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

Baren Digest              Friday, 26 November 1999      Volume 09 : Number 797


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From: Wanda Robertson <robertson@canby.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 09:32:55 -0800
Subject: [Baren 6816] Re: Wanda gets pasted again ... 

Yes Dave,it was *you*!  I can't remember if it was in conjunction with a
particular print you were working on with that very faint tint of color
or if it is an actual entry in the encyclopedia - but anyway I tried it
and it worked quite well!

*Oh* Just noticed the subject line! Heeheehe....Since I am a teetotaler,
this has to pertain to Hanga!

And Graham,

Most of my experimenting has been on the shin torinoko, and a little bit
on the supreme hand-made Hosho I got from you. I know, I know, I should
only be using the hosho, but..........

I am going to do some experimenting on Stonehenge, Masa, and try sizing
some paper - when I finish with my dragon, and all the exchange prints.
The exchanges surely do force us to learn, don't they?

Wanda (covered with rice paste as we speak)

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From: Jack Reisland <reislandj001@hawaii.rr.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 09:59:09 -1000
Subject: [Baren 6817] Re: Wanda gets pasted again ... 

David Bull wrote:
> This sounds most interesting ... can you expand on this please?

Well, I'm not Barnaby, but I'd like to add here. A while back, I did an
internet search, and found a few brush manufacturing companies here in the
U.S. that do custom orders. I also found one that manufactured a stock
brush, Called a plate scrubber (as in printing press plates). It measures 4
1/8" X 2 3/8" with a tight fill of 7/8" long horsehair bristles on a wood
block handle. It looks to be a pretty good match to a maru bake. They are
only $5.35 each, sold in boxes of 12. I found other companies that
manufacture other sizes, and all of them will do custom orders of any size,
any density, etc. Anyone interested?

Jack

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From: Josephine Severn <severn@acay.com.au>
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 21:21:46 +1100
Subject: [Baren 6820] Paper 

Hi everyone

Im going to talk about paper and papermaking, so if you are not
interested in how to make paper you can prints your woodblocks on, skip
this message.

Gayle said "Josephine, you mentioned recycling paper (by making paper
from it)  that has been printed and rejected for one reason or another.
This would not apply to oil based prints would it?  It seems the
pigment and oil would make a brittle paper?"

It depends on the proportion of ink to pulp. I find that most of the
recycled paper is scraps and doesnt have too much ink on it. Just leave
out the really heavy inked bits if you are concerned. I dont find this a
problem at all. You will get flecks of ink colour through the paper
though.

I sort the scraps and make papers of different qualities. Eg clean rag
scraps and japanese papers , to make clean quality paper, dirty (inked)
rag plus woodpulp paper to make poorer quality paper, clean woodpulp
paper plus flowers or plant fibre to make fancy paper. Adding bits of
coloured paper gives you nice pastel papers.

 Amanda said  "A whisk?  How long does that take?  The
blender is a wonderful too but I can't imagine trying to make good
strong
paper in it.  A whisk would be more like the Hollander beater. "

We were uni students living in a treehouse. No money for electrical
appliances, almost no money for electrickery. You soak the paper in
water in a bucket overnight. Then beat with whisk, not recommanded if
you can use a blender. Blender is heaven in comparison. Proportions
about 5% paper to 95% water in blender, if it is labouring then need
more water, less pulp. No, whisk is not like hollander, its just bloody
hard work!

How large are the sheets you pull?

After I used the embroidery ring, I got a kit from a friend. This is the
best way to start. I think they are about $25 here in Aus. It had an A5
mould in it. Trouble with this is its just as much work, for smaller
paper. Professionals use big moulds and then tear the paper down to get
small stuff. Since then I have had one made for me (Phil again) its
approximately A3 size, thats around 30 x 40cms ish. I'd have to go
measure it. Its a nice size for a small press and for bookmaking. The
vat is a plastic storage box with lid. If the mould were any bigger than
this I would have to get a special vat built.

I was spoiled when learning how to make paper at the
Women's Studio Workshop.  Now that I am doing the grad school search, I
am
hoping for a school with papermaking facilities.  Does anyone know of
any?
So far I have the Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison and the Univ of Georgia.

I suggest you join one of the paper discussion groups mentioned on my
paper page. The one-list group is very chatty and helpful (like baren)
and good for beginners. They are building a website with how-to
sections.
Cant help with schools sorry, other than Southern Cross University in
sunny northern NSW here in Aus.... Fancy a trip down under?

Josephine

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From: Jack Reisland <reislandj001@hawaii.rr.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 12:56:00 -1000
Subject: [Baren 6821] Re: Paper 

When I took paper making classes many years ago, they had a paper making
lab at Arizona State University, maybe they still do.

Jack

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End of Baren Digest V9 #797
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