Baren Digest               Thursday, 29 May 2003       Volume 23 : Number 2239


----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: G Wohlken <blueman#pantek.com>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 09:29:19 -0400
Subject: [Baren 21620] Sending Messages in Plain Text 

Below is the message I just popped off to BA5.


> Hi everyone.  I'm going to post this to both Baren, and BA5, so if you 
> subscribe to both, you'll be reading this twice, but I want this to go 
> to everyone.    Sending messages in anything other than plain text 
> results in a lot of extra unreadable stuff since our digests come to 
> us in plain text only.  I would suggest that everyone try to send 
> their messages in plain text.  You can find that option in your mail
> program tool bar, usually, under the "Edit" heading.   Go to  "Preferences", and 
> look under your mail and newsgroups category and then under  "Send 
> Format".  It should give you the option to send in plain text.  I have 
> mine set to ask me which way I want to send my messages.  For Baren I choose 
> "plain text" (among three options which include:  "both plain and 
> html", "plain text" or "html only".)   This is how it works in "Netscape".  It probably 
> works similarly in other mail programs.  
>
> Gayle 


------------------------------

From: ReadDevine#aol.com
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 09:47:28 EDT
Subject: [Baren 21621] Re: Baren Digest V23 #2238 


> Maybe I'll try casting one of those blocks in plaster to see if I can make 
> a
> relief sculpture out of it.
> Jean Womack
> 


Yeah, do that and let us know how it goes. I've wondered - also about casting 
a slab of 'paper clay' or paper pulp. How would you stop the stuff 
(plaster/clay/pulp) from sticking to the block. 

Bought a catalogue of works held at our National Art Gallery the other day 
and noticed one is an actual woodblock that has been inked then mounted. (Erich 
Bucholz, 1920)

Mellissa Read-Devine
Tennyson, Sydney, Australia
www.depicture.com.au


------------------------------

From: Louise Cass <lcass#primus.ca>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 09:56:18 -0400
Subject: [Baren 21622] Mime-Version: 1.0 

Hello All-

  I shall have to 'unsubscribe' from the list while I'm out of the country
but will be picking up mail occasionally at lcass#canada.com if anyone needs 
to get in  touch with me and I'll be making my calendar prints while in the U.K.

Hope everyone has a wonderful and informative time in Kansa City!

http://www.LCassArt.com

------------------------------

From: Mike Lyon <mikelyon#mlyon.com>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 08:48:12 -0500
Subject: [Baren 21623] Re: new member 

Julia wrote:

>Hi everyone- I am a printmaker from Salem, MA.  My first printmaking 
>passion is intaglio, but woodblock has always fascinated me and I'd like 
>to try it out. Right now I'm in need of a small press (Conrad 15") to use 
>in the interm. I tried to order a press today actually and was told it's a 
>4 mo wait for delivery. Is this normal? Geez, I wish I knew!
>
>http://www.aguavisual.com   is a portfolio of work that could use a little 
>updating! :)


Welcome, Julia!  I think you'll find a lot of friends here on BarenForum, 
and way more than a millennium of combined woodblock expertise!

- -- Mike


Mike Lyon
mailto:mikelyon#mlyon.com
http://www.mlyon.com  

------------------------------

From: Jsf73#aol.com
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 10:45:04 EDT
Subject: [Baren 21624] Re: Baren Digest V23 #2238 

Mellissa Read-Devine wrote;

>Yeah, do that and let us know how it goes. I've wondered - also about casting 
>a slab of 'paper clay' or paper pulp. How would you stop the stuff 
>(plaster/clay/pulp) from sticking to the block. 

I have done many lifecastings of live objects and a couple castings of 
inanimate objects in plaster, but nothing in paper pulp yet. I had wanted to try 
paper moulding.

If you want to cast a relief of your woodblock in plaster you need to use a 
release agent to prevent plaster from adhering to your block. YOu also need to 
ensure you have no under cuts for the plaster to key into and not release. 
Blocks are great since they are carved so that they have no undercut. If you cast 
something else however it is something to consider. For a release I use blue 
magic hair conditioner which is a lanolin based cholesterol gel. You can use 
petroleum jelly too. Just dont smear it on or you lose all the detail. 

I put a small amount of gel on my hands and rub them vigorously to heat the 
gel so it melts. Then I pat the gel lightly onto the surface making sure it is 
completely covered in a very thin coating.....

That should work for plaster. Cast right on the wood block.

Paper pulp may prove more problematic, since tradiionally screens are used to 
cast paper due to the ability to shed the water quickly and allow the fibers 
to settle and compact properly. Water marks in paper come from raised edges 
set slightly above the screen height. Then edges do not have screening so the 
pulp fibers do not settle on the edge to the same depth as the rest of the 
paper. This results in a watermark feature. Your raised relief carving on the block 
would come out in a water mark effect.

The woodblock may not shed or absorb enough water to let the paper settle, or 
the relief edges may cause weak spots on the paper so it tears as you try to 
remove it from the block. You would have to let the paper dry almost 
completely on the block as opposed to removing damp paper pulp from a screen.

You might try first make a mould of the block in dental alginate, reinforced 
by plaster bandages to give it strength. Then cast the paper pulp into the 
alginate mould. This would give you the exact duplicate of the woodblock. 
Alginate is very absorbant an is capable of drawing a lot of the moiture from the 
paper pulp.

if anyone wants to try something like this with alginate, give me a shout off 
list and I will try to suggest the best methods since I have a fair amount of 
alginate casting experience. I am currently working on a project using the 
technique.

John Furr


------------------------------

From: "hey you" <stoogiesaid#hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 10:58:25 -0400
Subject: [Baren 21625] Re: Baren Digest V23 #2238 

as to the paper casting...you can also use a sponge to absorb the
extra water from the paper once it has been placed on the
woodblock. this will speed up the drying time. prior to that
step,  you can squeeze out a majority of the water prior to
placing it on the woodblock.

paul

------------------------------

From: "Jean Womack" <jeaneger#jeaneger.com>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 08:07:43 -0700
Subject: [Baren 21626] Re:   Baren Digest V23 #2238 

Kat, that really is an amazing guitar.  I am speechless.
Jean

------------------------------

From: pulpfic#sunshinecable.com
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 10:20:48 -0700
Subject: [Baren 21627] Akua Intaglio Inks 

Hi everybody,

In my recent experiments with Akua Kolor and Akua Intaglio inks, I've
discovered that for my purposes, the Akua Kolors used with tack thickener
are more suitable.

I have several colours and transparent base in Akua Intaglio which are
merely opened, tested with a little bit on the tip of my knife, and closed
back up.

I'd like to find a good home for these inks, as well as recoup my investment
so I can use the $$ for the inks I will be using, rather than the ones I won't.

The colours are: (one 300 ml jar each)
K7934  Carbon Black ($13.50 US)
K7916  Quinacridone Violet (16.50 US)
K7920  Titanium Dioxide White (15.50 US)
K7926  Yellow Ochre (13.85 US)

K7935  Transparent Base (one opened jar plus two new jars) (13.00 each)

This all adds up, new price, to $98.35 US or $137.64 C at yesterday's
exchange rate, not including shipping costs.

I could ship these inks to a destination in North America at my expense if
anybody is willing to reimburse me for the original purchase price... or
offers??

Please let me know (offlist) if you can use the inks or if you know of
someone else who might be interested.

Thanks very much,
        Randi
- -- 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
                                     Ms Randi DeLisle
    papermaker, bookbinder, publisher, printmaker & gourd artist
                         pulp fictions & pulp fictions press
        Grand Forks BC  Canada    pulpfic#sunshinecable.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


------------------------------

From: "Jeanne N. Chase" <studiojnc#prodigy.net>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 13:59:28 -0400
Subject: [Baren 21628] War and Peace Exchange 

If there is anyone out there who is just chanting at the bit to be in 
another exchange. The War and Peace Exchange has room for more 
participants. So far we have 25 and usually a couple drop out anyway.
Let me know if you are interested.

Jeanne N.
Coordinator


------------------------------

From: "Jeanne N. Chase" <studiojnc#prodigy.net>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 14:04:20 -0400
Subject: [Baren 21629] Re:   Baren Digest V23 #2233 

Hi Jean

When I had my other studio, I had my woodblocks on the wall of my bathroom.
I painted each one a different color. They really looked outstanding and
when I had an open studio, people wanted to see the prints themselves.

Jeanne N.


------------------------------

From: Julio.Rodriguez#walgreens.com
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 14:24:01 -0500
Subject: [Baren 21630] Re: Splitting hairs !


Dave Bull has completed the second print of this year 's surimono album. 
While I know Dave will tell us over and over again that's the "printing" 
that makes or breaks a great print image....boy...it sures goes a long way 
when you have a well carved block to start with. I know {;-( 

Speaking of carved blocks...or rather..."hairs"...one look at Dave's 
carving of the bijin's hair line can atest to the remarkable level of 
skill involved in doing this kind of work.  I read somewhere, see 2nd 
article on the link below {;-), that on average good master carvers from 
the old period could carve approx. 32-33 hairs per centimeter (or about 80 
hairs per inch! ) ....anything above that would be considered very 
impressive.....now... I can't quite get a good count of those hairs on 
Dave's print...but based on the usual size of his prints and on the detail 
I can make out on the digital image (first link below)...I bet he is 
pretty close to that target range....perhaps even higher. I'll just have 
my ruler and magnifying glass ready and when Dave's print arrives....I'll 
report back on what for sure will be some very impressive hair splitting 
numbers !

Dave's print:
http://www.woodblock.com/surimono/2003/5-2/display_print_5-2.html

Ukiyoe website:
http://www.ukiyoe-gallery.com/tidbits2002.htm

Julia, welcome to Baren...enjoy the forum and the website....
John F., very nice writeup on the plaster casting, thanks...see you at the 
KC Summit

thanks...Julio Rodriguez...(Skokie, Illinois)


------------------------------

From: Aqua4tis#aol.com
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:24:50 EDT
Subject: [Baren 21631] Re: War and Peace Exchange 


jeanne
   i think im interested in the war/peace exchange
georga


------------------------------

From: Jsf73#aol.com
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:30:45 EDT
Subject: [Baren 21632] Re: Splitting hairs ! 


Julio or anyone else for that matter who will be attending the summit, I have 
some alginate and plaster etc. just sitting around.... so if anyone wants to 
risk a block to attempt to make a cast of it during the summit I am willing to 
help try it.....

I know the summit is for hanga printing so if no one feels it would be 
appropriate then that is okay too. I just thought a slight diversion might be fun...

I am very excited waiting for the summit, but where will I find the time to 
carve some blocks before I head down there.... I remember just a while back I 
thought June 14 was ages away.

John


------------------------------

From: Sharri LaPierre <Barebonesart#attbi.com>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 12:48:18 -0700
Subject: [Baren 21633] Re: Baren Digest V23 #2238 

Kat, the guitar is fantastic!  Welcome to the newcomers.  Jean, I plan 
to use my old woodblocks on my front door. I'm going to make a 
puzzle/collage out of them, fill in with plain wood, screw them onto 
the door and then stain and varnish it.  I've seen old intaglio plates 
used this way and as a backsplash behind a kitchen range.  There is no 
end to the uses these things can be put to after their lives as 
matrices has ended!

Sharri


------------------------------

From: "Jeanne N. Chase" <studiojnc#prodigy.net>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 16:24:49 -0400
Subject: [Baren 21634] Re: War and Peace Exchange


Georga

Wonderful!!!!

Shall I put you down on the list??

Jeanne N.


------------------------------

From: Aqua4tis#aol.com
Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 16:32:40 EDT
Subject: [Baren 21635] Re: War and Peace Exchange 


yes jeanne put me down on the list  :-)



------------------------------

End of Baren Digest V23 #2239
*****************************