--- Go to the Opening Page of the [Baren] web site ---

Message 5
From: David Harrison
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:05:07 +0000
Subject: [Baren 32800] knives for shina/bench hooks
Send Message: To this poster

Hi all,

I just had a go at cutting a few small designs in a shina block, wanting
to move on from trusty ol' lino. Using an x-acto style knife to cut
lines was hugely satisfying but tricky -- the blade kept bending!

Should I try a hangito (and if so what size to start with?!), or has
anyone got other suggestions?

By the way, I assumed that knife-cut lines ought to be cut *toward* me,
which means the block skids in my direction and a bench hook won't help
much! Should I clamp the block instead?

many thanks and all the best,

David H

• [Back to message index]

Message 1
From: Annie Bissett
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:40:05 -0500
Subject: [Baren 32801] Re: knives for shina/bench hooks
Send Message: To this poster

David wrote, "Using an x-acto style knife to cut lines was hugely
satisfying but tricky -- the blade kept bending!"

What size x-acto knife and blade did you use? You need a heavy duty
knife, like the #5, and a strong blade, like the #9 or #24. X-acto
makes a Woodcarving Set you can see here:
http://www.xacto.com/p_cuttingtools_tools.asp
I just bought a #5 knife to give it a try. I love my Japanese tools,
but keeping them sharp can be challenging. I thought a disposable x-
acto blade would be an interesting alternative for some types of
cutting.

I invested in a nice set of Japanese tools from the Baren Mall when I
first started doing woodblock work almost 2 years ago and they're
great tools. My set came with a 3mm and a 6mm hangi to. I do almost
all my cutting with the 6mm.

As for the block slipping when you carve toward yourself, putting
some non-skid rubber cupboard liner under the block will hold it
firmly. You can see some of that rubber stuff in this photo from my
blog:
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com/2005/12/inking-small-areas.html

Enjoy your woodblocks!
Annie B

http://www.anniebissett.com

• [Back to message index]

Message 2
From: David Harrison
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:37:19 +0000
Subject: [Baren 32802] Re: knives for shina/bench hooks
Send Message: To this poster

Thanks for the advice! Must admit it was a skinny x-acto blade, chosen
on a "what I had in the shed already" basis :-) I'll have a look at the
heavier-duty ones, then think about a hangi to for a little further down
the line.

The rubber liner is a great idea too. I'll see what's going on ebay...

all the best,

David

• [Back to message index]

Message 3
From: "Marissa "
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:47:13 -0500
Subject: [Baren 32803] Re: knives for shina/bench hooks
Send Message: To this poster

You can buy rubber shelf liner to use as a bench hook at any hardware store.
Or a place like Target.

--
~marissa lee

www.mleefineart.com

• [Back to message index]

Message 4
From: "Oscar Bearinger"
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:50:21 -0500
Subject: [Baren 32804] Re: knives for shina/bench hooks
Send Message: To this poster

David,
no need to go as far as ebay for the liner
you can get the cupboard and shelf no-slip liners from any kitchenware store
or even (gasp) walmart, for cheap!
they work fine -

Oscar

From: David Harrison
>
> The rubber liner is a great idea too. I'll see what's going on ebay...

• [Back to message index]

Message 5
From: David Harrison
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:59:39 +0000
Subject: [Baren 32805] Re: knives for shina/bench hooks
Send Message: To this poster

Hi Oscar,

I'll check a kitchen store and our local hardware (read "big plastic
preassembled goods") stores, but you'd be surprised how hard it is to
find some things like that on this side of The Pond! Ebay is often the
best bet here...

cheers,

David

• [Back to message index]

Message 6
From: slinders # comcast.net
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:07:26 -0600
Subject: [Baren 32806] Re: knives for shina/bench hooks
Send Message: To this poster

Your local hardware store has rubberized, very loosely woven
stuff on rolls (it's made to go under loose carpets). Buy a few
inches of it. It will cost pennies, and fold up in your tool
kit easily. I've used the same one for many years and it still
as effective as when I bought it! The rolls are perhaps 30"
wide, so you'll have a couple of mats of it, and that'll be
enough to stabilize even a very large block.

Sharen
>
> From: David Harrison
>
>>The rubber liner is a great idea too. I'll see what's going on ebay...

• [Back to message index]

Message 7
From: "hanna_platt # excite.com"
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 12:40:46 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Baren 32807] archives
Send Message: To this poster

Hi,
after reading Mikes message about needing to find a new place to archive our print portfolios the first place that came to mind was the vivian and gordon gilkey center for graphic art at the Portland museum. has anyone contacted them yet?
viza

• [Back to message index]

Message 8
From: David Harrison
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 18:02:12 +0000
Subject: [Baren 32808] Re: knives for shina/bench hooks
Send Message: To this poster

Hi Sharen,

Thanks for the advice, which is certainly appreciated. Unfortunately,
the chain hardware stores in the UK, or at least those on my side of
Oxford, tend to the utterly useless. :-)

Argh. I just popped down to my two local stores and sadly confirmed the
theory -- no craft knives and no rubber or non-slip matting of any sort.
Overpriced power-tools one could use to trepan a large dinosaur, but
nothing on my list!

I'll give a call to a local carpet-fitter tomorrow and see if he can
come up with the goods. Probably easier and cheaper that way!

cheers,

David

• [Back to message index]

Message 9
From: Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 12:06:01 -0600
Subject: [Baren 32809] Re: archives
Send Message: To this poster

"...vivian and gordon gilkey center for graphic art at the Portland
museum. has anyone contacted them yet?"

I believe the Gilkey Center in Portland was the location of our first
archives....they kept a copy of our exchanges for the first few years of
Baren until after the passing of Mr. Gilkey. At that time (2001) the Baren
exchanges archives were relocated to the Spencer Museum in Kansas under
the direction of Steve Goddard. The Spencer Museum will continue to
archive our first 30 exchanges and we are now looking for a new home for
#31 and beyond.

For more on the Spencer, Steve and our Baren archives check out this
newsletter article from July 2001.
http://barenforum.org/newsletter/issue06/issue06.html#feature1


thanks....Julio Rodriguez

• [Back to message index]

Message 10
From: Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 12:24:50 -0600
Subject: [Baren 32810] Re: knives for shina/bench hooks
Send Message: To this poster

"....Argh. I just popped down to my two local stores and sadly confirmed
the
theory -- no craft knives and no rubber or non-slip matting of any sort. "


David,

You probably don't want to clamp your block down as you would want to turn
the block around often to facilitate ease of carving...as for example when
cutting fine lines or small shapes....

I been meaning to make myself a carving bench...but till then....I use a
non-slip rubber mat which is designed for holding wood while
woodworking....like when using a router or a Dremel like tool....this mat
was probably more expensive than what's been suggested is available at the
houseware department of your local stores.

Here are two examples for under $10 (near the bottom of the page) from the
Woodworker's Shoppe....I am sure you have the same type of stores over
there near Oxford...
http://www.woodworkersshop.com/Router_Tables_and_Router_Accessories.htm

Of course if you are ready to go all the way and have a knack for
woodworking...may I suggest one of these options from our issue #5
newsletter:
http://barenforum.org/newsletter/issue05/issue05.html#feature3


thanks....Julio

• [Back to message index]

Message 11
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:31:52 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 32811] Re: archives
Send Message: To this poster

Viza,
The Gordon and Vivian Gilkey Center for Graphic Arts was actually the first archive for about a year, but after Gordon died the museum policy changed radically and they no longer really suppport this type of archiving. Gordon was able to bring in just about anything he wanted by taking it into his own collection first and then the museum collection but of course that is not the case anymore. The new director would not be interested in this, we had a hard time talking her into taking one print from our national juried exhibition. She had to get permission from the governing board and then there was still a committee that judged the work after it went in.
I think the work will need to be in some teaching institution where they can justify the archiving of it as a teaching aid like the Spencer did. But I could be wrong...so lets keep hunting, maybe a small museum would be interested in it.
Best to all,
Barbara

• [Back to message index]

Message 12
From: Mary Kuster
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:36:27 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
Subject: [Baren 32812] Re: archives
Send Message: To this poster

I've had preliminary discussions with the University of Kentucky Museum about taking my collection of Baren prints and they were interested. If you'd like, I'll go back with a firm proposal on future Baren Exchanges.Mary Kuster-----Original Message-----
From: Barbara Mason
The Gordon and Vivian Gilkey Center for Graphic Arts.... Barbara

• [Back to message index]

Message 13
From: "Mike Lyon"
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:47:28 -0600
Subject: [Baren 32813] RE: archives
Send Message: To this poster

Thanks, Hanna -- I've saved your suggestion in a special folder for later
action -- have you contacted the Portland Museum? Would you? Let me know
what you learn, please, especially if they're interested or willing!

Mike

Mike Lyon
Kansas City, MO
http://mlyon.com

• [Back to message index]

Message 14
From: alec dempster
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 18:09:49 -0600 (CST)
Subject: [Baren 32814] Re: response from alec dempster
Send Message: To this poster

Julio,


Thanks for looking at my work. As far as my
background. I started doing prints about 20 years ago
but got seriously into printmaking at York university
in toronto about 15 years ago. Relief printing has
always been my prefered medium. I have done more work
with linoleum and neolite but I really like working
with wood. I have lived in Mexico since graduating
from university so this is where I have developed most
as an artist. Although many people associate my work
with a Mexican School of Printmaking one of the most
influential artists for me was and still is Antonio
Frasconi. i was given a book of his a long time ago in
Canada.

Over the past year I got my hands one the following
types of wood which were available in one inch boards
at different lumber yards in Xalapa. Caoba Blanca

1. Nogal
2. Caoba
3. Salam
4. Cedro Importado
5. Palo de Rosa

The first prints in the series were done with some
english tools I had for a long time but i have
switched to japanese woodcarving tools which a friend
of mine ordered for me from the internet. At the
moment i only have three, two gouge tools and a u
shaped tool and I rarely use the other english tools
as I cant get them as sharp as the japanese tools. I
have a japanese combination stone which is soaked
water and my tools seem to be as sharp as when I got
them.

A few years ago I did the series “Un Inglés
Convencional” on a cheap plywood called caobilla.

Apart from the visual art i am quite involved with the
traditional music of veracruz, doing recordings in the
field and research. I have produced 5 Cds with
musicians from Santiago Tuxtla and San Andrés Tuxtla.
I also play as well as my wife who is from a town
where son jarocho is still an important part of
community celebrations.



alec

• [Back to message index]

Message 15
From: Blog Manager
Date: 13 Feb 2007 04:55:17 -0000
Subject: [Baren 32815] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification
Send Message: To this poster

This is an automatic update message being sent to [Baren] by the forum blog software.

The following new entries were found on the listed printmaker's websites during the past 24 hours. (29 sites checked, five minutes before midnight Eastern time)

*****************

Site Name: Woodblock Dreams

Author: Annie B
Item: Testing Inferior Equipment
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com/2007/02/testing-inferior-equipment.html

Author: Annie B
Item: Carbon Emissions On High
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com/2007/02/carbon-emissions-on-high.html

*****************

Site Name: m.Lee Fine Art

Author: m.Lee
Item: Messy Desk Originally uploaded by m.Lee. S...
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com/2007/02/messy-desk-originally-uploaded-by-m.html

*****************

Site Name: Belinda Del Pesco Fine Art Blog

Author: Belinda Del Pesco
Item: Monotype Ghost & Colored Pencil
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com/2007/02/monotype-ghost-colored-pencil.html

*****************

[Baren] members: if you have a printmaking blog (or a website with a published ATOM feed), and wish it to be included in this daily checklist, please write to the Baren Blog Manager at:
http://barenforum.org/contact_baren.php

For reference, sites/blogs currently being checked are:
http://barenforum.org/blog
http://woodblock.com
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com
http://studiodiary.blogspot.com
http://larimerart.blogspot.com
http://artflights.blogspot.com
http://printmakersmaterials.blogspot.com
http://mlyon.com/blog
http://room535.blogspot.com
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com
http://snowgum.blogspot.com
http://onthisblock.blogspot.com
http://pressing-issues.blogspot.com
http://www.1000woodcuts.com
http://theitinerantartist.blogspot.com
http://PLawing-Printmaker.blogspot.com
http://readdevine.blogspot.com
http://mokuhankan.com/conversations
http://mokuhankan.com
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com
http://vizart.blogspot.com
http://phare-camp.blogspot.com
http://amymstoner.blogspot.com
http://williamleeholtfineart.blogspot.com
http://web.mac.com/g_wohlken/iWeb/Site/Blog/Blog.html
http://curiousmatthew.blogspot.com
http://laine.lainegreenway.com/index.html
http://azuregrackle.com/blogs/index.php?blog=2
http://blog.olansa.co.uk/

• [Back to message index]

End of [Baren] Digest