BarenForum Group Weblog

Kyoto printmaker - Mamoru Ichimura

Sat, 22 May 2010 00:44:50 -0500

Take a visit to the studio of printmaker Mamoru Ichimura and watch the printing of four postcard sized images all on one block. Part of "Japanese Journey", a 53 minute film made by Don Fairservice and Mitsue Nagashima during a tour of Japan. Music composed by Jean Hasse.

Ukiyoe-Printing using a Vandercook Press

Tue, 18 May 2010 02:28:32 -0500

Printmaker Mark Herschede:

"A brief runthrough of the process I'm using right now to make a bank of images using woodcuts. By using tools which are not normally associated with one another, I've been working towards experimenting with mixing processes. Currently I'm researching the technical aspects of printing water based, japanese style woodblock printing on a vandercook through testing and manipulation of the materials involved."
"It is my hope to be scoffed at by Japanese moku-hanga printers and letterpress typesetting nerds alike. Please! Feel free to insult my experiments! (Or offer constructive criticism ;-) )! Get angry at my usage of a type proving press to print 'cuts'; become enraged at my seemingly smashing attempts at printing lovingly hand-inked blocks!"

For more info on Mark's experiments visit the links below.

Ukiyo-E printing on a Vandercook proofing press- a quick runthrough from Mark Herschede on Vimeo.

Paul Binnie - latest print "Inazuma" (Lightning)

Tue, 11 May 2010 23:23:21 -0500

From Blue Rim gallery in London:

Paul Binnie, May 2010, (New release)
Oban, 66 x 32 cm. Edition of 40.

'Inazuma' means Lightning, but is a literary term that brings ideas of fertilising the fields derived from ancient poetry. The large format of this print gives a dramatic feeling of the verticality of the bolt of lightning as it crackles between dark clouds and rain to earth.

Within the edition of 40, there are 14 different printings, including 3 printings of solid black overlaid to achieve a deep, opaque darkness in the heaviest clouds.

To see a vast collection of Paul Binnie's prints at Blue Rim Gallery visit this link.

Australian master printer Paul Smith - Colloblock technique

Mon, 10 May 2010 01:48:15 -0500

Watch the making of "Samoan Skin". Working in the eStudio Editions studio printer Paul Smith with artist Dimitri Lihachov describe the process of making a "colloblock" print.

For more on the "colloblock" technique visit
http://www.estudioeditions.com.au/pages/Collograph-prints.html

Keizaburo Matsuzaki printer - the Art of Utamaro

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:05:15 -0500

Japanese woodblock printing 3 March 2010

In association with the exhibition Hymn to beauty: the art of Utamaro: printer Keizaburo Matsuzaki of Arakawa-ku, Tokyo creates reproductions of Utamaro's print designs over four days. The master printer has been featured many times on David Bull's website as he is one of David's friend & mentor.

Download

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Blanche Lazzell (1878-1956)

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:41:39 -0500

Blanche Lazzell (1878-1956) one of the founders of the Provincetown movement of White-line printmaking.

Link here for extensive bio and artist background.

Blanche Lazzell, Commercial Street Studio, Provincetown.

"The Seine boat", 1927,(14" X 12")

"Sail boat", 1931, (12" X 14")

"Provincetown Backyards", 1926, (14" X 12")

Daisy wood block

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 06:13:38 -0500

This is my first attempt at posting to the blog, hope it works???
I started carving a new block based on my dream. The subject, in my dream, was my daisy. So far I have done a pencil drawing directly on the block and carved the outline with my hanga knife. A small part has been carved away. At first I thought this block might splinter easily, it has given me no problem so far. This block is maple and has a lot of grain, hoping to get some of the grain to show in the print. I am planning to leave space at the top for pins, think I will try white line. Otherwise this will be a reduction print.

Daisy #1

Desert Island Prints

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:35:21 -0500

While carving this afternoon, I was listening to the (wonderful) iPlayer from the BBC in England, and enjoyed an episode of the very long-running program Desert Island Discs. You are probably familiar with the idea ... the host interviews a guest, who chooses ten records that he would take if he were to be stranded on a desert island. It's always an enjoyable listen, and each of the guests always has to explain just why these particular choices were made.

It occurred to me that we here on [Baren] could easily play the same game, so I'll give it a try - not with 10 prints, which would be a bit much, but with three. Here they are (images are clickable for enlargements):

Hiratsuka Unichi - Ancient Art Podcast

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 03:50:09 -0500

Episode 27 explores the art and life of one of the most influential 20th century Japanese woodblock print artists, Hiratsuka Un'ichi, including prints recently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago. A pioneer of the early 20th century Japanese Creative Print movement (sosaku hanga), Hiratsuka is steeped in ancient Japanese spiritual and visual traditions, while strongly influenced by the evolving culture of early 20th century Japan. Discover how Hiratsuka Un'ichi broke the rules of the rigidly predefined role of woodblock carver and inspired a new generation of artists.

Karen Kunc demo at Sev Shoon, Seattle 12/20/2009

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:41:24 -0500

For those fans of printmaker Karen Kunc here is a new video demonstration (in 6 parts) recently done at the Sev Shoon Arts Center in Seattle. This video gives a great insight into the artist's mindset and technique. Videos courtesy of Mirka Hokkanen at YouTube.

Click on the "Continue Reading" link below to see all six parts.

Part 1 of 6

Part 2 of 6

Gustave Baumann - Hands of a Craftsman

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:45:12 -0500

One of Americas great craftsman, Gustave Baumann's color woodblock prints are masterpieces of meticulous craftsmanship and artistic vision. Occasionally interrupted by those pesty puppets, the narrative for this documentary is composed of excerpts from Baumanns own unpublished autobiography. This film presents an unparalleled insight into Baumanns artistic mind and creative process and presents superb photographic tour of his beautiful woodblock prints. He used hand ground pigments, exact carving and fine papers to create flawless prints. Each print is a simple and elegant study of the customs, people and landscape of New Mexico.

Here also is a short time lapse view of the Historic Santa Fe Foundation's restoration of the exterior of Gustave Baumann's house in Santa Fe, NM. The exterior has been returned to its original tint, which complements the hand-painted wood on the home's windows and entrance.

Carving tools - video

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:48:40 -0500

Okay, so here's another video clip from my studio, this time is about the tools I use to carve wood blocks.

Note: You will see a small handcrafted box where I keep my tools after use and where I also save a few wood chips from every block carved. This is my way to pay respect to the wood.

David's e-book "Your First Print"

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:16:25 -0500

Came across this article on David's new ebook at "eBooks Just Published".

"Remembering back to the days when I was first exploring this craft, I have created the book that I desperately wanted back then, but which didn’t exist - a book that included everything that I needed to know. I have tried to create a highly practical and focussed guidebook that will take you - step by step - completely through the process of creating your first print, answering (hopefully) all the questions you will ask along the way.”

Rich Media: The eBook contains approximately 60 ‘pages’ (each one actually a wide-screen ’spread’), as well as many photos in high-resolution format. In addition to the standard text+illustration material, it also contains numerous audio and video clips showing every important stage of the printmaking process.

Click here to visit David's e-book site:"Your First print"

Printing setup and proofing

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:43:41 -0500

Here is a short video clip of my setup for printing woodblock prints. The work is being done on the bed of my very old Vandercook Model 01 proofing press...probably built back in the 1940's or 1950's. It may not be clear in the first video clip but for printing the block is prop up on a downward angle against the edge of the press to aid with the printing posture.

Make sure to leave me a comment if you have any questions or if you have some recommendations for improvement.

This next clip shows me proofing the first impression for a background color. (Note wherever I mention the word "ink" I am really referring to color pigments of the watercolor variety).

Proofing continued.....

IFPDA Print Fair 09

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:00:35 -0500

The International Fine Print Dealers Association's (IFPDA) annual show, Printfair 09 in New York is considered to be one of the largest and finest in the world. The show ran November 5-9, 2009. See a full show review including photos and print prices.

Note. The Art of Japan offered a superb selection of color woodblock Orientalist prints, including two works by Hashiguchi Goyo; "Woman Applying Makeup" from 1918 that was priced at $39,500, and "Combing Her Hair" from 1920 that was marked $79,500.

Make sure to visit the IFPDA's What's On page to see a list of worlwide exhibits and workshops featuring fine prints & printmakers.