Baren Digest Thursday, 22 March 2001 Volume 14 : Number 1364 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Cucamongie@aol.com Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 08:41:08 EST Subject: [Baren 13976] "terrible" drawings Hi all, Maria, I know what you mean about doing funky drawings on any old thing when you're working stuff out. One of my BIG (30" x 40") prints was made from a drawing that I originally did on a little postit. Also, sometimes I see some scene on the street that I have to try to hold in my head til I can try to transfer it to paper - oh that reminds me, there was this great little kid I saw yesterday on the street all bundled up, everything muted colors except a bright yellow hood, well here I go to get that "terrible drawing" out! best wishes all, Sarah ------------------------------ From: "Connie Grace" Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 11:16:02 -0500 Subject: [Baren 13977] wood charset="iso-8859-1" I once tried using birch plywood for a white line woodcut with disastrous results. After the first one or two prints, (printing with water colors) I usually "damp mop" the top of the block so color does not build up. This works fine on a solid piece of wood but on the plywood it caused the thin veneer to disintegrate. In the past, when I wanted to make a large print my son-in-law would laminate two pieces of basswood (my favorite) so skillfully that you could not detect the joint. He has now moved to California. Is there some method of protecting the plywood, when printing with water based material, so it does not do this? Somebody out there must have a solution. I still have lots of the birch. Connie Grace ------------------------------ From: "Jeanne Norman Chase" Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 10:49:41 -0500 Subject: [Baren 13978] Re: Exchange #9 charset="iso-8859-1" Dan I am doing a different print for your exchange and the Barens. I must be nuts to sign up for so many exchanges, I thought I would not make Bea,s exchange so started to relax. Whoops, now I am in that one too. OK, I will do another Endangered Species. It is a great subject and I wanted to do it anyway. Have the first run finished on Exchange 8 and 3 more runs to go. Should be done by the end of March , then have my idea already for yours, Dan. These exchanges seem to be addictive. But they do keep me out of mischief, huh, Barbara?? Wanda and All Just read the rules and regulations. OK by me. With 400 people on board I guess a little guidance is needed. Thanks to all of you who drafted the rules. Lots of work!!!! Back to the drafting table. Jeanne N. ------------------------------ From: Wanda Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 08:02:16 -0700 Subject: [Baren 13979] Re: Exchange #9 I'm doing two different prints - gosh there is no lack of subject matter for this exchange. And since it is a separate exchange, but just the same subject - my opinion is that it should be a different print. I know it started out as a sort of continuation of the #9 Baren exchange - but it has taken on a life of it's own. Different paper sizes, etc. Also, if both exchanges are exhibited side by side, wouldn't it be better to have a different print in each exchange? Wanda "Daniel L. Dew" wrote: > > Gosh, good question. I had assumed everyone would recieve a print like a > normal exchnage. So, some will actually get two prints (i.e. duplicates) > > P.S. I'm doing one print for the Salon and another for Baren. Bea wrote: > > Dan, I just went through the list - yours and the Exchange #9 list and I > > think there are 8 people who are on both. (including you and me) Are we ------------------------------ From: amoss@mindspring.com (John Amoss) Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 11:17:10 -0500 (EST) Subject: [Baren 13980] Re: Exchange 8 on its way Ray Hudson wrote: >Well, at last the prints for Exchange 8 are in the mail After a chorus of us singing "Someday, my prints will come"...I want to say a big thanks to Ray for his work and patience spent on the Baren #8 exchange. As a previous coordinator, I can say to those who haven't been one that it takes a lot of care and time to make things work. Organizing and shipping nearly 1000 prints is a daunting job. The rewards are substantial also, but I remember letting out a big sigh of relief after dropping the last package off. Ray, where/when can we send online artists' comments? Thanks again! - -John A. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AMOSS ILLUSTRATION, INC. (706)549-4662 FAX(706)549-3962 amoss@mindspring.com www.mindspring.com/~amoss 365 Ponderosa Dr.,Athens, GA 30605 USA ------------------------------ From: Daniel Dew Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 12:07:52 -0500 Subject: [Baren 13981] Content and rules Wow, I've sat back for days and just "listened" to the conversation, wondering where it would all go. I will say, I have been very impressed with how the participants and council have managed the "content" and quality of the conversations. Let's see: We recently went through a hotly contested U.S. election; not a peep out of anyone. We have political conflicts where members live, not a word We have exchanges with questionable content at times, no bad comments Overall, this is quite amazing if you step back and view it as a whole. Imagine for a moment what could happen with just a few loose "cannons" mouthing off about politics, religion, race or whatever. It's not a pretty thought. Keep up the good work council and applause and kudos to all the members who are considerate enough to realize that we cross many borders and many cultures. Even though I am considered "conservative", I don't like "rules" either, but I can see the need for them in case someone does "step out of line". But, only one post a day? That'll kill me :-) dan dew ------------------------------ From: Sunnffunn@aol.com Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 13:16:39 EST Subject: [Baren 13982] Re: #10 coming up! are linoblocks still accepted for exchangesor will this be the push into wood i need??? Marilynn Portland, Oregon ------------------------------ From: James G Mundie Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 13:15:51 -0500 Subject: [Baren 13983] transferring to the block Maria wrote: > I think about a piece for a long time, but rarely sketch anything in > advanced. I came to this habit because, when drawing, my first few sketches > captured the concept I wanted to portray; later more careful drawings missed > completely. I often scribble some doodles somewhere, end up losing my > reference, and proceed to attack the block, drawing in pencil right on the > wood. Then I go over the main lines with black marker or sumi ink and > begin-a-cuttin' Sometimes the design changes during the process and ink > colors and paper decisions are made as the block comes to life. Maria, If you really prefer those first bursts of enthusiasm over later revisions (in the planning phase, that is), perhaps you might consider transferring those original sketches instead of trying to re-draw them on the block. I've been doing that a bit lately because I too find that the second attempt looks a bit stiff, whereas the initial movement of the pen was more 'true'. Transferring a drawing can be done rather simply with a photocopier and a drop of oil of wintergreen*. Make your copy to whatever size you want, tape it face down on the block, apply a tiny amount of the oil to the paper with a cotton ball, wait a moment to let some of the excess oil evaporate, and then apply pressure. Viola! (no, not the musical instrument) What you will have is a more or less perfect rendition of your original drawing. *[oil of wintergreen or the cheaper but just as effective synthetic 'wintergreen oil' may be purchased in any pharmacy. I recently purchased a 2 fl.oz. (59ml) bottle of the latter for about US$3; the natural stuff costs about three times that. Use it sparingly, because although it's an external analgesic/counterirritant added in small amounts to liniments and ointments to combat muscle pain, larger quantities may cause skin irritation or severe burns. Also, my wife can't stand the smell of it.] Of course, you could always resort to good ol' carbon paper, if you can still find it! Simply insert the carbon paper underneath your sketch and trace it onto the block. If your original sketch was done on tracing paper, you can easily flip it over before tracing to play with the orientation of the final print. However, none of this may necessary if you radically change the piece as you work on it. James Mundie http://www.missioncreep.com/mundie/index.htm ------------------------------ From: Ray Hudson Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 14:39:03 -0500 Subject: [Baren 13984] Re: Exchange 8 on its way John Amoss wrote: > > > Ray, where/when can we send online artists' comments? > > John--once the prints have been scanned and put in a Baren exchange gallery > there will be a place for comments. The comments will either be public or > private depending on what individual artists preferred according to what > they filled out when completing the colophon info sheet. This sheet is now > closed for exchange 8 of course. I would urge all those in exchange 9 to > fill out this page as soon as the title, etc. is known for the print being > made. It helps whoever is preparing the colophon to have this info as soon > as possible. If JD from exchange 8 is reading this, please drop me a note. Can't seem to get through on your email address & I have a question regarding your exchange 8 prints. (I need your address.) Thanks! Ray ------------------------------ From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 13:38:58 -0600 Subject: [Baren 13985] Re: lino, #10 & rules 03/21/2001 01:37:36 PM Marilynn #1.......... Lino was discussed a while back and is for sure an accepted media for the exchanges and for discussion. Also wood engraving and any other technique where wood (or a wood-like matrix) is worked in similar fashion. The reason for such allowances is that all these disciplines have so much in common and the output prints can be so similar. Some of us have been known to scroll out shapes with our bandsaw, assemble blocks from multiple pieces of wood, use automobiles as printing presses and many other creative wild ideas. All very acceptable and welcomed here. Marilynn #2.......... about being afraid to participate in an exchange....one good look at any of my prints from exchanges #1-4 should put to rest any fears of not being accepted....(just don't laugh at my newbie attempts!!!), I could be wrong but I think I am now the only member that has participated in all of the Baren exchanges to date and I think with #8 & #9 you will see marked improvement ......progress at last! #9 exchange.... I am on both groups, so will probably make two different prints or at the very least two different states of the same print (one set for each group). By the way, if you want your "Endangered species" prints exhibited in the Baren-Skokie show, I need to have #9 exchange completed and in my hands by mid-April or so.... same thing applies with your Snake 2001 Exchange cards. Get cutting! Maria..... Have fun in your excursion thru the Wild West exhibits and may you reap many a profit. Ray..... Thanks so very much for the work and extended effort required for exchange #8, those that have gone thru this before can certainly sympathize. THANKS!!! Just one note here on the rules. Chill out everyone! There is no censorship going on and there never has been. Many council members have spoken out on this but the concerned posts still are coming in. Do this....send out an email and compare it to what gets posted on Baren........the only thing that is been taken out is the html garbage for the benefit of the members that receive the digest version of the posts. The "new" rules have always been there from day one if you care to read thru the assorted administrative pages on the forum site, the only difference is that now they are somewhat more concise & visible. No member should be afraid to post or to create prints that convey their true and artistic feelings. Dan..... We are somewhat spoiled, I don't think we can survive with just one post a day from you......... Look at the rules posting this way............. Is kind of like jay-walking.....a necessary law.....but hardly ever inforced and one that certainly must people bend........ Julio Rodriguez (Skokie, Illinois) ------------------------------ From: Nilsa Macaya Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 15:08:32 -0500 Subject: [Baren 13986] no place like Baren's There is no place like Baren's. Think about it. Where can you pose a question on the topic of woodblock and then get dozens of helpful tips from other artists around the planet working in this medium? For those who think rules are confining - relax, start carving and let us know how your work is progressing. If you discover a new working technique, post it - if you discover that you need help, post that too. Everyone is listening, I think this is why we all joined Baren. nilsamacaya@rcn.com ------------------------------ From: "Bridget Henry" Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 14:43:53 -0800 Subject: [Baren 13987] Re: Baren Digest v14 #1363

Hello all I just realized how difficult it is to explain a method without pictures. I wanted to add my method to the registration band wagon I hope this makes sense. I use pins and holes. I punch holes in my paper and tape pins to the registration board. The holes in my paper line up with the pins on my reg. board so that ideally every time I lay my paper down it falls in exactly the same place. I make my reg. board in a way that my woodcut board will snug in the same spot every time I print. I usually print seven color reductive prints and I have found that this method works great for me no bravery required. If any one wants to know more feel free to email me off list.

BUT, what I really want to know is should I still be expecting snake prints? Every day I am somewhat disappointed when those 20 or so odd prints have failed to show up. I know it is still the year of the snake and hibernation is just ending for some but where are you?

Also, what does lol mean? Is it some kindof web code? I keep seeing that on some of the posts.

Bridget Henry

bridgetmaryh@hotmail.com

www.sosaywe.com/bridget

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------------------------------ From: Claude Villeneuve Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 18:36:01 -0500 Subject: [Baren 13988] Re: Exchange #9 Bea and Dan: I'm making two different prints. Since I was on the waiting list for Exchange 9 I first did Dan's prints and I have my idea for Exchange # 9. For me, they are two separate exchanges... Cheers! Spring seem to have arrived even in Montreal! Claude Aimée ------------------------------ From: "Bea Gold" Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 16:24:40 -0800 Subject: [Baren 13990] Baren Mall - pigments charset="iso-8859-1" Here's a funny little story about pigment and disbursement in alcohol for you Baren kiddies. I bought a plastic ball bearing baren and some pigments from the Baren Mall. I've been using the baren and it's terrific. It feels good in the hand, makes a nice little tinkling sound and has enough weight to make printing very smooth and easy. Now for the pigments - I went to the Baren Encyclopedia http://bArenforum.org/encyclopedia/entries/013_04/013_04_frame.html to Dave's page on preparing pigment for use in hanga. I was happy to see my pigments looked just like Dave's. As a good student I followed his directions. Dave says he uses pure alcohol punched from the pharmacy so I called my local pharmacy asking for pure alcohol. No - I need to go to a hospital supply place or hospital pharmacy. I went to my hospital pharmacy asking for pure alcohol - they had it but it was not available to the consumer - no - go to your local liquor supply place and buy Ever Clear a pure 100% beverage alcohol . So, I went to my local liquor supplier - no - Ever Clear is illegal in California - Go to Arizona. - I have not gone and I haven't used my pigment yet. I think I'm going to try vodka - any reason not to? Join me for a drink? Bea ------------------------------ From: Aqua4tis@aol.com Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 20:16:26 EST Subject: [Baren 13991] Re: international snakes hi everyone sorry to be so late with this but i finally got the rest of my snakes mailed today so all the international people should be getting my snake soon it is a lino cut done with speedball oil based ink on lana paper with celtic overtones im happy to say that my poverty stricken life style is about to change ive been offered a job as a long term substitute teaching science im going to give them my answer in a few days after ive done some teaching this class may end up drawing plants, bugs, and the human digestive system lol thanks for your patience georga ------------------------------ From: David Bull Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2001 10:05:45 +0900 Subject: [Baren 13992] Re: Baren Mall - pigments Bea Gold wrote: > Dave says he uses pure alcohol punched from the pharmacy so I > called my local pharmacy asking for pure alcohol ... > I think I'm going to try vodka - any reason not to? I think I mentioned in one of those pages somewhere that most of the printers here simply use a shot of o-sake. It does the job just fine. By using pure alcohol I'm just trying to minimize the sugars and stuff that might be left behind in the print (bug food). But when you think of the amount of gelatin that is in there anyway, I very much doubt that it makes any practical difference. Here too in Japan it's a bit difficult to get pure alcohol - when I first tried to get some from the pharmacy, the guy wasn't too excited about selling it to me. But after I explained what it was for, he let me have some, and has been supplying me ever since. Note too, that it is not needed for _all_ those pigments - just the few that refuse to easily disperse in water. Another note: if you are going to be mixing gum arabic into the pigment also, it's better to wait until the alcohol has evaporated before doing so. The two can react together and form sticky ropy cords in the mix, and you end up tossing the whole thing. Procedure: - - grind powder to generally fine consistency - - moisten raw powder with alcohol - - add water - - wait until alcohol is gone - - add gum arabic (if needed) This reaction isn't a problem if you're using paste that you've prepared in advance (with an alcohol/water mix), but just comes up if you're working directly with raw powder. Dave ------------------------------ From: Artsmadis@aol.com Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 21:03:49 EST Subject: [Baren 13993] Re: Baren Mall - pigments In a message dated 3/21/01 6:25:31 PM Central Standard Time, bnj50@earthlink.net writes: << I have not gone and I haven't used my pigment yet. I think I'm going to try vodka - any reason not to? >> I have a book of modern chemical recipes that advises using 200 proof vodka instead of commercial chemically pure alcohol. I think it was stated that 200 proof vodka is pure alcohol. Should work fine, but don't drink it. Darrell ********************* http://members.aol.com/artsmadis/index.htm.htm 70 pages so far ********************** ------------------------------ From: "Garth Hammond" Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 20:00:37 -0700 Subject: [Baren 13994] Re: #10 coming up! REPEAT after me LINOBLOCKS ARE GOOD,,LINO BLOCKS ARE GOOD........ I really have no idea what your agreements are, just seems to me you = are doing the work and paying the freight. Garth ------------------------------ From: Wanda Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 19:12:16 -0700 Subject: [Baren 13995] Re: snakes & registration Bridget Henry wrote: > makes sense. I use pins and holes. I punch holes in my paper and tape pins to > the registration board. The holes in my paper line up with the pins on my reg. > BUT, what I really want to know is should I still be expecting snake prints? > Every day I am somewhat disappointed when those 20 or so odd prints have failed > Also, what does lol mean? Is it some kindof web code? I keep seeing that on > some of the posts. Yes, yes, yes, where are the rest of the snakes? We want a whole passel of snakes! "lol" stands for "laugh out loud". There are sites on the web that will give you a jillion of these little things, but most people only use that one and "IMHO" which is "in my humble opinion" The registration method I use (with the oily stuff & on a press) is tabs of microfilm taped to the back of the printing paper - with pins taped onto a registration board made from matt board & foam core. An L-shaped place for the board to fit snugly against & voila! no suicide over those reduction prints! On hanga - the kento method carved into the wood works wonderfully well - except when your paper gets away from you! Well, when that happens, neither method works very well. :-) I think the "hole in the paper" is a very similar method to the one I use. And Bridgett's snake really shows how great her reduction prints turn out. Wanda ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest v14 #1364 *****************************