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Message 1
From: Bobbi Chukran
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:31:50 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39768] Re: Latest woodprint
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Hi Harry,

As someone who has Native American (Sioux and Cherokee) blood in her,
I've always been intrigued by the motifs of the culture. You might
do some research into the "rain bird" too....which is similar to the
thunderbird, but from the Pueblo Indians, I think....and is used on a
lot of pottery.

I loved seeing your preliminary sketches for the print, too.

bobbi c.
grackle stew studio
leander, TX



>I'm back in action for the autumn with new ideas.
>For several years I have been studying fantasy creatures from the
>Viking/ Anglo Saxon era for transcribed woodblock prints. This has
>sometimes involved looking in German museums and I have often
>brushed against Native American culture whilst moving through the
>ethnological galleries. It wasn't until this year when I walked
>through a small American Indian exhibition that I saw the Acoma
>cockerel and the Kwakiutl thunder bird that immediately fired my
>imagination.
>Latest wood print and original sketches :
>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/h.french1/acomacockerel.htm
>Regards,
>Harry
>UK
>

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Message 2
From: Bobbi Chukran
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:34:13 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39769] Need some hints on print design
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Hey folks,

It occurs to me that nobody ever talks about how they plan their
prints. I'm about to do some two or three color prints and need some
guidance. How do the rest of you plan for multiple colors? I'm
mostly talking about when you use multiple blocks, and not painting
the inks onto a single block.

Any tutorials online? Thanks!

bobbi c.

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Message 3
From: "Haines, Annette"
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:47:51 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39770] RE: Need some hints on print design
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Hi Bobby,

I try to outline my print planning process on my blog at http://serendipityartist.wordpress.com. I haven't been in the blog list on Baren lately because of some technical issue. Hope it helps.

Annette

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Message 4
From: "Mike Lyon"
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:09:30 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39771] RE: Need some hints on print design
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I design blocks several ways... You can see my FIRST traditional moku-hanga
from 1996 along with the original drawing for it here:
http://mlyon.com/1996/07/the-fisherman-and-his-wife/

* I draw and draw until I have something I think is 'print worthy'.
* If my drawing is pencil or ink on paper, then I re-draw the design to
scale (not worrying much about neatness and not trying to make it look like
a print -- just getting it the right height and width for the paper. I
leave room for kento outside the image area (or inside works, too, but is
'trickier'). Usually my prints have unprinted borders -- kento go in a
corner and side (unless I intend to trim after printing -- then the kento
can go anywhere outside the border).
* I sketch in rough colors using crayon, colored pencil, watercolor --
whatever seems fastest and easiest. Usually I make something 'cartoony' or
like a coloring book -- colored in outlines as this approach naturally lends
itself to woodcut. Sometimes I take a more painterly approach which is more
difficult to describe (so I won't try here)...
* Based on my color sketch, I decide on the number of blocks based on the
colors (I feel 'flexible' about this -- I can always add blocks or discard
blocks later -- but I sorta figure a number I 'think' will be right at the
beginning).
* I transfer the 'key' drawing (usually the cartoony outlines) to a block
and carve it. Transfer methods I like include
...a) carbon paper (I can make my own by rubbing up a sheet with soft
graphite)
...b) laser printer/photocopy direct paste -- make photocopies of the
full-size drawing, more than the number of blocks I plan -- or use copier to
scale up or down as desired). Rice Paste the photocopies print side up
(print will be reversed) onto blocks and carve through the paper. When
carving is complete, remove the remaining photocopy paper by dampening.
...c) laser printer/photocopy toner transfer -- as above, but use solvent
(lacquer thinner + acetone 'cocktail' -- oil of wintergreen -- citrusolve --
etc) dampened blotter to transfer the toner from the photocopy to the block
-- usually using a press
...d) traditional -- carve the key block and print it with kento inked onto
sheets and paste those, ink-side down onto color blocks.
...e) CNC -- drawing is scanned into computer (or initially composed in
computer) and blocks are laid out as layers in Illustrator or PhotoShop for
toolpath calculation and cutting with computer controlled router, laser
cutter, etc.
* I use my best judgment to print some proofs from the blocks, then make
carving changes if required, add or delete blocks, adjust colors and
printing order as I feel best before editioning (or just continuing to make
unique 'proofs' if block set is interesting enough in that way.

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

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Message 5
From: Eileen Corder
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:51:39 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39772] Re: Latest woodprint
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Harry,

Wonderful print and sketches! Great colors on the Thunderbird! You have such
an enviable ability to connect with iconic images.

Thanks so much for posting a link to your newest creations.

Peace,
Eileen

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Message 6
From: thadeenz97 # verizon.net
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:15:47 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39773] Re: Need some hints on print design
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After seven years of working exclusively in reduction prints, I'm just starting to teach myself multiple-block. It's a lot more complicated as far as planning goes. Even though I'm a printer and ink technician by profession, working out which colors trap which and where is still a pretty confusing ride. I flubbed my first major attempt, and the whole sordid mess can be seen at www.nappingcat.blogspot.com. So, my best advice is: don't plan so much, and don't be afraid to fail. I spent a week planning out my "disaster," only to find that it has led to much learning and --hopefully-- a better attempt in the future.

Jeff Dean
Napping Cat Press

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Message 7
From: Bobbi Chukran
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:35:18 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39774] Re: Need some hints on print design
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>I try to outline my print planning process on my blog at
>http://serendipityartist.wordpress.com. I haven't been in the blog
>list on Baren lately because of some technical issue. Hope it helps.
>

Thanks so much, Annette! I'll go check it out.

bobbi c.

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Message 8
From: Bobbi Chukran
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:37:36 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39775] Re: Need some hints on print design
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> I flubbed my first major attempt, and the whole sordid mess can be
>seen at
>www.nappingcat.blogspot.com. So,
>my best advice is: don't plan so much, and don't be afraid to fail.
>I spent a week planning out my "disaster," only to find that it has
>led to much learning and --hopefully-- a better attempt in the
>future.
>

Hi Jeff,

Eeek, that sounds ominous. LOL.

OK, so what about designing reduction prints?

I'll definitely check out your blog. Thanks!

bobbi c.

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Message 9
From: Bobbi Chukran
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:07:51 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39776] Re: Need some hints on print design
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WOW, Mike! I'm printing that one out right now. That information is
priceless!

I do have some graphite paper, that's a start, right? LOL!

Thanks bunches!

bobbi c.
grackle stew studio
http://www.bobbichukran.com

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Subject: Antonio Frasconi at CCP
Posted by: Annie B

This item is taken from the blog Woodblock Dreams.
'Reply' to Baren about this item.

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