[Baren] the mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking Baren Digest Thursday, 10 August 2000 Volume 12 : Number 1109 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Philip Smith" Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 11:47:12 -0700 Subject: [Baren 10894] Wood Block Chat Only Here it is past 11am and no messages!!! I think when the world is limited to how paper is stained and how to wrap a baren the group of chatters is going to be serious limited. Besides cutting a block of wood and making a print,...I like to here from the group on where they've been and what else they are doing! Wrapping a baren,...well, hate to tell you but at least half us are western printers and we use a 200lb, etching press to print. Come on Dave,...life goes somewhat beyond the woodblock,..and in a way all things relate to the woodblock,...golly-wise even Graham hasn't been on with one of his antidotes,.... I'm off to the beach,...well, I do look for wood to cut on so I guess it's okay to say that,.... Chow,.... Philip ------------------------------ From: Mike Lyon Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2000 15:02:07 -0500 Subject: [Baren 10896] Re: Baren Digest V12 #1107 >In the first shot, he is stretching the moist skin to make it wider (so >that it will shrink down tightly). In the second shot he is rubbing the >inner surface of the skin. In the third he is doing _vigorous_ rubbing Photo 1 and photo 2, that's exactly what I do. Photo 3, to keep the rhyme is what I'll try to do next time. mikelyon@mlyon.com http://www.mlyon.com ------------------------------ From: "Perry Riley" Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 16:28:28 -0500 Subject: [Baren 10898] Rules? My observation... **** rules and limiting possibilities, recent = dialogue****** I feel obligated to put my 2 cents worth in... I find it very important that artist not lose sight of the creative process that they are evolved in and not to begin creating rules and stipulation on what is credible to a certain art process. I would rather explore in a positive sense the complimentary aspects that each artists or particular group have to offer. I feel that both Philip and Graham have valid points to their recent expressions of concerns for content among the group. I have already expressed that I personally enjoy exploring new alternative surfaces and approaches in an experimental manor. I would like to think that we all could agree that this type of exploration, or "out of the box thinking" is one of the ways that art history has proven to provide new and exciting avenues for others to explore. The history of lithography is an excellent example and "who would have every guess" that lithography would have every evolve to the point of becoming waterless. Especially when water has been a major part of the chemistry of lithography for over 200 years. This is not meant as a negative message but just an area I feel needs to be considered to help break new ground. Sincerely, Perry Riley ------------------------------ From: "Daniel L. Dew" Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2000 18:46:12 -0400 Subject: [Baren 10899] HELP!!!!!!! All you that have used Aqua Kolor: is it supposed to roll out so thin? I roll everything and no matter what color I try, it always looks washed out. What gives? dan dew ------------------------------ From: Blouin Danielle Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2000 21:22:03 -0500 Subject: [Baren 10900] Re: raising grain With a blowtorch just having the flame on the edge not direct because it could make hole in your wood , but it have to be burn on the surface (dark brown) and after just go with a steel brush in the woodgrain direction to open delicately the grain, depending of the wood some areas will burn faster than other, so just go slowly but even on your surface. Certain blowtorch have a wide burning attachment this could be good too. But just burn your woodcut, don't be addict on your home walls!!! ------------------------------ From: barbara patera Date: Wed, 09 Aug 100 20:46:16 Pacific Daylight Time Subject: [Baren 10901] re: raising grain Dan, Have you tried water???? It always works(raises grain) when spilled on furniture. Blowtorches sound so very gutsy....unless they are the little ones sold to brown the tops of flan. Anyway, you've raised this question, and since it is something I've been meaning to incorporate into a print will try out the water method first.Will wait until after the Northwest fire season to try the torch. Barbara P. ------------------------------ From: B Mason Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2000 22:11:45 -0700 Subject: [Baren 10902] help Dan said: >All you that have used Aqua Kolor: is it supposed to roll out so thin? >I roll everything and no matter what color I try, it always looks washed >out. What gives? Use more than one layer. If you roll two or three layers one on top of the other on your plate it will print considerably darker. Let your first layer be the base clear stuff. Barbara M ------------------------------ From: B Mason Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2000 22:27:09 -0700 Subject: [Baren 10903] silly season Seems like the silly season has sillied us into silence. Is that a word? We recently had a death in our family, my husband's brother, (85 and never sick until the 3 weeks before his death) and it makes you think a lot about life and meaning and art and so on. I seem to be a person of major over-committment, which cuts into my art time in a big way. I am constantly behind in my creating and today I was sitting in the gallery in Portland with only 7 people in six hours coming in. One of these was the mail man and one was my sister, so that makes 5 cutsomers. I had a lot of time to think about priorities. I think one reason I get so busy that I have limited time in the studio is fear of actually creating work that I like or that I think is worthwhile. I do not sell my work as a living so that motivation is missing. When I am out working it is wonderful and I ask myself why I don't make it my most important priority. The only answer that keeps coming up is I am afraid I won't be able to create. I am sure I am not alone in this, but I think it is very wierd and I would welcome comments from other artists. If you never have this problem, don't let me know. I think I want sympathy here friends! Advise would be good too! Barbara M ------------------------------ From: "john ryrie" Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2000 13:57:59 +1000 Subject: [Baren 10904] flame Dan said- to raise the grain in certain areas, i.e. a background, use an open flame? How long? How Hot? Matches, my breath or blowtorch? I've used a blowtorch also a gas stove, later you can get the blackened wood off with steel wool or a soft wire brush. Another way is to sand blast it, masking off the parts where you don't want the grain. [How long, How much] this depends on the wood. You will have to do tests on scraps of the same wood. John P.S. Can you relay get an open flame from your breath? If so I'll have a glass of what your having. ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V12 #1109 *****************************