[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking.

Baren Digest             Wednesday, 6 January 1999     Volume 06 : Number 400

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From: Cucamongie@aol.com
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 08:17:40 EST
Subject: [Baren 2518] video list 

I would also like to be added to the video list, if possible - thanks!

Sarah Hauser

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From: Don Furst <furstd@uncwil.edu>
Date: Tue, 05 Jan 1999 08:50:31 -0500
Subject: [Baren 2519] Re: Distinctions & Other Musings 

Roxanne wrote:
>>I have a moment to respond. Back in Iowa City in the early
>>70's, we began to sign imp. after our signatures on prints - a trend no
>>doubt started (there at least) by Lasansky. 

>(Don, were they still doing
>this when you were in residence?)

Yes, many of my fellow grad students in the mid-70s at Iowa routinely put the "Imp" 
next to their signatures.

Don Furst

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From: Graham Scholes <gscholes@islandnet.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 09:02:02 -0800
Subject: [Baren 2520] Re:  Seals 

Did anybody have a chance to investigate and explain this posting date Jan 1st.

On the subject of seals, I wonder if someone can explain.

I was under the impression, and told, in Art School, as well as by several
artist that the seal used on a piece of artwork (Chinese & Japanese)
denoted a certain accreditation by an institution.  Sort of like a diploma
signifying a level of competence in ones work which allowed you to use the
seal.

Are we talking the same thing in the previous threads?
Does this tradition still exist?

Graham

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From: Bill Ritchie <ritchie@emeralda.com>
Date: Tue, 05 Jan 1999 09:42:48 -0800
Subject: [Baren 2521] Re: Seals 

Here's my story.

I studied Japanese in college briefly, and there were several Japanese
people in my classes--both from Japan and first-generation students.
Seattle, where I live, has a large population and cultural history
influenced by Asian art and philosophy. No wonder I wanted to go to Japan!

My dreams came true in 1976. By then I had a few contacts with Japanese
artists and teachers. One of them gave me a place to live for a couple
weeks and we had wonderful exchanges--as far as our languages would allow.

When the subject of peoples' names came up, he said, "I will give you your
Japanese name," and I realized there was more to it than I realized. After
deliberating awhile, he told me my name. It is Biru Richi (I think) which
is pronounced, "Be You Ree Chee".

The characters are four in number (Bi Ru Ri Chi) and when he wrote them in
the old Chinese characters, he chose certain characters for the "sound" of
each group. When they are written out, they translate approximately to
"Keeper of Beauty within Gates."

That is, according to Michitaka Nakahara, a name in keeping with this
person, Bill Ritchie.

Cool, huh?

Later, he bought me a rubber stamp in the subway station--one of those
"instant business card" shops. They stylize the Chinese characters to look
jazzy and neat, fit on the end of a half-inch square piece of soft rubber
on a wooden peg. There's a notch to help you tell which side is the top.

Years after, a Chinese student--a watercolor artist--carved my "han" in
soapstone and presented it to me in a little brocaid covered case along
with a tin of vermillion ink in a pad. There's a little lion on the
soapstone but I think that was just a standard carving--nothing to do with
a "lion at the gate" although, maybe--since she was a student and I was the
professor--there was a message in it.

That's my story.
Game Inventor Bill H. Ritchie, Jr.

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From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 16:06:43 -0600
Subject: [Baren 2522] re: Gary's web-site 3 

Gary writes:
"....when you say my prints are computer generated, then scanned into the
pc, that statement sounds redundant.   Maybe from my earlier statements on
my technique you misunderstood, so let me try to explain better how I
do..."

You are right, of course if you have a digital image there is no need to
scan it, it's already there on the pc!
 I work with computers a little bit ( I have been a computer programmer since 1977,
way before graphics or graphic programs were common) so I understand how the
paint software works. I just thought that perhaps some of the older images (those 
from last year) had been scanned from real prints made from your drawings by the 
craftsmans you describe.
In other words....are any of your images on the web-site taken from actual
prints that you have had made ?
I was just wondering how the digital computer image would compare against
an actual printed image.

Ray:
There seems to be quite a bit of interest an activity on the net about "digital art" and
digitally altered art. Could not help but notice that many of the galleries
online have sections on this subject or on artists that  do it.

What is going on ? Is there a revolution going by us or is this just a new
passing phase ?

Is "computer art" being accepted as fine art by the powers/critics in art ?

Of course the net  would be the ideal medium for "computer art".

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From: Gary Luedtke <GLuedtke@compuserve.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 20:20:10 -0500
Subject: [Baren 2523] re: Gary's web-site 3 

Julio,

   I think I may have already answered your question

"In other words....are any of your images on the web-site taken from actual
prints that you have had made ?
I was just wondering how the digital computer image would compare against
an actual printed image."

The images on the site which I just recently referred you to are all
digital computer images.   If you go to my Hawaiian Woodblock Print
webpage, which Dave has a link to from his, all of those prints are actual
woodblock prints.   Of course they were scanned and are now digital images
so I don't know if you'll be able to pick up much difference between them
and the ones lately developed on the computer.  I think the obvious
difference is the textural and broken color areas more prevalent on the
woodblock prints.  The digital images rely more on gradations to indicate
volume, space and depth.   Examine them and let me know if you spot
anything other differences.   Of course many of the qualities of the
woodblock print will be imperceptible on the monitor, as they were not
photographed with a fine camera like Dave's, but simply put on a flat-bed
scanner and scanned in.

Gary

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From: Jean Eger <jeaneger@LanMinds.Com>
Date: Tue, 05 Jan 1999 19:39:52 -0800
Subject: [Baren 2524] Re: Paper size 

Matt corrected me, saying rabbitskin glue size is not good to use on
Japanese paper. It should be alum and gelatin (Knox gelatin is OK?)
However, Katherine McKay recommended a very thin rabbitskin glue size.
Rabbits are also recommended by Simmons and Clemson in THE COMPLETE MANUAL
OF RELIEF PRINTMAKING (Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1988)  I'll try both.

Thanks again

Jean Eger

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From: Graham Scholes <gscholes@islandnet.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 22:02:42 -0800
Subject: [Baren 2525] Re: Gary's web-site 3 

> Of course many of the qualities of the
>woodblock print will be imperceptible on the monitor, as they were not
>photographed with a fine camera like Dave's, but simply put on a flat-bed
>scanner and scanned in.

Gary
If the scanner is properly set and the image scanned for say photoshop,
they will be much better than any digital camera on the market.

Graham

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From: Shimizu <shimizu@mail1.nai.net>
Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 06:53:22 -0500
Subject: [Baren 2526] Video List 

Sorry to add to the ever growing list, but if possible, I'd also like to
receive the video. To where and to whom should I send my snail mail
address?
Thanks!

Lynita,
Connecticut

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From: Gary Luedtke <GLuedtke@compuserve.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 07:40:19 -0500
Subject: [Baren 2527] Re: Gary's web-site 3 

Graham,

    What I meant here was that some of Dave's photos can show texture much
better because it can be photographed from an angle advantageous to the
play of light and shadow across a textured surface.  When you scan it, you
have only the head-on look of the print with little or no relief showing.
Relief being one of the qualities of woodblock printing, it is generally
lost in a scan, so you lose the ability to make a full comparison.  

Gary

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From: <hudson@panther.middlebury.edu>
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 07:55:35 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Baren 2528] Re: Video List 

Dear Shimizu,
Please send your address to me (Ray Hudson, Vermont) and I'll add it to
the list and send the list on with the video.   When I get the video, I'll
publish the list on Baren to see if any other names need to be added.
Thus far, Wanda R. and Sarah H. have added their names (no address yet for
Sarah, however.)
Ray H

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End of Baren Digest V6 #400
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