[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Saturday, 17 April 1999 Volume 07 : Number 530 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Gayle Wohlken Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 09:25:16 -0400 Subject: [Baren 4034] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 > Gayle, I received your print yesterday, > Where did you get your idea? I have thought about doing a self portrait, > have you done one? Phil, the idea came from watching my husband, Jim shovel snow wearing that hat. I asked him if he would pose for me. He sat so regally, wearing that jester of a hat, I realized there was some dignity there that took it beyond the hat. If any of you who didn't receive a print from me wonder why I'm sending prints. I was to be in the First Baren Exchange and had to drop out painfully when my mother broke her hip and I had to rush to Tennessee, staying far longer than I had first imagined. I got back too late to participate. I had even already ordered my portfolio and paid for it. Well, when the prints went out, I received them anyway, thanks to all the good people of the First Baren Exchange. So to thank them, Johnny-come-lately here sent them each a print. Gayle ------------------------------ From: "Jeanne N. Chase" Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 09:50:00 -0400 Subject: [Baren 4035] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 Gayle Loved your wonderful, crazy, print. From what I have seen of your work, and the messages, you must have a fantastic sense of humor and a delightful person to be around. That Print will have a special place in my home. Just looking at it makes me feel good. Jeanne ------------------------------ From: "Bea Gold" Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 07:10:06 -0700 Subject: [Baren 4036] Gayles' late print Love to see it - is it on the Baren yet? Bea ------------------------------ From: "Jean Eger" Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 07:16:15 -0700 Subject: [Baren 4037] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 April, I haven't done the color separations for woodcut for a long time. However, I reduce the number of colors & values drastically, then print out in Photoshop. Then after the plate is cut, I mix a lot of extender into the ink (I was using color litho inks), so it's at least half extender. Then the colors mix on the print, if you print wet into wet. It's not exact, but then I was not trying to do a commercial run. I basically did it for experimental purposes. It was fun to try once. I found Tomikichiro Tokuriki's book, "Wood-block Print Primer" in the library. He talks about a size called "dosa." It's made from fish glue and alum. "Dissolve about 1/6 oz (3.7 gm) of the glue in one cup of water, add one teaspoon of alum and boil the mixture bvriefly. Apply it to the paper while still hot. Using a soft brush, first lightly coat the underside of the sheet, then after quickly turning the paper, coat the top. The streaks must not overlap. If you are coating only one or two sheets, spread them on old newspapers to dry, but if you have a large quantity of paper to treat, stretch two or three clotheslines across the room, and lay the paper flat on them....In Japan, specialists do this work for printmakers. Fortunately, most papers in other parts of the world require no sizing." I got some bad news the other day. The doctors found a lump in my left breast which they think is cancer. I will have an incisional biopsy (that means they take the lump out and look at it), on April 30. They think it hasn't spread. But if it has, I will have to have more surgery. Also, if it is cancer, I will have to go back for the lymph node surgery. This blows my student teaching plans out of the water. Wish me luck, guys. The only good news is that the lump is very small. (I had cancer in my right breast 9 years ago. They did a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation at that time.) Jean Eger ------------------------------ From: "Jeanne N. Chase" Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 10:25:44 -0400 Subject: [Baren 4038] Re: Baren Digest V7 #526 Dear Graham What is the size of the Russian piece. How could you possibly get the figures to look so real, when they are so small. Do you have microscopic eyes? It is a fantastic woodcut. I can hardly cut a fine line on a huge woodcut. I know !!!! That is really a miniature painting and you are pullint our legs!!! Jeanne ------------------------------ From: Shireen Holman Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 10:33:35 -0400 Subject: [none] I'm afraid I'm a little behind the times, but I'd like to add my admiration for Herry's and Graham's work. Herry, your black and white woodblock prints are very powerful and the cutting is skillfully done. And Graham's Russian Dance is absolutely beautiful! Shireen ------------------------------ From: judy mensch Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 10:52:55 -0500 Subject: [Baren 4040] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 Jean-I want to wish you ALL THE BEST on the 30th. Also, thanks for the info on sizing. I did this in a class in Japan, but the sizing was too thin. I'll have to try it again. And Bea, best of luck with you knee Judy ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 08:48:42 -0700 Subject: [Baren 4041] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 Gayle wrote.... >So to thank them, Johnny-come-lately >here sent them each a print. Ah ha, so that's what going down.....I wait with anxiety Graham ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 08:53:26 -0700 Subject: [Baren 4043] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 Dear Jean Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Bea, The fantastic surgical work they do these days I am sure you will be motoring real soon. You will certainly have first hand knowledge of the expression "Bea's Knees" Graham ------------------------------ From: "Bea Gold" Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 09:47:39 -0700 Subject: [Baren 4045] "Bea's Knees" ? Thank you Graham for your kind words - I'm not at all sure how long the recovery will be but I'm hoping to be able to attend Aprils' workshop in August. Hear horror stories on how long it takes to recuperate but how great it is afterwards. Never heard the expression "Bea's Knees" though - what does it mean? I want to add my admiration and interest in your new print. ------------------------------ From: "Jeanne N. Chase" Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 12:48:07 -0400 Subject: [Baren 4046] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 Dear Jean I will be thinking of you on the 30th, and saying a little prayer! Love Jeanne ------------------------------ From: April Vollmer/John Yamaguchi Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 14:22:40 -0400 Subject: [Baren 4048] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 Graham, thank you so much for posting your supply list, it is very helpful. It is so easy to forget something! I'll post mine later, too. Bea sounds like she is way prepared, just that knee joint missing! It is hard to tell without seeing them in person, but it your barens and paper sound like a good deal (Canadian $, right?). Is the Kizuki hosho double weight? Who is this Noboru Sawai? Can I be his friend too? April Vollmer ------------------------------ From: Jack Reisland Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 08:55:51 +0000 Subject: [Baren 4049] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 Jean, I'm wishing you all the best. We went through the same thing with my mother a few years back, so I have some idea of how unpleasant it can be. Stay positive, and eat your vegetables! Jack ------------------------------ From: Aqua4tis@aol.com Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 15:53:49 EDT Subject: [Baren 4050] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 hello everyone, i realize i have been remiss in not introducing myself. after reading jeans email ive decided that now is the time. my name is georga garside and i live in soutern california near LA. ive been doing some form of printmaking for the last 10 years now. I began with etching did some litho, have done monoprints on plexi, and made colographs. i started doing woodcuts just in the last 5 years or so and only the western type. about 2 years ago the studio that i work out of "SELF-HELP GRAPHICS" brought in a japanese master to teach a workshop using the hanga method I have been interested ever since i dont have my own web page as yet..... i consider myself still a "baby" artist ...... but i want to tell you all how inspiring and wonderful i find all the work that has been presented here Jean i dont know you but my thoughts and prayers are with you tomorrow i will be participating in an art show in conjuction with revlon and WIN to raise money for breast cancer research i will be thinking of you tomorrow once again i want to tell all of you how much i have enjoyed your work this is truely a phenomenal group of artists and im looking forward to getting to know you all thank you georga ps please forgive my bad typing skills ------------------------------ From: "Jeanne N. Chase" Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 16:14:39 -0400 Subject: [Baren 4051] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 Dear Georga So glad that you introduced yourself. You have a really great history in printmaking, it will be nice to see your work. Forget about typing skills. If I had a dime for all of the bad spellling (whoops) mistakes I make, I would be rich! It really is not bad typing , it is bad keys!!! Jeanne ------------------------------ From: "Bea Gold" Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 13:35:36 -0700 Subject: [Baren 4052] touching base Jean - all my best wishes for you - has to be hard to wait for the 30th - keep cutting, printing, teaching - you are good! Graham >Never heard the expression "Bea's Knees" though - >>what does it mean? > >Tickity-boo, wonderful, grand, Isn't it loverly...... Huh? Georgia - nice to know another Californian joins the group. Dave - I can't figure out my password on the Baren Administrative page - Thought it was the one I always use but it was rejected - what to do? I'd like to share some of my woodcuts with hand coloring but my web page is not set yet. April - thanks for confidence cutting wood has been what I love - not printing so I'm hoping for your good council in August. ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 13:30:27 -0700 Subject: [Baren 4053] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 April wrote.... >It is hard to tell without seeing them in person, but it your barens and >paper sound like a good deal (Canadian $, right?). Yes ...I'm sure I state that on the web page....must go and check when i get a moment. Is the Kizuki hosho double weight? Yes ....Here are the specs. Kizuki Hosho (pure Kozo) using the Japanese grown kozo. Size "Minoban" small - 55cm x 71cm, 4-edge deckle-edge. 8 Monme (heavy weight) Natural colour Hand-sized Who is this Noboru Sawai? Can I be his friend too? Sure.... I don't think he is keen about shipping a lot of stuff. Although he supports his students. He told me he wants to step back and get his Daughter and husband to look after the supplies. He has pretty well stopped all teaching. He may do local sessions or welcomes apprentices. Regards, Graham ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 13:37:00 -0700 Subject: [Baren 4054] Re: Baren Digest V7 #526 >What is the size of the Russian piece. How could you possibly get the >figures to look so real, when they are so small. Do you have microscopic >eyes? No really, no leg pulling, it is bigger than your montior. If you look at the specs you will see the size. It is plenty big enough to handle to complex cutting. Graham http://www.members.home.net/gscholes/ConcertRussian.html ------------------------------ From: Gary Luedtke Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 17:13:18 -0400 Subject: [Baren 4055] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 Jean, My best wishes for your health, and that this turns out to be minor. If something more comes of this, we will all be pulling for you. We'll keep our fingers crossed! Gary ------------------------------ From: Phil Bivins Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 20:47:02 -0400 Subject: [Baren 4056] Re: Baren Digest V7 #529 Jean, I'll keep you in my prayers! Phil ------------------------------ From: "Gregory D. Valentine" Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 19:06:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [none] Jean Eger-- I read your postings and have seen your prints; I feel I know you a little. I am, and am sure all of us are, sending you our best wishes. ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V7 #530 ***************************