[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Wednesday, 8 December 1999 Volume 09 : Number 813 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 04:18:06 -0600 Subject: [Baren 7048] re: Thanks for stopping by..... Many thanks to those that stopped by last night and helped check things out with my web move; it's a good thing we ordered extra pizza for the 20+ that showed up. The Printmaking page is being updated with some new stuff by Friday.... in the meantime I have left a very personal message for each one of you that stopped by to check out our new home. Just mouseover to the moving baren and you will see your personal message appear at the bottom of the page in the status bar. How would you like to have 2200-2500 people see your work on a daily basis ? How about 4100-4700 pair of eyes on a typical Sunday ? That's what's going to happen when I put our exchange prints up in the upcoming "B.E.S.T." exhibition (Baren Exchange Spring 2000 (the "T" is for 2000); selected prints from the first four Baren exchanges. More details soon. Thanks....Julio http://www.skokienet.org/bandits/micasa.html ------------------------------ From: Don Furst Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 08:38:42 -0500 Subject: [Baren 7049] Re: Baren Digest V9 #810 >maria, simple green is NOT nontoxic I am afraid I must disagree. While I use cooking oil for most oil-based ink clean-up, I do not use it on brayers. I have found that the cooking oil ruins the rubber by gradually making it gummy. --Don Furst ------------------------------ From: Gayle Wohlken Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 10:42:18 -0500 Subject: [Baren 7052] Re: Baren Digest V9 #812 Julio, the moving baren on your webpage is pretty impressive. * * * I had the opportunity yesterday to bring my woodcuts and some blocks to Hiram College to show to the students in Linda Bourassa's printmaking class. That was pretty rewarding. Some good little woodcuts are coming out of that class! Anyway, I told them all about woodblock.com, so maybe some of them will be tuning in. By the way, Linda asked if Roxanne Sexauer was a member of Baren and I told her she is. I hope she still is, I haven't seen a posting from her in a while. I guess they are good friends and Linda says hello to Roxanne if she's still with us. Gayle ------------------------------ From: "Jean Eger" Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1999 04:52:52 +0900 Subject: [Baren 7055] I ordered some brushes from McClains yesterday and talked to Elaine. She says they are NOT going oout of business. In fact, she is preparing next year's catalog. Jean Eger ------------------------------ From: Josephine Severn Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 20:45:26 +1100 Subject: [Baren 7056] Paper and non-toxic cleanup, webrings Phillip No trouble getting papers. I can get them in Sydney at Oxford art supplies in Paddington. Great shop, tiny narrow aisles with art materials stacked to the ceiling, you could move in. The owner is a rotund gentleman, when I met him recently I couldn't help wondering how he fitted in the shop, naughty of me. Wills Quills is even closer. I went there not so long ago for the first time and got methyl cellulose from him for sizing my paper. I had to leave in a hurry before I sent us all bankrupt. Too many tempting things to buy! Nice gentleman. Must dig out his e-mail address and list it. John I have the MES catalogue and drool over it regularly. Theres an etching press in there with my name on it. I just bought 50 sheets of dutch etching paper from them, so can't justify buying any more paper for a while. I have made about forty sheets of handmade paper this week. Am doing a 'dreamline' for an exhibition in Italy next year. Its a piece of paper with a line through it, one from each papermaker and then they all get joined up. See http://www.geocities.com/Soho/Bistro/8025/dreamline.html Julio My husband introduced me to these animated films. I mean the adult ones, not kids cartoons. The first one I saw was a detective story. I was stunned at how the film was presented with all the same type of scenes and edits that you would get in a 'real' movie, but with the most amazing drawings and art. I think Akira is the one most people start with, but I dont think its the best. About non-toxic clean up. Its slowing moving from print workshop to workshop here. I was introduced to it at SCU. There is no turps or solvents in my studio and I too use oil based inks. The heat here isnt good for using water based inks, they dry on the slab. You blot off the ink as John described. I use vegie oil and papertowel to clean of the residue. Then a wash with mild detergent. I've started using Vanson Inks which are rubber based and they are harder to get off, but it can be done. The beauty about Vanson is that they don't skin or dry up in the tin, so there's less waste. (You can get them in Newtown John.) There is really no reason to use solvents, throw them away. I've heard you can use window cleaner on the slab too, to remove the vegie oil. BTW I use oil to clean up my oil paints & palette too. Wanda, I had problems with the wood splitting too, must be the dragons. Will try to send the rest this week. Have John's Dragon sitting beside me as I write, I know Grant is going to enjoy him. Oh, one last thing. Any of you who make artist books or paper might like to join the new webrings that were started this week. Details, Print Australia. Not mine, but I joined them. Back to the studio Josephine ------------------------------ From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 17:26:08 -0600 Subject: [Baren 7059] re: the infamous Vandy brothers Thanks to all for the nice words and for taking time to stop by an check out my new place. John/Philip: Not to worry, the cooky Vandy brothers will make an appearance real soon, actually I was looking for the photos last night but I think my dragon got to them first........you know how it is with hungry dragons asleep for hundreds of years....they eat everything in site! Actually big Van has been busy and was used to imprint the color blocks for exchange #3 and for a second print I completed for another show. Can anyone tell me how SLOW are my images loading ? I mean is it a few seconds or does it really DRAG for a while. I use a T line here so everything just pops in right away.......the thumbnails are small but there are so many of them that it could be slowing down things......you can just send me a private email if you found any problems....thank you from the bottom of my cpu..... Julio http://www.skokienet.org/bandits/micasa.html ------------------------------ From: Jack Reisland Date: Wed, 08 Dec 1999 02:22:55 +0200 Subject: [Baren 7062] Re: Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 11:48:33 -0800 > I ordered some brushes from McClains yesterday and talked to Elaine. She > says they are NOT going oout of business. In fact, she is preparing next > year's catalog. So where did the idea that they were going out of business come from, or did they just change their minds? Anyone have any more insight? Jack ------------------------------ From: "Brad A. Schwartz" Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 16:34:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Baren 7063] Re: Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 11:48:33 -0800 It wasn't that they were going out of business, they want to sell the business, but would close it if there wasn't a buyer... this is what Barbara Mason had mentioned... correct me if I'm wrong Barbara... BS ------------------------------ From: Jack Reisland Date: Wed, 08 Dec 1999 02:45:08 +0200 Subject: [Baren 7064] Re: Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 11:48:33 -0800 Ok, I'll concede the difference. Can we then conclude that they have found a buyer, and so are not closing, or that they didn't find a buyer, but decided not to close? I am asking all these questions in hopes that someone has more information, because I had tried to contact them about it with some interest in the business, but haven't received an answer. Jack ------------------------------ From: Maria Arango Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 17:08:49 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7066] New things The word from my local contact in OSHA came in, Simple Green is indeed non-toxic. It is an irritant to the eyes and mucous membranes but with no long term harmful effects and no effect on unbroken skin. It is mostly wintergreen oil, acetic acid (vinegar strength), and a natural detergent. It also does not harm the environment in its natural state, although once it has reacted with oil-based inks it should not be disposed of in the trash if you happen to care about such things. We have a well that feeds off a closed-system aquifer, so I care muchly. I don't like cleaning up with mineral oil as a final cleanup because it leaves things...oily. I guess only time will tell on the different rollers and brayers. Thank you all for your answers and input. For even more non-toxic info I have placed a query to my fanatic brother-in-law, a Molecular Biologist at Yale who is a devout environmentalist. I'm sure I will keep you posted. Hey! Inquiring minds want to know... The cherry dragons, born just a few days ago, are drying their wings and almost ready to fly off into the next millenium. Even though they are babies, they already look mean. I'm still holding out for the dragon stamps, though, before I send them. Two new pieces, hot off the--well, one hot off the press, the other hot off the baren. You can reach them from my main page, under LATEST WORKS. Renaissance is a big one (36"x25"), did not fit on the press bed so I had to churn it by hand; actually still printing the edition. Garden Gifts was started by hand and finished with press. I am experimenting with layering inks until they look like an impasto oil painting; very yummy and chunky! Julio, your web site loads fine for me but we have a direct fiber connection through the University. Josephine, Go to http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com for a ph testing pen. Bea, count me in for a bunk! Guess that covers all. Health to all, Maria ------------------------------ From: "barebone" Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 17:44:10 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7068] Re: Baren Digest V9 #812 Just reading some of the oil base cleaning up ideas and thought I'd pass mine along to any one who is interested. I use vegetable oil and rubbing alcohol only. The alcohol I buy when on sale and replace the cap on the bottle I'm using with a snap cap from a dishwashing detergent bottle. Then I can just pop & squirt and not have to chase a bottle cap. No more Simple Green - the suggestion of a little dilute Dawn works very well for the final cleaning to remove the veg. oil. I, too, scrape up all the ink off the palette with a razor blade knife (a paint scraper), then pour a little oil over the large roller and twirl it in the oil. Then wipe off with paper towels or clean rags. The brayers I coat with a little oil and roll back & forth on phone book pages until all the ink is gone, then wipe with rags/paper towels. Blocks or plates, just wipe off with oil & alchohol. Finally, I wipe up the oil with a rag with some alcohol and wash the rollers off with dilute detergent and water. This has worked very well for me, and keeps solvents out of the studio altogether. My tools are all in good condition - no ill effects, no pitting, rusting, or other icky stuff. I haven't seen anyone mention Aiko's Art Materials Import Inc. for Japanese papers - they are located at 3347 No. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60657. Phone: 773/404-5600, Fax: 773/404-5919. They have things I've never been able to find anyplace else and are very helpful. I love Toyama Kozo, Shin Tobi and Minokichi. Thanks for all the good ideas you all pass along - its always a learning experience to read the digest ! Sharri ------------------------------ From: B Mason Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 17:25:44 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7069] Re: Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 11:48:33 -0800 You are right Brad, but I know there is a Baren member interested enough to be in negotiations right now. Elaine did say to me they would close it down if they don't sell it, but maybe she was just having a discouraging day. Hope the sale goes through as I would like to be able to buy from them, one way or the other. Barbara ------------------------------ From: B Mason Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 19:30:14 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7070] oil and alcohol Sherrie, I was reading the first digests and there is something in there about isiporpol alcohol.Maybe you should read it.I also use it and am going to do a little research now as I thought it was very safe. Maria, ask your cousin (?) about alcohol, will you? Seemed to be only Isopropol, not denatured that they were talking about. I found this post when I decided to read the digests from the beginning. My computer was down geting more ram and a faster modem, I had 66 messages in 2 days...what would happen if we went away for a week? Now I see why people unsubscribe while they are away. Barbara ------------------------------ From: Wanda Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 21:08:07 -0800 Subject: [Baren 7072] Re: About McClains Jean, I didn't think she was going out of business - just that she & her husband wanted to *sell* the business! I could be wrong, though. The internet is a great way to spread information (or mis-information). I'm hoping to get to talk to her tomorrow, so I'll just ask what the deal is - - point blank & let you all know what she says. I received a letter from her today, asking for work to put in the catalog for next year. I'm sure that all of you who order from them will get a letter too. I think we should have a big representation in the catalog next year! The letter says they might put the catolog on a CD next year - wouldn't that be great? Wanda ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V9 #813 ***************************