Baren Digest Friday, 24 October 2003 Volume 25 : Number 2417 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: JEANNE CHASE Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 07:28:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Baren 23167] Re: Introduction. Welcome to the Baren, Shirlene There are so many people who have THE answers on this forum that you will be in very good company! Jeanne N. >Shirlene DeLapp wrote: > >Hi all Baren Members! Just a quick note of introduction. I have been a >silent member for several months now, and have very much enjoyed reading >all your comments. As I told Mike Lyon, I feel like I already know you >all personally. > >I bit about myself - > > >I currently live out here in sunny Arizona and recently finished my BFA >work in Printmaking at Arizona State University. I am biding my time >looking for my next full time art 'gig' while trying to keep up on my >printmaking (which can be difficult at times as I have little or no >access to a press). I just signed up for my first exchange with you all >- which I am very excited about. And hope to be consistent with >participating in the posts! >Shirlene DeLapp. ------------------------------ From: Jan Telfer Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 22:54:57 +0800 Subject: [Baren 23168] Re: Carving tool handles John, On Tuesday, October 21, 2003, at 09:00 PM, owner-baren#ml.asahi-net.or.jp wrote: >Beyond using duct tape how do you keep the little brass thingie on the >japanese tools? I would try putting a little dob of Blu Tac ( the putty stuff that you use to hold papers on your wall around your computer) on the wooden handle and then slide the brass cover over the carving steel/wooden end. It will keep the brass cover on and when you need to get it off you just need to give it an extra "tug" (pull). >Any tricks on how to change the handle on the tool so i don't get >blisters on the palm of my hand? I love the steel of the japanese >tools but >the handles just don't seem to fit my western sized paws unlike the >western >handles which seem to fit. Might be the old engraving handles feel >right who >knows. I might be able to put the 1mm "v" & "u" in an engraving tool >handle. >I don't use the other sized tools as much so i don't get a blister >from them. > >john "of the large handed furry press" center Suggestions for handles for big men's hands: 1. Select a wooden door knob from the kitchen supply store that best suits your style of cutting and grip size. Wood Turn or plane the sharp edges of the tool and drill an appropriate size hole in the knob (note the angle that you wish to work at - it could be 20o off the horizontal line) and insert the handle to the knob. May need wood gluing but make sure you have the angle correct before gluing! 2. A wood turner could turn you a good handle if he knew what shape you wanted. 3. The Pom Pom - A round piece of non slip rubber placematting filled with bean bag beads or cotton waste (like you have in your pillow - unless you prefer the Japanese sandbags) made into a pom pom thingie tied over the top end of your carving tool. To get it to a "pom pom" run a sewing thread around the edge of the circle and pull it like a draw string over the edge plus part of the handle and tie it securely. If you need more padding in time it is easy to redo it. 4. A Gardening glove with the non slip little pimples on the palmar side. Cut the fingers off for added control. Check for the correct size. It would be better to have one that fitted more perfectly than one that was too loose to continue to rub or move to add to more blisters. The Cotton work gloves are the best because they tend to "breathe". In Aust. we can buy them in the Supermarkets, Garden nurseries or hardware stores. 5. A doubled over piece of non slip matting glued over the end of your tools may even do the trick. There is no charge for my professional Occupational Therapy Services! Best of luck, Jan ------------------------------ From: Sharri LaPierre Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 10:19:27 -0700 Subject: [Baren 23169] Re: Baren Digest V25 #2416 Although I am not part of the shunga exchange, here's my two bits worth on the anonymity issue: Good Grief! I guess I am of an age and have been making art long enough that no one I know would be surprised at anything I might do. Having my name on an image would not embarrass me, it would take more than that (like forgetting to cut the top margin off of my last exchange print!). Peudonymns would be fun, but only for the sport of it - not for any personal necessity. "Maybe if this is an issue for someone they should drop out," she said wistfully. (That is meant to be funny since I am on the waiting list - please, don't anyone be offended and jump on my case :-) Cheers, Sharri PS - A gentle reminder to ALWAYS delete all before typing your response into the list, please! We all forget from time to time, but it seems to be happening more often lately. ------------------------------ From: Emma Jane Hogbin Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 13:28:59 -0400 Subject: [Baren 23170] Re: Baren Digest V25 #2416 On Thu, Oct 23, 2003 at 10:19:27AM -0700, Sharri LaPierre wrote: PS - A gentle reminder to ALWAYS delete all before typing your response into the list, please! We all forget from time to time, but it seems to be happening more often lately. I'll second that. And if you want to keep a portion of the message, please put your response UNDER what you're responding to. Putting your message above is called, "top posting" and is considered very bad form. For those who are interested, Matt Haughey of www.metafilter.com fame has written a great tutorial: http://www.digital-web.com/tutorials/tutorial_1999-12.shtml emma - -- Emma Jane Hogbin ------------------------------ From: Wanda Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 11:18:56 -0700 Subject: [Baren 23171] Re: Introduction. Hi Shirlene, Glad that you posted - you are in exactly the right place if you need/want to print but don't have a press! That was one of the reasons I wanted to learn hanga so much. No press & no room for a press. With hanga, you can print on your kitchen table & won't need more space than that (even less, if you are tidier than I am). Looking forward to more posts from you! Wanda Shirlene DeLapp at weenie_delapp#hotmail.com wrote: >I currently live out here in sunny Arizona and recently finished my BFA work >in Printmaking at Arizona State University. I am biding my time looking for >my next full time art 'gig' while trying to keep up on my printmaking (which >can be difficult at times as I have little or no access to a press). I just >signed up for my first exchange with you all - which I am very excited about. >And hope to be consistent with participating in the posts! >Shirlene DeLapp. ------------------------------ From: Charles Morgan Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 11:14:29 -0700 Subject: [Baren 23172] Re: Introduction. At 11:18 AM 10/23/03 -0700, you wrote: >Hi Shirlene, > >Glad that you posted - you are in exactly the right place if you need/want >to print but don't have a press! That was one of the reasons I wanted to >learn hanga so much. No press & no room for a press. With hanga, you can >print on your kitchen table & won't need more space than that (even less, if >you are tidier than I am). > >Looking forward to more posts from you! > >Wanda Just for the record .... Remember, you can also print oily stuff (lino and wood block) by hand ... you do not need a press. And, you can easily print waterless lithography by hand ... no press required. And if you are lusting after a press, also remember that a simple "bottle jack" press is VERY EASY to build, and does a great job printing relief. Cheers .... Charles ------------------------------ From: "Joseph Sheridan" Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 15:14:48 -0400 Subject: [Baren 23173] Re: Shunga anonymity I am on the shunga waiting list so here are my two cents. At first I was a bit confused with all the anonymity concerns. But after some thought I realized that an anonymous exchange may be more dynamic or liberated if the artist has the privilege to remain unknown. The shunga I have seen were by Utamaro, Hokusai and others of the Edo period. Ofte they did not sign their work but that was perhaps their fear of the long arm of the law. So if working anonymously would release someone's shunga spirit, then work behind the mask! The second cent... I would like to see a bound presentation of the exchange. Books for your shunga reference: Sei Sei Doh U.S.A. Inc. published in 1980: The Merry Drinkers A picture book Series of the Shunga by Kitagawa Utamaro The Gifted Venus A picture book Series of the Shunga by Karsushika Hokusai. I purchased these some time ago at from the Kinokuniya bookstore in San Francisco. They do have a store in New York City as well. I tried their web page but it does seem to be mostly in Japanese. But if you are interested there is a phone number and an email address. http://www.kinokuniya.com Joe Sheridan ------------------------------ From: Jsf73#aol.com Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 15:22:53 EDT Subject: [Baren 23174] Re: Shunga Anonymity Oh thanks to emma I found out I am a 'top poster'. Having emailed her before off this list I am saddened she didnt tell me this.... ;-) I normally like to include something of what I am responding to in my posts but there have been so many responses on the anonymity issue I will forego that. I believe however that in the past japanese artists had legal reasons for not signing their art. Please someone correct me if I am wrong. With the proliferation of real pornography on the net, I think it is troublesome that some artists feel they need to self censor themselves by toning down their content if they sign their work. If it is just an issue of someone you know finding something too graphic with your name attached could not Baren place the images on a page with metatags and warnings that the material is of a graphic nature, so that filtering technology would block it from sensitive eyes? Of course, if you dont want to sign your work that is your choice as well. Nom de plumes could be fun and creative as we have already seen. Should someone become really famous it makes for good inside stories and even more valuable art that it was done anonymously so long as the work can be authenticated... so everyone using a pen name become famous please. I had planned on a simple erotic print of a couple, nothing too graphic. Just because I find such work more appealing. However, just to get into the spirit of the style I now think I will do a more graphic image that leaves less to the imagination... I will be signing my real name to my work, no one I know would be surprised by it.... I have an interesting quote to go with my print too... Just wish I could get it translated into japanese so it would really fit the style... If anyone knows who could translate something into Japanese for me I would appreciate it... John Furr ------------------------------ From: Robert Swain Charles Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 16:17:50 -0400 Subject: [Baren 23175] Hello Shirleen, Arizona, Pseudo e-mail, Thank you, Loose19 Vote Hello Shirleen, Kylie and all, I heard some good things about Arizona, heck, they offer an MFA and they hosted the SGC. I met a fellow lab tech that was a student from Penland. She entered the MFA program there (they gave her a pretty good deal I believe)- Americana was her interest. Sorry I cannot remember her name, good work though. I like "weenie" as your pseudonym. Perhaps we could exchange names for exchange #19? Perhaps we all could. I don't use my real name or e-mail address here Kylie. In fact I never use my given name on the internet. Nice to meet you though. It is strange that what I see as essentially the two edge sword has been unsheathed in the same digest (#2416). One person types their name in to the search engine and, WOW! They make a hit and it's exciting or good, at least for loved ones. Another person prefers some anonymity, at least as far as an e-mail address is concerned. There are ways around both. Adopt a believable name and order a separate e-mail address that has an automatic forwarding system (like excite). I hope these things have not been addressed too much, you see, I receive the 'daily digest' form of this forum. Finally, I would like to thank everyone for making questions seem so welcome here. I do search the archives before clearing my throat and speaking before this large room. It is somewhat intimidating even in virtual space, however the responses are encouraging-if other folks 'round here like it or not. "Shush, don't answer this, it only encourages him". I like the idea of loose prints for 19 that can be handled like the objects they are. Like the objects they want to be. It would be up to the exchange members (or owners if you will) to have them bound, loose or to handle them with kid gloves. I'll enjoy them best as "loose". - -Rowboat S. Chortle ------------------------------ From: Emma Jane Hogbin Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 16:25:53 -0400 Subject: [Baren 23176] Toronto area bookbinding demonstration For those of you who are interested, I'll be doing a (free) bookbinding demonstration at the Japanese Paper Place on Saturday November 1st. I'll be there from 11:30-1:30. The store is at: 887 Queen Street West which is near Bellwoods-Trinity Park. A little west, and across the street from Romni Wool. For more information visit the JPP ("Jay-Pee-Pee" to those who are in the know) web site. http://www.japanesepaperplace.com Saturday, November 1, 2003 10 AM - 6 PM Join us for a Renovation Celebration! Watch our artists in action as they demonstrate Chinese Calligraphy, Brush Painting, Origami, Bookbinding and other paper crafts. Be the first to check out some of our new and holiday products. On sale only on Saturday, November 1 - a selection of books, cards and papers. Be one of the lucky customers to win a prize from local Queen Street merchants. Receive a Free Gift with every purchase! A Day of Pure Paper Pleasure! Hope to see you there! (Please distribute the information as appropriate!) - -- Emma Jane Hogbin ------------------------------ From: Catherine Dreiss Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 16:26:45 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Subject: [Baren 23177] Re: Introduction. What is a "bottle jack" press? I did a search in the archives, and couldn't find it... If it is VERY EASY to build, maybe it is something even I could handle. Thanks, Caye > >And if you are lusting after a press, also remember that a simple "bottle jack" press >is VERY EASY to build, and does a great job printing relief. > >Cheers .... Charles > > ------------------------------ From: FurryPressII#aol.com Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 18:02:09 EDT Subject: [Baren 23178] trip information wanted? My son and I are going on a trip to the East coast and Canada for the next three weeks. I am looking for things to see or do that would be of interest to a print maker such as community print work shops, print galleries etc. We will be going to the following places Boston, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto and point west. Our plans are rather loose we are going to take Via rail across Canada and then Amtrak back to Chicago. John Furr I will get back to you when i know when i will be in Toronto. john (no moss grows on my north side) center ------------------------------ From: Charles Morgan Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 15:00:49 -0700 Subject: [Baren 23179] Re: Introduction. I have posted this information before, so I will send it to you off line. If you do not get it, let me know. Cheers ..... Charles >At 04:26 PM 10/23/03 -0500, you wrote: >What is a "bottle jack" press? I did a search in the archives, and >couldn't find it... If it is VERY EASY to build, maybe it is something >even I could handle. Thanks, Caye ------------------------------ From: Ray Hudson Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 19:05:54 -0400 Subject: [Baren 23180] Re: trip information wanted? John, If on your way from Montreal to Boston (or the other way around), if you stop in Burlington, Vermont, the Fleming Museum at the U of Vermont has an exhibit of Rembrant etchings. 85 by Rembrant & 30 by others; from the Rembrant House in Amsterdam. This is the only U. S. showing. I haven't seen it, but you might want to consider it. Ray (about 30 miles south of Burlington) ------------------------------ From: "Colleen Corradi Brannigan" Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 10:47:38 +0200 Subject: [Baren 23181] Shunga anonimity Gayle posed an interesting question: I am sure that if my real name was connected to one image, I would not let myself go... And would produce a rather soft image, something that would not cause too much criticism or embarassment ... You know what I mean... I will for sure use a pseudonym - so that I can feel free to express myself without worries. ------------------------------ From: "Julianne" Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 21:11:58 +1000 Subject: [Baren 23182] Wood filler and lino etching A while back, Maria suggested kneadable two-part wood filler for fixing mistakes. Thanks Maria for that tip, I sent my husband out for some, and although I was a little scepticle that it would really hold up to what I had in store for it, I applied it as I had nothing to lose - I'd completely stuffed up a half finished block one very late night. It (the filler) goes hard quick :-) - I had an area to cover about the size of half a fist that I'd cut in the wrong texture. Anyway I sanded it back, and printed the mended block yesterday - just plain black - with perfect results. So thanks again. Also, if the topic of lino etching is still of interest to you Brad, I played around with the technique a year or so ago. I used the caustic soda you buy in the supermarket for unblocking drains. I didn't realise that when you add water, the solution gets very hot. I mixed up a quantity in the laundry sink, in a plastic jar - big mistake - As the liquid got hot, the jar started shrinking quite fast. Our house is low-block, so I just opened the laundry door and put it on the lawn outside. (It probably would have been fine left in the sink, but I panicked) Anyway it got knocked over during the night, probably by some poor unfortunate animal, and left a spot of dead grass. Nothing would grow in that spot for months. However, I still wanted to try lino etching, so I mixed up some more in a glass jar and painted it onto the lino. I think the solution I made was too diluted, I didn't make a paste, and to get a decent result I had to leave it over night. The results were not so amazing as to tempt me to do lino etching again, though in the hands of a more skilled printmaker I can see the potential for it. Just be careful. Julianne ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V25 #2417 *****************************