[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Thursday, 14 January 1999 Volume 06 : Number 412 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Graham Scholes Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 17:01:33 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2676] Re: Stuff Jake wrote.... >I've missed something here.. for us newbies... what is the "encyclopedia." Wow, are you in for a treat. Can't figure how you missed see mention of this while lurking. Go: .... http://www.woodblock.com/encyclopedia/index.html and enjoy. It will take you months to absorb it all. Graham ------------------------------ From: Jean Eger Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 18:05:57 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2677] Re: Baren Digest V6 #411 Hi Jeanne, I was surprised to hear that you were using oil paints because it seemed as if they would be too slithery and wouldn't give you an even coat, using a roller. There may be some additive you can put in the oil paints to make them more like printing ink. I could guess, but I don't know for sure. I suggest you call Daniel Smith, Inc. and ask them (1-800-426-6740). It's a knowledgeable group of salespeople. See, there I answered my own question about how to make block printing ink out of etching ink. I should have called Daniel Smith! Roger I wish I could see your inspiring examples of too much this and too little that. However, after unplugging my mouse to plug in my digital camera, my new Diamond Stealth 220S PCI video adapter crashed and gave me blue screen. Now I have taken that PCI card out and put the old adapter card back in. But the durned machine misses the Stealth card and won't show anything but black and white. I await the day when I have the time to sit on the phone with the Diamond people. Meanwhile, I have the exchange print about half done. Jean ------------------------------ From: Mariten@aol.com Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 22:58:59 EST Subject: [Baren 2678] Re: neoprene & sanding & slipping Hi all, I have been "listening" in for a little while and enjoy your conversations; immensely enjoyed the web sites of those of you who have them and the wealth of information in the Baren site and all its related paraphenelia. I finally dare to make a contribution. John, Re: sanding As a former body-shop supply worker, you can sand much much much smoother than 400 grit. Your local body shop supply store should have wet/dry or dry only sandpapers all the way to 1500 grit (used for color sanding automotive clear coats). Those should work to nearly eliminate all the grain; we used them to sand the wood panels inlaid in some older model station wagons (those were the days!). Jean, Re: neoprene Try www.campmor.com; they sell camping equipment through the web and have neoprene mats used for padding for wimpy backpackers to sleep on. Your local sports supply store may also have them as exercise mats and in the camping section. Can't help you with mold; in Vegas, I keep my paper wet by printing in the bottom of the pool in scuba gear (and even then, on hot days . . .) For the block slippage problems of some of the members, I have successfully used that web-like stuff they sell in hardware/home supply stores so your area rugs won't slip. Both when I print by hand and when I used presses in school (and the Master wasn't looking), no slippage problem. Great forum!, thanks all for your valuable hints, tips, jokes, etc. Maria ------------------------------ From: Becky or Roger Ball Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 22:02:31 -0700 Subject: [Baren 2679] shellac, edition, etc Many thanks to Jake, Graham and others who commented on the shellac/varnish issue. Still have some doubts on the best route for now. I would think that it could block the moisture from escaping unless you kept it damn thin. I keep thinking harder thicker wood=better for some reason... I will repond at length to John Margeotes off line (off the 'Baren' list.) Julio: Thanks for the comments. I print in small batches (7-10), yes. I print one color through the batch, go to the next block/color, etc. So yes, each "set" of 7 to 10 prints is a little different than the last. Now, while I don't think that this is bad, as I am not a machine and variation should be expected, we all want to try for the most uniform product possible. Most of what I was really trying to say here is this: I didn't get proof on this thing until about the 50th impression. Then I printed 50 more and now I have about 50 reasonable or better prints. Under the conditions of the exchange, the first 29 are the exchange. Well, I wanted to test reaction to the prints to see if anyone would say that the patchy ones were in some way unacceptable or less desirable. To a degree I heard that the vibrant ones were better, for I sent the links to a wide variety of people. However, no one directly said that the patchy one was unacceptable. It was pointed out that my technique on the first batches was lackluster and the later ones are much better. Namely due to moisture, harder barening and paste level. But the first 29, at least as I intend to edition currently contains a number of subtly pigmented or patchy backgrounded prints. I know how to fix the printing problem, but the editioning problem still bothers me. Some of the earlier prints are damn nice and I just can't see tossing them because I got to higher standard later in the edition. I have afterall, only graduated to "skilled beginner" This is the real issue since I have no desire to change the block 6 times to get an individual print... Aren't you people worried that your presses could succumb to the Y2K bug? Squeezed, - -Roger ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 22:25:47 -0800 Subject: [Baren 2680] Re: neoprene & sanding & slipping Maria, Welcome aboard..... > Can't help you with mold; in Vegas, I keep my paper wet by printing >in the bottom of the pool in scuba gear (and even then, on hot days . . .) You will do just fine here. Ray has the same sense of humour but a little "drier". Didn't know you could get 1500 grit paper. Good to know. I always finish my plates with 600 after working up from 320 grit. >the wood panels inlaid in some older model station wagons (those were the >days!). That was just a little while back..... Regards, Graham ------------------------------ From: Brenda Romans Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 21:22:02 +0000 Subject: [Baren 2681] Hi, just arrived Hi I just found this group, you seem to be discussing just the sort of things that I'm interested in so I thought I'd introduce myself. I'm a relief printer living in Bristol, England. I do wood engravings (ie very small prints on hideously expensive end grain blocks) I also use plastic when I can't afford the wood. For larger work I use Lino (am I allowed to talk about lino in this group? :-)) I tried plywood but the splinters drove me mad. Most of my work is done in black and white, from a single block. (I particularly admire Edward Wadsworth). I have a small victorian letter (screw) press in the garage, and a couple of very small Albion (jobbing) presses that are great for engravings. I am a member of Spike Island Printmakers in Bristol and use their Vandercook proofing press for larger work. They recently bought a huge etching type press that I'm looking forward to trying. Inspiration comes largely from marine subjects, although I'm planning some lino cuts with a guitar theme at the moment. Interests (problems might be a better word) at the moment are: designing for colour and incorporating texture (grain, etch, hatching etc). I'm looking forward to joining in the discussions. Cheers Brenda ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V6 #412 ***************************