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

Baren Digest             Monday, 20 September 1999     Volume 08 : Number 713

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From: Gayle Wohlken <blueman@nacs.net>
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 10:15:42 -0400
Subject: [Baren 5925] Re: Baren Digest V8 #712 

John wrote:
>   Paper always stretches when you use past, the amount of stretch and
> direction will be different with each type of paper.  The best thing to do is
> to make lots of tests with your off-cuts before sticking the real thing down. 

Thanks for the tip, John.  I was going to try that because the Mexican
Bark paper isn't large enough for me to get two covers per sheet, so
I thought I'd try the paste job on the cutoffs as you suggest.  I might
try pva because that glue is archival and can be almost dry before
you affix your label.  This keeps buckling down (at least on papers
other than washi).  I used it with great success on the label on my
Vampyr book.  I just wondered if anyone  had tried affixing a 
real woodcut to something like the bark paper and what their
results were.  Today I start printing the pages as the layout is
finally finished.

Judy, is methyl cellulose similar to pva (polyvinyl acetate, I think)? 

* * *
Maria, I use photographs when I don't have a clue how to draw
something.  Portraits are always done from life as is most everything
I can have in front of me.  A lot of stuff comes from ideas in my head,
but I might have to reference a thing I'm not sure how to draw if it
isn't here.  (Like that hound in the "Baskervilles" print on "Who
Is Baren").  I went through tons of dog books and dog sites on the 
web and finally found one photo of a dog leaping over a fence in what 
looked like twilight and he was just a shadow.  I used him for
my hound.  But my favorite is working from life because it is my
own perception with two eyes.

Gayle

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From: Vollmer/Yamaguchi <jy6@columbia.edu>
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 13:03:31 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [Baren 5926] promise I'll learn 

Dave, the $20 print is on hard, new washi, a new print for sure. Not
valuable, but a treasure for me! And I do like the feisty feel of the
Kuniyoshi print, the wealthy samurai guy throwing soybeans to the ordinary
folks, who scramble for fortune.

I'm afraid I havn't spent the time to figure out how to upload files to my
own page. I know it's pathetic! So I thank you for uploading to Baren until
I get up to speed. The idea is to post just a link on the message board,
right?

I find it difficult to keep up with printing and teaching AND computers and
a second job, too. I'm reluctant to spend time when I plan to upgrade my
system and my server in a few months, when the new Mac hardware is
available. Thanks for pushing me along in the right direction, promise I'll
learn!

April Vollmer

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From: judy mensch <mensch@interport.net>
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 13:26:51 -0400
Subject: [Baren 5927] Re: Baren Digest V8 #712 

Gayle: I don't know if methyl cellulos is similar to pva since I've
never used pva, but methyl cellulos, I believe, is neutral ph and will
not yellow as much as other glues with age. There's also another glue
that book artists use and if I can remember it's name, I let you know.
It's white and neutral ph.  Judy

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From: Gregory Robison <grobison@swiftuganda.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 23:21:01 +0300
Subject: [Baren 5928] Adventures in sizing 

Kampala, 19 September 1999

Thanks to Jeanne and Matt for comments on Rives
lightweight.  Jean shamed me into trying to size my
kitakata, and after a bit of experimenting, I think I have
a workable surface.  I will not report here on the methods
I used or the lengths to which I went, since the colorful
language I am likely to slip into is not recommended on
this site, but I'll see some of you later at the bar.

I would, however, like to comment on an inexplicable (by my dim lights,
at any rate) result I got while experimenting with Rives and sized
kitakata.  Alternating French and Japanese paper (i.e., using comparable
amounts of paint and rice paste on an identical block, and then making
one print on Rives, then one on kitakata) the Rives displayed
unacceptably pronounced "mottling" of the color, while the color went on
very smoothly and evenly on the washi.  Why should this be so?

Greg

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From: Barbara Mason <bemason@concentric.net>
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 13:40:38 -0700
Subject: [Baren 5929] Rives paper and a plea for help 

Greg,
I have noticed when I soak rives paper, both the lightweight and the
cover, it seems to take the water unevenly on some sheets, not all. I
thnk it must have something to do with the way they make the paper. as
for your uneven color, perhaps someone who has used it for hanga can
comment. I have used it primarily with oil based ink and never had this
problem, but oil is so different and more intense than the watercolor. I
have also used the rives lightweight paper with kids  with speedball ink
and no problem.

Has anyone used Createx ink and if so what do you think of it? Any
suggestions as to how to get it to print well? I have been asked to give
some demo's with it and I have all the colors. The colors are nice but
my results have been frustrating, to say the least. I have some fairly
good sample prints, but they would be exceptional with other ink...if
you know what I mean. I welcome any and all suggestions. (I already have
the suggestion where you throw the stuff  away)

Barbara

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From: Graham Scholes <gscholes@home.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 20:48:16 -0700
Subject: [Baren 5930] Re: Adventures in sizing 

>) the Rives displayed
>unacceptably pronounced "mottling" of the color, while the color went on
>very smoothly and evenly on the washi.  Why should this be so?

This has always been my experience....
I will use the Rives stuff to verify the plates and establish colours prior
to use the Real stuff.
I believe it is the roughness of the paper and maybe the sizing that I
believe is batch size as apposed to surface sized. (Don't quote me on that)
Also it is why Noboru Sawai runs this paper through his press several
times. (I have written about this just recently)  It eliminates that
problem.

What else can I say.

Maybe goodnight........

Graham

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From: Wanda Robertson <robertson@canby.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 00:19:09 -0700
Subject: [Baren 5931] Exchange #3 

Message from Barbara & Wanda

 I know you guys will not believe this, but the first package of
exchange #3 prints has arrived! This should get everyone motivated, 
and if someone wants in to take the place of Phil, let us know soon. 
Thanks, Barbara

Night y'all!

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End of Baren Digest V8 #713
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