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Message 1
From: J Cloutier
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:36:55 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40086] Re: Baren Digest HTML?
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I've been having the same problem! Thanks for raising the issue, Annie;
I was just not getting around to it. It started earlier than the time
change for me, I think. I went to the Forum site and tried telling it
to switch me to the Digest version, but that made no difference. I
ended up resubscribing with a different email address. I'd rather get
it at the original address, though. Maybe I should unsubscribe that
address and sign up anew - I'll try that next.

By the way - your work is wonderful. I'm so glad to see your blog
updates on the Digest.
Jane Cloutier

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Message 2
From: Annie Bissett
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:18:30 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40087] All Is Well with the Digests, NY Print Fair
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Thanks for the reply, Dave. Your words seem to have fixed the problem!

I went to the annual IFPDA Print Fair in New York yesterday and spent
an inordinate amount of time at the booth of "The Art of Japan," a
pair of print dealers from Washington state. Their collection of
sosaku hanga is impressive, many works I had never seen before. Being
able to view and touch prints by artists who I essentially revere
(Masao Maeda, Koshiro Onchi, Umetaro Azechi) was heart-stopping and
amazing. I will admit to tearing up at some of them. And laughing,
too. Koshiro Onchi was the sloppiest printer I've ever seen!

http://www.theartofjapan.com/

Saw lots of great contemporary work, too. I'm going to try to put
together a blog post about it in the next couple of days.

Best,

Annie

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Message 3
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:58:17 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40088] rain by Hasui
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http://www.theartofjapan.com/

Thanks for this link Annie, I spent quite a bit of time looking at this online...I loved the Helen Hyde print with the key block for sale with it, quite a find, wish I was rich.

I have a question for you really good printers and carvers....Dave, wake up! look at this.....I know you are sleeping now since it is the middle of the night in Japan....

http://www.theartofjapan.com/ArtDetail.asp?Size=med&Inv=03092178

How did they do this rain...two blocks? How did they carve these lines this finely...it almost looks like intaglio work. I have tried to do rain....mine is not even close to close....sigh.
My best to all
Barbara

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Message 4
From: David Bull
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:18:19 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40089] Re: rain by Hasui
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> I have a question for you really good printers and carvers....Dave,
> wake up! look at this.....I know you are sleeping now since it is
> the middle of the night in Japan....
>
> http://www.theartofjapan.com/ArtDetail.asp?Size=med&Inv=03092178
>
> How did they do this rain...two blocks? How did they carve these
> lines this finely...it almost looks like intaglio work.

I'm not sleeping ... it's only just after midnight. I'm folding and
collating (endless) book pages for the next print volume ...

There are multiple overprintings to get that rain ...
- the darkest tiny rain lines are carved on one block (might be with
the key block ... not sure). They are mostly carved in short parallel
strokes.
- then there is a flat 'beta-ban' block covering pretty much
everything - this is printed with baren-suji, but not in the typical
circular patterns, but with (almost) vertical strokes ... This adds
the 'diagonal' feel to the rain.
- then of course there is a sky block with gradations ... mountain
block with gradations ...

It is indeed a very effective print, and - as you mention - does have
a kind of intaglio feel.

Dave

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Message 5
From: ArtfulCarol # aol.com
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:09:26 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40090] Lauan wood
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Barbara, there is a wood called Lauan which does the trick for pinhole
size striations. I've used it. Use as a background or part of it. Cut with
the grain or you will be sorry! McClain's
Carol Lyons
Irvington, NY

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Message 6
From: andrea # starkeyart.com
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:19:17 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40091] Re: Rain by Bertha Lum
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While on the subject of rain, I've been trying to figure out this print, which has to be one of my favorites, since I first came across it on the internet. Anyone venture to guess how the white lines were done? Do you think it was a reduction print with the dark lines on a key block? They seem to match up through the different colors exactly...http://www.bertha-lum.org/Catalogue%20p25%20E.htm

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Message 7
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:05:57 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40092] Re: Rain by Bertha Lum
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I agree it is on the key block...I am not sure about reduction because some of the green seems to be under the white...it is a mystery. I think the black on the edges of the white were done by just adding black and wiping most of it away so it only "caught" on one edge. Tricky.
It is possible it is white paint...they did do that. Any one else have an idea????
my best
Barbara

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Message 8
From: David Bull
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:21:50 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40093] Re: Rain by Bertha Lum
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Andrea wrote:
> Anyone venture to guess how the white lines were done?
> Do you think it was a reduction print with the dark lines
> on a key block? They seem to match up through the
> different colors exactly...
> http://www.bertha-lum.org/Catalogue%20p25%20E.htm

Nothing 'reduction' about this one ... it's done in the normal
Japanese fashion. (Going by the style of the printing of her stuff,
best guess is that she used one of the same workshops that worked for
Hasegawa, the publisher who created the famous crepe paper fairy tale
books ...)

Anyway, about the white lines, I can't tell exactly how they were
done, but if I were trying to reproduce that print now, I would try
one of these methods:

A)
- cut all the rain lines on a separate block
- print that block _first_, in blank karazuri, before any other
printing starts. Press firmly, to indent the rain lines into the paper.
- print the rest as usual. The places where the paper has been
indented will retain a hair-line of white. (Of course, don't totally
smash flat with the baren).
- last step, print the rain - moving the paper ever-so-slightly from
the registration marks, to put the black rain lines onto the edge of
the white lines ...

B)
- cut the delicate white strips from all the colour blocks

One of these should do it ... (If I had to bet, I'm thinking they
used B ...)

Dave

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Message 9
From: Kris Wiltse
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:02:55 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40094] Rain by Bertha
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Maybe it was slightly offset?

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Subject: The CDs are out the door ... finally!
Posted by: Dave Bull

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

Subject: New York Print Fair 2009
Posted by: Annie B

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

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