Baren Digest Thursday, 14 March 2002 Volume 18 : Number 1762 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Cucamongie@aol.com Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 08:55:42 EST Subject: [Baren 17494] Kathy Caraccio I already emailed Mike offlist about Kathy - I took a class in hanga from her about 4 or 5 years ago, which I really enjoyed. She had some special tricks that I found helpful, and I thought it interesting as she was approaching hanga from the point of view of a master printer and artist (as opposed to a strict hanga purist), and had some interesting troubleshooting solutions. She's a nice person and very energetic and generous teacher! I have taken hanga classes from a number of teachers (including our own amazing April, of course!) and I always enjoy hearing about each teacher's approach to this very heavily technical method of printing. It's allowed me a number of options to consider with each aspect of the process. best wishes Sarah ------------------------------ From: slinders@attbi.com Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 08:29:43 -0600 Subject: [Baren 17495] Re: Book to consider Block Museum continues to be a wonderful print destination. This winter they presented an exceptional show: "Hiratsuka Un'ichi: Color Woodblock Prints", accompanied by a beautiful catalogue that is still available.(about $19.) Hiratsuka Un'ichi and his wife had an affectionate connection with Evanston. I purchased the little Keiko Iratsuka Moore manual that you mention at Aiko's, in Chicago, within the last three years. Good suggestions, Ray! Sharen Ray Hudson wrote: > > If you're interested in black and white prints, last year The Art > Institute of Chicago published a stunning book: Hiratsuka: Modern> Master. >It's filled with his amazing woodcuts, many in b/w and a few in> color. A good introduction >also. It's about $25. ISBN> 0-86559-193-8. His daughter Keiko Iratsuka Moore published > a small manual in 1973 called "Moku Hanga: How to make Japanese wood block> prints." > Ray H ------------------------------ From: slinders@attbi.com Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 08:30:36 -0600 Subject: [Baren 17496] Hatch Show Print: 123 Years of American Show Biz Letterpress In Chicago, First Fridays of the month are traditionally opening evenings for art exhibits, and all of the gallery districts are busy, with university art students bussed in, refreshments served, and the streets full of entertainment. This exhibit opening, "Hatch Show Print: 123 Years of American Show Biz Letterpress" at Columbia's Center for the Book and Paper, will be especially lively and fun-filled! "Hatch Show Print, located in Nashville, Tennessee has been an operating letterpress shop since 1879. Over the years, Hatch's clients have included carnivals, circuses, vaudeville and minstrel shows, theaters, musicians, and local Nashville businesses." Opening reception: April 5, 5 -7, Lecture: April 5, 6:30, followed by live music (The Waco Brothers and Sally Timms), and munchies. The Hatch website, with a nifty TNN video clip and much other information. Jim Sherraden, manager of Hatch Show Print since 1984, and featured in the video clip, will present a slide show and lecture on the history of Hatch at the Chicago event. Sharen ------------------------------ From: FurryPressII@aol.com Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 16:13:36 EST Subject: [Baren 17497] Re: Hatch Show Print: 123 Years of American Show Biz Letterpress there is a wonderful book on the hatch show print in print. If you can't make the openning check out the book. I will deff try to make the openning hope to see you there. John Center ------------------------------ From: Daniel Dew Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 16:21:02 -0500 Subject: [Baren 17498] Taking the plunge O.K. you Hanga Masters: If someone (ME) were to try the traditional Japanese methodology, would you recommend the first attempt to be a one color block or a multi-color block. I.E. Dip your toe in or take the plunge? Nervous in Tampa, Daniel L. Dew http://www.dandew.com/ ddew@tampabay.rr.com ------------------------------ From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 16:20:19 -0600 Subject: [Baren 17499] Re: Taking the plunge - New exchange 03/13/2002 04:20:23 PM "..would you recommend the first attempt to be a one color block or a multi-color block" >From a point of getting the process down, I would recommend a single color block. Not that it matters much to the basics, it just makes things a lot less complicated when you don't have to worry about registration and keeping the paper moist or soft for a long period. Before working on an actual edition or a "real" print, I would recommend some play time where you just play/practice with the brushes, moistening the paper, mixing up paste and pigment on a practice block, etc.......just play & experiment time...nothing to be kept for prosperity....reading about it is good, watching someone do it is probably much better (if they are doing it right!)...but nothing beats hands-on play time. You may be able to use one of your old blocks or you could practice on a solid piece of wood. Practice softening the paper with water ( I use a spray bottle atomizer, others use a large brush), applying the pigment & the paste on the block, mixing them with a japanese brush (carefully removing all traces/lines of pigment with a very soft final stroke...), using the baren, spoon, doorknob, etc... compare results to desired effect......use more or less paste, rub harder with the baren, do a double impression, overlay one color over another, etc, etc...............get to know the technique. This I would recommend before embarking on a real print. Speaking of real prints.....a few of us hanga-wannabees have indicated an interest on a "moku-hanga" only exchange. In other words water based woodblock prints. Not meant to offend or exclude the oil-only printmakers, it is open to everyone. We are looking at this as possibly very much a beginner's thing with room for everybody that wants to try it. Daniel Dew, Mike Lyons and myself are onboard (not that these two other guys are beginners!). We are looking for a few more brave souls. Because this might be (will be!) trying for many of us, we thought of a smaller sized print, 8.5 X10" (chuban format) and with a limit of perhaps 20 participants (as to not make the editions to taxing). Theme will be open. Hopefully not only beginners would join us as it would be good to have a mixture of skills on the exchange. Why do this ? Won't many of the prints be terrible ? Possibly, but perhaps we can document some of the trials & tribulations as we go along that each of us experiences....a while back (1998!) we started a page for 'Newbies' (our word for beginners) on the website..is still there (http://barenforum.org/encyclopedia/topics/008/008_frame.html) ......where some of us spelled out our frustrations, errors, etc.....lots of fun! Perhaps we can build on that and have a 'What-not-to-do in Hanga' page........ Anyways....think about it...in a week or two after the Large-Print exchange deadline passes and the Gospels-text Message project is due....I will post about it again and see if there is enough interest. We will handle this as a separate exchange apart from the quarterly Baren schedule. Moku-Hanga only chuban open theme starting April 1st.....due end of June ?, July ?, KC 2003 ????? Look at this as a trial run for KC-2003.... thanks...Julio ------------------------------ From: G Wohlken Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 17:29:04 -0500 Subject: [Baren 17500] Hatch Show Prints We visited the Hatch Show Prints business in Nashville and were taken behind the front desk into the back to see the presses and the stacked-to-the-ceiling woodblocks and cabinets of type. I own a few Hatch Show Prints. They are very affordable, by the way. There was a nice exhibit of the show sprints at the Nashville airport, and that is when I got my first glimpse of them which made me vow at the time to visit the business itself next time I was in town. Gayle ------------------------------ From: ArtfulCarol@aol.com Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 17:42:51 EST Subject: [Baren 17501] Firemens Benefit Results. The Benefit Exhibit in Irvington, NY is over. It was WORTHY! Sold: 31 prints $1,395 250+ people viewed the Exhbit. Typical comments in Guest Book: "Great art. Now I want to cry" "We should remember this forever. God Bless" "Art work speaks for itself" I can go on and on..... I will write a letter for the local newspaper thanking the community for the support and help given. Carol ------------------------------ From: "Lee and Barbara Mason" Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 15:00:35 -0800 Subject: [Baren 17502] Re: Taking the plunge Dear Nervous in Tampa..... go for two or three subtle colors......you can do this Dan. Read all the one point messages first. Barbara > O.K. you Hanga Masters: > If someone (ME) were to try the traditional Japanese methodology, would > you recommend the first attempt to be a one color block or a multi-color block. > I.E. Dip your toe in or take the plunge? > > Nervous in Tampa, > ------------------------------ From: David Bull Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 08:33:27 +0900 Subject: [Baren 17503] Re: Taking the plunge Dan wrote: > Dip your toe in or take the plunge? > > Nervous in Tampa, Hey 'Nervous', can I toss in something here that you may have overlooked? Unlike most of the prints you have made so far - the _reduction_ prints - work produced in the method you want to try involves no stressful 'can't go back' decisions. When you are making a colour print from multiple blocks, it's always possible to cut another block if needed, or to leave out some of the ones you've already cut. You can experiment as you go, trying to find the particular colour/tonal scheme, with no 'penalty'. During work on my album last year, a couple of times I had to pause during the printing process and cut another block, and once I went back during the proofing process and cut another entire key block. Proofing can take as long as you want, days or weeks if you wish - trying out colour combinations, gradations, etc. etc. It's even possible to take dried and 'finished' proofs, cut another block, re-moisten the paper, and print on 'top' ... Once you've had enough 'playing around' and have 'built' the print you want, you peacefully pull the edition. Trust me - it's very stress free - great 'play' actually! - and far more relaxed than making a reduction print. Try it! Dave ------------------------------ From: Bette Wappner Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 18:39:08 -0500 Subject: [Baren 17504] Re: Taking the plunge Dan - I have faith in you too! Go for it Dan! Take the plunge. I'm right behind you with trying the "Hanga thing". I just need a few more supplies - rice paste, color, brushes. Bette from Cinti. Keep us posted on your progress. ------------------------------ From: Charles Morgan Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 17:34:15 -0800 Subject: [Baren 17505] newbie exchange Well, I think you can count me in on this one ... unless Graham takes me quietly aside after bootcamp and suggests I concentrate on finger painting ... Keep us all posted ....... Charles Speaking of real prints.....a few of us hanga-wannabees have indicated an >interest on a "moku-hanga" only exchange. In other words water based >woodblock prints. Not meant to offend or exclude the oil-only printmakers, >it is open to everyone. We are looking at this as possibly very much a >beginner's thing with room for everybody that wants to try it. Daniel Dew, >Mike Lyons and myself are onboard (not that these two other guys are >beginners!). We are looking for a few more brave souls. >Because this might be (will be!) trying for many of us, we thought of a >smaller sized print, 8.5 X10" (chuban format) and with a limit of perhaps >20 participants (as to not make the editions to taxing). Theme will be >open. >Hopefully not only beginners would join us as it would be good to have a >mixture of skills on the exchange. >Anyways....think about it...in a week or two after the Large-Print exchange >deadline passes and the Gospels-text Message project is due....I will post >about it again and see if there is enough interest. We will handle this as >a separate exchange apart from the quarterly Baren schedule. >Moku-Hanga only >chuban >open theme >starting April 1st.....due end of June ?, July ?, KC 2003 ????? > >Look at this as a trial run for KC-2003.... >thanks...Julio > > > > ------------------------------ From: Aqua4tis@aol.com Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 22:19:44 EST Subject: [Baren 17506] Re: Firemens Benefit Results. carol BRAVO!!!!!!!!! georga ------------------------------ From: Graham Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 22:52:54 -0800 Subject: [Baren 17507] Re: newbie exchange Charles.... Not to fear. When you get finished bootcamp you will have all the knowledge and skills required to do a smashing print. All that will be required of you is the imagination and skills to create the image. I do have to mention putting to use the knowledge and skills you will gain in a regular schedule of practice.... I can see by the image you sent me, that you want to do a camp, is going to be a perfect start up piece... I will respond to your questions to morrow. Graham >Well, I think you can count me in on this one ... unless Graham takes me quietly aside after bootcamp and suggests I concentrate on finger painting ... > ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V18 #1762 *****************************