[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Tuesday, 5 January 1999 Volume 06 : Number 398 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: David Bull Date: Mon, 04 Jan 1999 22:17:14 +0900 Subject: [Baren 2495] First day ... I took a few snapshots at the show today, and have put a couple of them up at: http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~xs3d-bull/exhibitions_events/images/99exhibition_1.jpg http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~xs3d-bull/exhibitions_events/images/99exhibition_2.jpg But I don't know if you will be able to see much of the print displays from those photos. If I'm lucky (?) there might be some time later when there are not so many people hanging around, and you'll be able to see the prints better! Dave ------------------------------ From: Cucamongie@aol.com Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 08:44:36 EST Subject: [Baren 2496] Happy (late) new year, etc. A happy new year to all - I was out of town for a bit - I was visiting in the San Francisco bay area (family, etc) and had the good fortune to catch a huge show of Hiroshige prints which is up at the Asian Museum in San Francisco. I went to look at it twice while I was there, since there was so much to look at & digest - and as a printmaker there are many different ways to view these prints. It was such a treat to see the actual work, as previously I only saw his stuff in books - and of course to anyone who lives in the area, worth the visit. Of course it would be easy to get totally depressed from looking at these beautiful prints, but I have decided to channel my energy in a positive direction and be inspired to work that much harder this year - looking forward to seeing everyone's exchange prints -- Regards Sarah Hauser ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 10:07:13 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2497] Re: Amateur; Triage; Endeavors Gregory If all of your posts are this well thought out, make them as long as you wish. Cheers Ray ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 10:12:23 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2498] Re: Happy (late) new year, etc. Sarah A great New Year's resolution for all of us too. Cheers Ray ------------------------------ From: Wanda Robertson Date: Mon, 04 Jan 1999 09:50:39 -0700 Subject: [Baren 2499] Re: video queued up Would it still be possible to be added to the video list? I'd love to see it (& copy & send on) if I could. Wanda ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 10:05:54 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2500] Re: Happy (late) new year, etc. Sarah Hauser wrote.... > the good fortune to catch a huge show of Hiroshige prints >which is up at the Asian Museum in San Francisco. The Victoria Art gallery has a large collection and the I am in empathy with your feels about seeing the work in the buff. >Of course it would be easy to get totally depressed from looking at >these beautiful prints, However to the contrary, depression was not my feelings. Having see the work and for that matter other works of art never depresses me. I like to look at others and appreciate what they have achieve and ...... not achieve (from my prespective). I believe comparison is important providing you do it with the idea in mind, understanding and evaluating the achievement of the piece being viewed. We learn from these experiences. (A picture is worth .....) I come away from those exhibitions exhilerated and eager to be there, eager to create anew and originate using my life's experiences. >but I have decided to channel my energy in a positive >direction and be inspired to work that much harder this year That's the spirit Sarah. Graham ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 13:05:52 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2501] Re: video queued up Wanda I am sure you can be added to the list. I would suggest that whoever has the video or whoever is last on the list that a new one be prepared. There are a lot of new members to Baren and I am sure many would like to see it. However, may I suggest that anyone getting on the list agree to watch, copy it and pass it within two weeks? That is fair to everyone else who is waiting. At the rate it is being passed around now, David's daughters will have grandkids before everyone gets it. May I also suggest the list be published every four to six months so that new members can add themselves to it. At the rate this is going, I think Dave should just forget about ever getting it back. The last person on the list, whenever that happens is responsible for returning it to Dave or send it to me and I will take care of it. It might not be a bad idea for one person to accept responsibility for keeping the list and making sure it is passed around. Of course that might mean jumping on people who are holding things up and might require a real SOB to manage it. HEY----what about Esposito????? Or anyone else more polite. :-)> Cheers Ray ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 10:09:56 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2502] Re: Amateur; Triage; Endeavors Gregory, Am I repeating myself again. I'm going to go back an read this posting again. An article is only long if it is boring....... I say ....... Keep it coming, it is great stuff. Graham ------------------------------ From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 12:30:52 -0600 Subject: [Baren 2503] re: Video stuff I know there are places/companies that will add the sub-titles to film/video. My cousin in Cuba gets lots of videos from outside the country and he occassionally has them add the sub-tittles in spanish.... I don't know what the cost is or wether is feasible, but perhaps it might be worth investigating for Dave's upcoming TV program. Perhaps the TV show people can provide us with an english sub-titled version. This might be the right time to inquire. Is anybody out there familiar with the process ? ------------------------------ From: "Jeanne N. Chase" Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 16:27:12 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2504] Re: 'Congratulations' Dave Congratulations on your exhibit and thanks for the photos. What a wonderful surprize that I found in my mailbox this afternoon!!!! I have not read the paper yet, I am waiting until I get home, sit in front of the fireplace and savor the information. {We are having a Florida cold spell now} The invitation to the exhibition was beautiful AND the lovely Christmas card is going to be framed. You have inspired us all!!! My New Years resolution is; to learn how to use watercolors in my prints. Jean sounded as if she is having a little problem doing Oriental printing but I am sure that she will persevere as I intend to do!!!!! Graham As someone else aptly said. "We will miss your participation in the Print Exchange!!!!" Jeanne ------------------------------ From: woodcuts@concentric.net (D. Joseph/R. Sexauer) Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 01:52:28 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2505] Re: Distinctions & Other Musings Dear All, Back some time ago April Vollmer had written: >Is there any way to make a distinction between artist-printed and >publisher-printed prints? Finally, I find I have a moment to respond. Back in Iowa City in the early 70's, we began to sign imp. after our signatures on prints - a trend no doubt started (there at least) by Lasansky. (Don, were they still doing this when you were in residence?) This comes from the Latin word "impressit" which means "has printed it" & was/is used to designate that all of the fingerprints on the borders belong only to the creator. In 1975, Kenneth S. Knapton Jr. compiled all info from disparate sources (including Antreasian's "Tamarind Book of Lithography," and Zigrosser's "A Guide to the Collecting & Care of Original Prints") into a very helpful article which was originally published in the Spring issue of "Graphics" magazine. The article is titled "Marks on Original Prints," and I always find it helpful for all manner of clarification. To Jean Eger: Jean, I have a graduate student from mainland China & one of our B.F.A. majors is from Taiwan. I could certainly see if one of them could translate your seal. Unfortunately, I can't seem to locate the URL for viewing it. Can you repeat it please? I'll pass it on & see what they can come up with. To Sheryl: Hope you get a chance to go to Menard's Workshop this summer. Did he send you a brochure? I have extras if not. Cynthia Osborne, who teaches lithography with me at CSULB is going to hone her aluminum plate skills with Wayne Kimball. The wonderful & generous Kurt Kemp is teaching (intaglio) there as well. Should be even better than last year. I'll let you all know the details on the 15th Los Angeles Printmaking Society's National when I get a bit more down time. It certainly has been vastly informative in terms of a "behind-the-scenes" look at the jurying process. It certainly has devoured my life. I believe that 2 or 3 of you are in this exhibition? I know that Don has a mezzotint in & Andrea has 2 woodcuts. I've just finished with all of the dread fund-raising, now my hope is that I can get the catalogue back from the printer's & bound before the big opening on the 16th. Does anyone know of a Vermont printmaker/publisher named Brian Cohen? I'm having a show with him at Dartmouth in October, but have no notion of his work. I'm not even sure if he does woodcuts. He, no doubt is scratching his head on the other side of the country, wondering the same thing. Roxanne Sexauer ------------------------------ From: Gary Luedtke Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 16:54:36 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2506] Re: Yes, I'm still here ... Graham, A few others have had trouble bringing up the page from the second address, while others seem to get it fine. I have no idea why this is so. When I try it, I get it with no problem. Maybe it's the Mac! Gary ------------------------------ From: Gary Luedtke Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 17:24:19 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2507] re: gary's web site Julio, Thanks for the kind comments on the secondary web-site. To answer some of your questions, I'll start with the simple ones first. Yes, a few menehunes have crept into my prints, off in the distance. I see the Hiroshige connection, in that of small people, large world, and probably there is that influence. I do admire the way Hiroshige can put figures into a landscape, and actually have it add to the composition, without distracting from the overall impression. So far the smallest figure is the head in the lifeguard's stand in my "Kaena Point" print. That's just a dot. I'm gradually working my way up to bigger figures as some of my future prints will show. Prints of Hawaii by a guy living in Kansas? Yes. And I can probably do them better here than I could there. I did live there for three years way back when, but Hawaii has inspired me in so many ways of all of my artistic related endeavors, there is no place like it in my experience. And the one thing I can do in Kansas is concentrate on and savor the beauty of Hawaii because it is so different than anything here. I can be so much more focussed on it here. If I were there I'd be out enjoying it, swimming in it, hiking it, driving it, diving it, smelling it, seeing it, tasting it, it just makes me more alive to be there. Never felt that way about any other place. Maybe art is my way to bring those things to me, that I can't go to at the moment. As to the subscription page. Disregard it for now. It seems more of you spent time reading that than looking at my prints, which was against orders! It is not ready, and it is my fault for even directing you there. My thought was to show you what I've been up to lately, and not knowing how to put the pages on my own web-site, directed you to that one for the images only. But that door is already open, now, so I'll try to answer your question. I do not have a carver/printer engaged to do this work at the moment. That is being worked on. As to the likelihood of lining up 25 potential subscribers or sponsors, that number is beginning to look optimistic compared to reality. That remains to be worked out however. The whole page is no more than a tentative outline, please understand, with many issues to be worked out, which is why I suggested you disregard it and proceed directly to the images. Thanks for your interest in it, Julio, we'll have to see how this all develops. Gary ------------------------------ From: Gary Luedtke Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 17:39:08 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2508] Amateur; Triage; Endeavors Gregory, Disregard your New Year's resolution, that's pretty dry stuff. I'm enjoying your longer versions. You have many interesting ideas and if all we talk about are technical things we're missing most of the color in life. As I consider myself an artist, color's pretty important to me in all senses of the word. Gary ------------------------------ From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 16:44:21 -0600 Subject: [Baren 2509] Re: gary's web site 2 Gary: The "prints" on your site are all computer generated, right ? and then scanned unto the PC ? What programs do you use and on what system ? Do you have the option to reverse the image right to left like what happens on a woodblock ? Are the older designs also scanned from computer printouts or are any from a real print ? What is the source of your inspiration ? photos ? old sketches ? memory ???? So many questions ! Thanks. JULIO ------------------------------ From: Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 17:55:07 -0500 (EST) Subject: [Baren 2510] Re: video queued up From Ray Hudson, Vermont Dear Wanda and other Baren members, I'm the last name on the circulating video list (except for Ray E and he has asked that his name be removed as he has seen the video). I'd be happy to mail the video on to you, Wanda, with a list of any other members who want to be added. We should do our best to keep it not more than 2 weeks, shorter if possible, so it can make its rounds this millennium. So, if you'd like youre name added, please send me your name & address and I'll do this. Great New Year to all. Ray Hudson ------------------------------ From: Gary Luedtke Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 20:17:33 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2511] Re: gary's web site 2 Julio, and all, The term "computer-generated image" sounds like something where you turn your computer on, bring up an art program, punch in some coordinates, and voila, after a moment of buzzes, hums, and whines, it comes out with an image. If there are such computers, I have never seen one, unless it's the fabulous MacIntosh I've heard so much about. (O.K. Graham, I slipped that one right in there, eh?) Think of it more as an electronic brush with a palette of 16 million colors of light, the brush can be altered to any width, the colors changed from opague to transparent, textures ranging from impasto to thin water color, and in fact, it can mimic many techniques, the tip of which I have not even scratched. The techniques used to work up my images are quite rudimentary, though quite suitable it seems to me, to develop woodblock print prototypes, which is what interested me in it. Judge a little the suitability of that media after seeing them yourself. I am a computer klutz, and really not well suited to be legally in a chair in front of one. But it intrigues me. Julio, when you say my prints are computer generated, then scanned into the pc, that statement sounds redundant. Maybe from my earlier statements on my technique you misunderstood, so let me try to explain better how I do it. I start with a hand drawn image on paper, sometimes colored in with color pencil, sometimes not. I scan that into the computer and bring it up in an art program. The one I use is Photo-Styler. There are many others. I generally must be happy with the drawing first, in other words, the outline. There are no good ways I have ever found to freehand a drawing with a mouse. As Graham says, there is no substitute for having=a brush or pen in hand and I quite agree, until I am shown something better ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 21:13:04 -0500 Subject: [Baren 2512] Re: gary's web site 2 Gary Cool it. You are entirely too defensive when it comes to this subject. No one is being critical of the way you do your art regardless of what may or may not have been said in the past. We know how you create your art and support you all the way. For me, I simply do not like or collect "digital art". I know this does not sit with many "modern" artists but that's their problem. I do not consider what you do to be in this class. Your final result is a woodcut print, not something from a color printer. You use the computer as a guide and I see nothing wrong with that. You then work with craftsmen in Japan to complete the plates and the prints. If it was good enough for Hiroshige it is good enough for everyone else. Your work is excellent. Concentrate on it and forget the rest. Besides, never fear, if you ever get out of line, Graham and I are waiting in the wings to pounce!!! :-)> Cheers Ray ------------------------------ From: Wanda Robertson Date: Mon, 04 Jan 1999 19:31:55 -0700 Subject: [Baren 2513] Re: Yes, I'm still here ... Oh no, not the "mac" argument again! ;-) My Mac gets it just fine. Gary, These are wonderful. Now, it is my understanding that these are computer prints to be used as the cutting/printing of the woodblocks for your prints? Very intriguing, and very beautiful. I'm going out to buy a lottery ticket right now, so I can afford one of everyone's prints! Hopefully, I will be able to participate in the 2nd Baren print exchange, I am *so* envious of all of you. Even the agonizing over the worth of your prints - I can identify with that. It always seems to be a fine line we walk, admiring yet not letting the talents of the other artists discourage us from our own work. Thanks to all of you for such inspiring words. Wanda ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V6 #398 ***************************