Today's postings

  1. [Baren 43553] v-tool (Ruth Egnater)
  2. [Baren 43554] Re: v-gouge woes (Shireen Holman)
  3. [Baren 43555] Re: v-tool (Graham Scholes)
  4. [Baren 43556] Re: Tiny Prints (Andy English)
  5. [Baren 43557] Worksharp (Carole Dwinell)
  6. [Baren 43558] RE: mini print size ("Phare-Camp")
  7. [Baren 43559] RE: prints are here for the Japan Benefit ("Grassell, Mary")
  8. [Baren 43560] Re: mini print size (l k)
  9. [Baren 43561] Re: mini print size (Graham Scholes)
  10. [Baren 43562] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification (Blog Manager)
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Message 1
From: Ruth Egnater
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:24:00 GMT
Subject: [Baren 43553] v-tool
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Have you tried using the leather sharpener, I wish I knew the exact name for it. To keep my tiny tools sharp I constantly sharpen my tools with a leather sharpener and a yellow wax compund that comes with it. Does anyone else have one of these and know the proper name? It keeps my v tool and the others sharp and clean and is easier for me to use than the stone. I do sharpen with the stone at beginning and end of project but use leather during. Good Luck. Ruth
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Message 2
From: Shireen Holman
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:10:34 GMT
Subject: [Baren 43554] Re: v-gouge woes
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Sharri,

The way I work a knife would not be a substitute for a V gouge. But
I've learned to pretty consistently sharpen my 1.5 and 2 mm V gouges
after years of practice and perseverance. It can be done!

Shireen
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Message 3
From: Graham Scholes
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:11:56 GMT
Subject: [Baren 43555] Re: v-tool
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This is called honing -- using a strop ..... It is a ancient method of putting a fine edge on knives.
You can make your own. If any one is interested I can put something on my web site that is pretty well self explanatory. All you need is a belt.... and I am not talking about a shot of liquor. !!!!!

Graham
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Message 4
From: Andy English
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:16:21 GMT
Subject: [Baren 43556] Re: Tiny Prints
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I love the discussion on this. 2 x 3 inches is probably my most common image size ;)

I really do think that a uniform paper size would draw all of the work together. I incline towards the 4 x 6 inch sheet but then the 4 x 4 inch would also suit.

Whatever is decided, I shall jump on this one.

I am just packing my Japan prints; they will be mailed tomorrow.

Best,

Andy



Wood Engraver / Printmaker / Illustrator
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Message 5
From: Carole Dwinell
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:18:08 GMT
Subject: [Baren 43557] Worksharp
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If you look at the WorkSharp on McClains website catalog -->> http://tinyurl.com/3p2757d
there are good photos at what it's all about PLUS a video. I have
one and have only used the leather strop wheel plus the stuff you put
on it. Fast, efficient, saves plenty of wear and tear on your tools.

Carole
dwinell.carole@gmail.com
http://caroledwinell.blogspot.com
www.caroledwinell.com
"Today is the day to DO it!"
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Message 6
From: "Phare-Camp"
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:32:53 GMT
Subject: [Baren 43558] RE: mini print size
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I vote that the paper size be the standard ACEO size which is 2 " X 3 "
inches. The reason I strongly suggest this size is because ACEOs are very
highly collectable and 2 " X 3 " inches is considered THE standard for
ACEOs. Artists can purchase premade papers, envelopes, sleeves and
portfolios designed around ACEO making and collecting. Just saying that it
makes the work more marketable and collectable in a highly sought format...

On a sad note, our long time barener Claudia Coonen passed yesterday...she
will be missed by many who loved her dearly. You may read the entry about
her peaceful leaving at Caring Bridge:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/claudiacoonen. Claudia we'll miss you
infectious smile and quirky sense of humor...I couldn't have asked for a
funner roommate at bootcamp, Graham got that right when he put two aging
hippies together! Aho...
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Message 7
From: "Grassell, Mary"
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:54:49 GMT
Subject: [Baren 43559] RE: prints are here for the Japan Benefit
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Barbara,

My prints for the Inspired by Japan Exchange are in the mail as of today. I have enclose my colophon if you did not receive the online version. I am just letting you know so that you will look for them in the mail.

Mary Grassell
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Message 8
From: l k
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:15:19 GMT
Subject: [Baren 43560] Re: mini print size
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I'm reading all this...
right on the edge of jumping into this one, just for the focus,
maybe just to overload the plate of way too much to do.
You guys will make some kind of formal image size/papersize statement....
and deadline date right?
That will probably push me one way or other depending upon what ELSE '
has happened around me.

Claudia Coonen....geez.
It's that laugh of hers.
I could still hear it years after BootCamp...
and it was exactly the same when I talked to her last year.
I can still hear her. She's always going to be in my mind...
She could get me laughing so hard!
How she thought, what came out of her mouth!!
And that laugh!
Oh, my, yes....this is sad.
Linda
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Message 9
From: Graham Scholes
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2011 03:17:33 GMT
Subject: [Baren 43561] Re: mini print size
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I had some correspondence with Claudia and we reminisced about the
fun times here at my Studio in Sidney by the Sea....
Claudia was a gem and with Patti and Jennefer making up the trio they did
contribute greatly to the festivities at Bootcamp.

We will miss you Claudia....

Graham

Digest Appendix

Postings made on [Baren] members' blogs
over the past 24 hours ...

Subject: Mystique Series #14 : to sparkle, or not to sparkle?
Posted by: Dave Bull

It's been kind of a crazy week, what with all the attention being paid to the new Webcam, and it's time to get caught up with reporting the progress of the current print - #14 in the 'Mystique of the Japanese Print' series.

All the way along during the printing of this one, there has been plenty of feedback and suggestions offered by those watching and listening, and when I got to the final couple of stages the other day, and announced that I would be applying a mica coat to the background pattern block, there was some disappointment from the viewers that I would be doing that impression during the afternoon (Tokyo time), so it would thus be happening while most of my audience was asleep (too late for the US people, too early for the Europeans).

I am recording many (not all) of the Webcam sessions, but it's certainly more fun for the viewers when they know it's happening live as they watch. (Not to mention that we can talk while I work ...) It couldn't be helped though; I had to get on with the work, and couldn't simply postpone the job until the next day. So I quickly got the materials and tools ready, and applied a quick coat of mica to a couple of sample sheets, so that people could at least see how it was going to be done.

I then signed off for lunch, and the viewers disappeared, expecting to drop back again the . . .
[Long item has been trimmed at this point. The full blog entry can be viewed here]


This item is taken from the blog Woodblock RoundTable.
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Subject: Tsunami


Here is the print I have made for "Inspired By Japan", a project in progress by some of the members of Barenforum, an international woodblock printmaking forum of which I am a member. These prints, in an edition of 31, will be sent to one Baren member who, perhaps with a team, will collate all the prints (from over 60 contributors) and put them into folders which will then be sold. All the money received from the sales will go to help people of Japan who have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. The cherry wood I had to work with was smaller than what the project?s criteria asked for, but we were encouraged to send what we could. The finished print (they are drying now) will be about 9? x 11.5 ? which includes margins. I didn?t include that here because this is a photo and the margins were skewed.

It took several weeks for me to come up with a design and another three weeks to carve and print.

woodcut Copyright 2011 Gayle Wohlken

[This was a summary of the original entry. The full entry can be viewed here]

This item is taken from the blog Gayle's Woodblock Blog.
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Subject: Japanese Relief Print Ready to Ship
Posted by: Mark Mason

It's been a bit of a rush, and working with paper I'm not used to, which has caused it's own problems, but at last I've got my prints completed, dried, and ready to ship.
With more time I would have corrected a few things, but generally I'm happy with how it turned out.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I've used 4 blocks, but with a second impression on the light grey block in a few areas to create some shading: on the bottom edge of the lighter branch on the left, and on the blossoms.
I was using paper I'd never tried before for this print, and despite plenty of proofing I was finding it hard to get a smooth, even spread of colour in some places. It was much more textured than I'm used to.
If you look closely at the black branch, you will find the Kanji characters for 3rd Month (March) and 11th Day hidden in the design, the date of the 9.0 earthquake. The blossom pattern matches the seismic data map for the 12th March of Japan. To me, the sparrow represents the strength of character of the Japanese people in the face of such a terrible event.

This item is taken from the blog Curiously Drawn.
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