here.  The paper
is unthinkable to edition on (slightly shiny and feels kind of greasy),
but it is adequate for a quick proof  
[*a note here-- I tend to proof only very close to the end of my cutting
for several reasons: 1)I can read the board pretty well and don't need to
proof until it's close to completion, 2)I'm working in oil ink and oil is
messy and will obscure any uncut drawing lines, etc., and  3)if I proof
in oil, I can't cut the board again for several hours until the solvent
remnants and residue of ink dry]. 	 	Over the years I have
collected scraps that other printmakers left behind-- as well as my own--
which has proved invaluable when I only need to proof a small area.  I've
also got a big roll of "masa" that I cut up to proof on. The surface is
an intense bright white that really makes your cutting stand out.  

Sla/n go tamall,
James Mundie, Philadelphia USA

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From: David Bull <davebull@asahi-net.email.ne.jp>
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 21:46:37 +0900
Subject: [Baren 613] yet another update ... 

>  We'll turn around all of these traditional Japanese-style
>  fuddiduddies yet.  

This Japanese-style fuddy-duddy would like to let Mr. Mundie know that
he has just spent another few hours this afternoon typing and scanning
in order to put another interesting article on ink-based (yuck!),
rollered (bleagh!), press-squeezed (lazy!) prints up into the
Encyclopedia.

It's the second article in a series, and covers the Watsons, the same
people as in the article I uploaded a couple of days ago.

And that's enough 'ink' for a while.  The next one I do is going to be
something about barens!

Dave

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End of Baren Digest V3 #124
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