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Message 1
From: Annie Bissett
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:06:14 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37236] Re: Favorite Part of Process
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Thanks, Mark Mason, for the question about favorite parts of the
printmaking process. I love what Linda said:
"The first time I did a moku hanga print that came out exactly as I
wanted it to, I burst into tears!"
I can relate to that.

I like all the parts of woodblock printmaking for different reasons.

- Designing
What I most enjoy about designing is the research I do to develop the
image. I love to learn new things and watch the initial idea take
shape. For me, the design/research process tends to be full of
surprising connections. Lately I'm experimenting with how tightly I
design beforehand. I prefer to leave some looseness in the design so
I can make adjustments and add elements as the print progresses, but
being loose isn't easy in woodblock!

- Carving
Like many have said, I too enjoy the silence and meditative quality
of carving. Carving is an activity I tend to do at night, after the
day job, as it can be done in small doses and doesn't take the same
intense energy as printing. On the other hand, I've found that if I'm
*too* tired when carving I make mistakes.

- Printing
I think this might be my favorite part. The pace is so much faster in
printing than in carving, and I love the challenge of mastering the
idiosyncrasies of each block - where it wants more or less pressure,
where the grain comes through or the wood absorbs the ink
differently. It's a whole-body activity and as my prints have gotten
larger, I find that I prefer to print standing up. I always approach
printing with a bit of trepidation, as it too is full of surprises. I
barely proof, so the surprises are mostly irreversible in my method!
But, like Linda noted, there are many breathtaking moments when
pulling an impression off the block -- moments of exhilaration as
well as moments of deep disappointment and even what I would call
fear (as in "oh my god, how am I going to fix THAT?"). What an
emotional roller-coaster ride! I almost always do my printing in the
daytime so there's time to clear out all that adrenaline before I try
to sleep :)

happy printing everyone!

Annie B

http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com

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Message 2
From: "Louise Cass"
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:06:56 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37237] Re: Online exhibition ...
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Dave -
This is fascinating- imagine over 14,ooo submissions to an (apparently not
taken seriously by the Art Establishment) association!
The official attitude in Japan sounds like everywhere else -to quote
Nanjo(the person who selected for the Venice Biennale)
" Being creative is about making something new, so it entails criticism of
what has come before."

There must be even more people 'doing art' in Japan than here -I'm assuming
these associations include painting, etc. It's amazing that such crowds
flock to the exhibitions - sort of like the Royal Academy shows in the UK
and blockbusters everywhere- I don't think private art association shows
attract such numbers anywhere else - or do they??

I still teach a little group of mostly 'seniors' and although I generally
love and encourage their efforts, I find it depressing that they all(with
one wonderful exception)want to exhibit and sell. It would be interesting to
ponder the question of why people who earn a living in other jobs are so
keen to be
recognized as artists??

Louise



----

>There was an article on these Associations in the Japan Times a couple
>of months back;
>http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fa20080124ec.html
>
>The prints on that page I linked were indeed mostly figurative, so I
>would assume that the 'Hangain' kind of specializes in that sort of
>work. People working in abstract genres must be submitting work to some
>other Association. Let me Google a bit .....
>
>Yes, here we are - the 'Nihon Hanga Kyokai' (Japan Print Association)
>http://www.hangakyoukai.com/76award.html
>
>Those guys are obviously more 'serious'. There also seems to be less
>woodblock, which is interesting. The dark gloomy guys use more etching
>and other more obscure techniques; the 'normal' happy people use
>woodlblock ... (Is my bias showing too strongly? :-)
>
>Dave

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Message 3
From: Graham Scholes
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:20:02 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37238] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V45 #4565 (Oct 7, 2008)
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Thanks Joe.... I did some grazing~!

Unfortunately I could not find anything on this great
Japanese artists Kiyoshi Saito There seems to be very
little on the web. He was very inventive with his designs
and use of shapes reducing his subject down to the basics.

There is also Junichiro Sekino although not as abstract
and more figurative ... but up there as one of my
favourites.


Cheers,
Graham

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Message 4
From: "Heather P."
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:54:17 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37239] Earth Exchange w/ Four Oceans Press
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This is an exchange outside of Barenforum
 
Four Oceans Press is having sign-ups for their WATER Hand-pulled Print Exchange.
This is the second exchange in our Classical Elements Series.
We have 15 more spots to fill - I hope you will consider joining this Print
Exchange... All the details are below :)
 


Theme: Water

Color: B/W or Color. Color is encouraged, but we love a good b/w image.

Image Size: At least 6” x 8” but no larger than 8.5” x 11”.

Paper Size: Paper must be no larger than 8.5” x 11”. It is OK if the image bleeds
off the edge of the paper.

Medium: Woodblock, Linoleum, Serigraph, Lithograph or Intaglio

Paper type: Any archival paper appropriate to your printing method can be used.

Print Deadline: January 15, 2009
 

Complete exchange details can always be found on the Four Oceans Press website at
http://www.fouroceanspress.com/exchange.html 


Check out the main Archive page to see who the 'Artist of the Month' is and to see
images of all the prints that have been in our previous exchanges (linked to the left).
http://www.fouroceanspress.com/archive.html
 
 
Take a Look, Read, Consider and then Sign up...

http://www.fouroceanspress.com/index.html
 
 

If you can not get involved this time, check the website regularly for the next
exchange and other projects.  As always, Thank you to all the Artists on the Baren who
have been a part of the Four Oceans Press Exchanges or other Exchanges here on
Baren that I have been a part of :)  You all do such great work!!!
 
 
Thanks & Smiles,
Heather
http://www.heatherpiazza.com
http://www.fouroceanspress.com
 
 
Both Kathe & I participated in the SFCB RoadWorks even this year...
http://www.fouroceanspress.com/as_09_08_roadworks.html
 
We are also excited to have participated in the 'Prints for Peace'
Show in Monterrey México too...
http://www.fouroceanspress.com/as_10_08_prints_for_peace.html
 

We now have prints on ETSY :)
http://www.fouroceanspress.com/store.html
 
 
 
 

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Message 5
From: Sharri LaPierre
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:35:59 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37240] Re: Online exhibition ...
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>It seems to me anytime more than two or three members
>get together it's only a few minutes before someone's
>pulling out a knife... ;-)

- Good one. Eli!

And, Thanks to all who have sent all the wonderful prints to look at.
I love the leaf in the last batch Dave sent. Guess I'm just a gloomy
kinda gal. ;-)
But, I loved the light coming through the woods in the Hanga
selection, too - especially the way the space was used.

As for the part I like best - it seems to be whatever I'm working on
at the moment. I love the serenity of the carving, it is almost a zen
experience, until the knife slips, anyway. I love the smell of the
wood and to see the image emerging. But, then comes the printing
which is a challenge - an adventure - and never ceases to amaze me as
the image develops on the paper. I am such a grass blowing in the
wind. ;-)

Cheers ~
Sharri

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Message 6
From: "Grassell, Mary"
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:08:54 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37241] Re: Earth Exchange w/ Four Oceans Press
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Heather,

I would like to participate in the "WATER" exchange for Winter. Please add me to the list.


--
Mary Grassell

Professor of Design
Marshall University
College of Fine Arts
Department of Art & Design

Office: Smith Hall 626
Phone: 304.696.2894
email: grassell@marshall.edu

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Message 7
From: Linda Beeman
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:20:20 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37242] exchange case for #39
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I'm wondering if there is a different case to fit the size of prints for exchange #39? There is only the 2 sizes in the Mall.
Linda

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Message 8
From: Graham Scholes
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:29:29 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37243] Re: Online exhibition ...
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Louise Cass wrote:

> I still teach a little group of mostly 'seniors' and although I
> generally
> love and encourage their efforts, I find it depressing that they
> all(with
> one wonderful exception)want to exhibit and sell. It would be
> interesting to
> ponder the question of why people who earn a living in other jobs
> are so
> keen to be recognized as artists??

Glory? Glamour? The in Thing? Be with the Rich and Famous?

I have arrived at the conclusion they think there is no pressures and
life is grand when you can hang out in a secluded space and push
pencil, pen and brush, coming up with an image that people will
go bonkers over.

Dave wrote.....
>
> Those guys are obviously more 'serious'. There also seems to be less
> woodblock, which is interesting. The dark gloomy guys use more etching
> and other more obscure techniques; the 'normal' happy people use
> woodlblock ... (Is my bias showing too strongly? :-)

Since coming back on he Baren I have a sense of more “obscurers”
Have I got the right?

Ducking for cover
Graham

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Message 9
From: Darrell Madis
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:16:13 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37244] Re: exchange case for #39
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No, only the 2 sizes available.  You would need the Oban size for exchange 39, it will hold the 15" dimension.

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Message 10
From: ArtSpotiB # aol.com
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:27:41 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37245] Want to Exhibit/Sell Focus
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I can talk about the urge to "sell" in the USA. Could it be due to the point
counter only works in dollars (with some small exceptions to the rule)? We are
a nation of merchants. However, work is the salvation of mankind, eh?

As for exhibitions, perhaps it's the encouragement that others can give.

Myself, I create art because no other behaviors (well, mostly) bring me as
much joy. I am discontented if I am not creating.

Sales bring the icing factor of preservation of work by those people and
institutions that collect the art. And then there's the idea that museums and
history tend to preserve works that have been publically recognized.

Just some thoughts!

ArtSpot Out
Benny in studio



Be not to hasty to trust or admire the teachers of morality; they discourse
like angels but they live like men. -Samuel Johnson, lexicographer
(1709-1784)
<

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Message 11
From: Maria Regina Pinto Pereira
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:32:27 GMT
Subject: [Baren 37246] Re: Earth Exchange w/ Four Oceans Press
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Dear Heather

I would like to be in all elements exchange.
kisses
MaRegina

Heather P. escreveu:

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