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Message 1
From: "Tom Kristensen"
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 00:04:25 +1000
Subject: [Baren 29048] Real Prints?
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Colleen would like to know if she has bought "real prints" of Kunichika and Kunisada from an ebay vendor. Almost certainly yes. Turn a woodblock print over and the back will show an amount of ink that has penetrated the paper showing marks from rubbing with the baren. This will tell you that someone has made the print by hand and it is therefore "real". There are some ebay sellers who sell reproductions printed by machine, but these vendors all clearly label their goods. If you turned one of their efforts over it would be blank. Colleen was also concerned whether the print is a re-issue or recut, the answer is probably no. Both these artists produced an immense output of different prints with editions running into the thousands. Very few of these designs have been re-cut, because the originals are easy to obtain. It is possible that the original blocks may have been used more than once, but there is no stigma attached to open-ended editions in the Japanese print tradition. The intensity of colours is no guide to the authenticity of a print of this age. If the print has been out in the light it can fade dramatically. A recut print is likely to seem more fresh than an original. So, I would guess you have two beautiful works that are well over 100 years old.

Tom

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Message 2
From: Mike Lyon
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 09:54:20 -0500
Subject: [Baren 29049] Re: How to recognize prints
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you wrote:
>Iwas wondering if there is a way to recognize re-strikes of old japanese
>woodblocks. I just bought a couple of prints, sold to me through e-bay and
>certified to be kunichika and kunisada prints - I am skeptical of their
>true nature, as I received them I clearly see that the lines which are
>supposed to be black, are instead kind of greyish so I believe they are
>restrikes. The paper is undoubtedly old. Can anyone give me any
>information on how to determine whether a print is real or not?
>Colleen Corradi, Italy

The Kunichika's are probably genuine, as they are plentiful and I've not
seen any 'restrikes'... Some famous Kunisada's have been reproduced, but I
imagine yours are genuine -- send me a couple of scans off-list (about
1,000 pixels in the long dimension) and I'll likely be able to let you know
for certain...

-- Mike


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

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Message 3
From: Mike Lyon
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 10:06:39 -0500
Subject: [Baren 29050] Re: Real Prints?
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Tom wrote:
>The intensity of colours is no guide to the authenticity of a print of
>this age. If the print has been out in the light it can fade dramatically.
>A recut print is likely to seem more fresh than an original. So, I would
>guess you have two beautiful works that are well over 100 years old.

Agree with Tom about likely authenticity -- and that some of the colors
used were fugitive -- but the sumi used for grays and 'black' outlines
doesn't fade at all -- it's carbon and incredibly stable. Many old and
fine prints have gray (dilute) sumi key lines -- they're more subtle than
full-strength black and the printing was often done this way intentionally
for aesthetic reasons...

Do disagree on another point... Sadly many print vendors (and not only on
eBay) sell later printings (sometimes MUCH later printings) as if they were
1st or early edition prints without warning (often, I think, out of
ignorance), or with only subtlest of advice, so... Buyer beware!

-- Mike


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

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Message 4
From: "Connie Lambert"
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 11:03:50 -0500
Subject: [Baren 29051] It's all good
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Mindy wrote:
>Thanks for this info, it sounds great. It is so fun to have a project in
>mind, I love the anticipation: choosing an image, the colors, format...the
>smell of the ink, a little nick because I've rushed....getting ink on a
>favorite shirt because I was too excited to change, a smear or too across my
>face...seeing my image. SEEING EVERYONE'S Images!! woo hoo
>
>It's all good.

Wow Mindy,
You've put into words how I've felt all along. I thought I was the only one
who liked the smell of the ink. And couldn't waste precious printing time by
changing into "work" clothes. I work more in the "fly by the seat of your
pants method". Creating/resolving prints as I go. Thereby all my prints have
multiple layers. I really get a charge seeing the image being pulled from
the plate.

Keep printing!
Connie
www.connielambert.com

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Message 5
From: tfl4467 # blackfoot.net
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 10:38:10 -0600
Subject: [Baren 29052] Re: It's all good
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Hello Connie~

I really get a charge seeing the image being pulled from
the plate. Wasting precious printing time...

Funny, exactly! I was wearing my favorite black skirt the other day, I risked it
all. I realize I use water base ink, but normally I don't even cook in the
skirt for fear of splashin' something on it. But, waste ONE minute to change?
Forgettaboutit!

I really get a charge seeing the image being pulled from
the plate. I get the same charge! And what about the sound the ink on the
paper makes as you pull it from the block? That wet sound....Nice.

Additionally, I look forward to seeing what five years of carving and printing
will do for me. I haven't even been doing this for a year just yet. I've had
some progress but, I can't wait to look back and view my efforts of years of
work.

Mindy
http://www.artwanted.com/Mwilson
http://www.solisstyle.com/blog?u=Mwilson



> Wow Mindy,
> You've put into words how I've felt all along. I thought I was the only one
> who liked the smell of the ink. And couldn't waste precious printing time by
> changing into "work" clothes. I work more in the "fly by the seat of your
> pants method". Creating/resolving prints as I go. Thereby all my prints have
> multiple layers. I really get a charge seeing the image being pulled from
> the plate.
>
> Keep printing!
> Connie
> www.connielambert.com

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Message 6
From: "marilynn smih"
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 09:46:02 -0700
Subject: [Baren 29053] RE: Baren Digest (old) V33 #3233
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Thanks a lot for input on the copy rights for the logo project. My instincts were to write out an agreement, both of us sign it, making a copy for each of us. That way if she moves on and another person takes over the job I have the rights I want and so do they. Seems that will take care of the issue. Thanks, as usual this group gave good advice.
Marilynn

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Message 7
From: Melinda
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 10:55:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 29054] oil in printing
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Hello,
So i was over at the MFA boston today looking at some
prints and one of my classmates had a question about
the use of oil in printing, she had remembered a
friend of hers in Japan coating his block with oil,
and had heard that some pigments were occosionally
mixed with oil and applied- she was trying to figure
what kind of oil was used. I have no idea what she was
talking about but wondered if anyone else had any
ideas.
~Melinda Cross

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Message 8
From: Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 18:22:53 -0500
Subject: [Baren 29055] Woodcut prints from the Muller Collection - auction prices
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A while back in May 2005 Mike Lyon posted links to a large auction of
non-japanese woodcuts from the Muller Collection....incredibly enough the
auction images are still up on a "results" page indicating what looks to
be opening & final bids.....if you are interested in what 50 - 100 year
old
woodcut prints are worth in the auction market today check out the links
below for some incredible images.....

uhmmm... I wonder if a Baren Exchange "collection' will ever come up for
auction like this years from now ????


thanks....Julio Rodriguez (Skokie, Illinois)



Here's a chance to view HUNDREDS of woodcuts from the collection of the
late Robert Muller -- these are not Japanese artists (of which he was such
a well known collector), but are all by Western artists -- although quite a
number had been trained in Japan... Many astounding prints to be auctioned
May 25, so I imagine that these pages won't be available more than a few
weeks -- be sure to have a look:

http://www.b-n.nl/php/auction.php?AuctionNumber=321&GroupNumber=62 Artist
A-E
http://www.b-n.nl/php/auction.php?AuctionNumber=321&GroupNumber=63 Artist
F-G
http://www.b-n.nl/php/auction.php?AuctionNumber=321&GroupNumber=64 Artist
H-J
http://www.b-n.nl/php/auction.php?AuctionNumber=321&GroupNumber=65 Artist
K-M
http://www.b-n.nl/php/auction.php?AuctionNumber=321&GroupNumber=66 Artist
N-O
http://www.b-n.nl/php/auction.php?AuctionNumber=321&GroupNumber=67 Artist
P-R
http://www.b-n.nl/php/auction.php?AuctionNumber=321&GroupNumber=68 Artist
S-Z

-- Mike

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Message 9
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 16:45:02 -0700
Subject: [Baren 29056] Re: Woodcut prints from the Muller Collection - auction prices
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Take a good look at Emile Boizot, #1506. Anyone care to hazard a guess as
to how the fur was printed???

Cheers ....... Charles

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Message 10
From: cucamongie # aol.com
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 21:38:22 -0400
Subject: [Baren 29057] Mindy's print, etc
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Mindy, thanks for reposting your print, what a simple, lovely image! Congratulations and thanks so much for sharing this with us.

And as for year of the dog, ARF! ART! those who know my work know that I'll HAVE to participate in this one --

best wishes
Sarah

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Message 11
From: baren_member # barenforum.org
Date: 21 Oct 2005 03:23:37 -0000
Subject: [Baren 29058] Print show in Philadelphia ...

Message posted from: Google News Update

Philadelphia Print Collaborative is pleased to introduce its fifth annual Philadelphia Invitational Portfolio: a portfolio of fine art prints published annually by area artists and print shops. An upcoming 5th anniversary exhibition at Silicon Gallery, 139 North 3rd Street in Old City, Philadelphia, will present the entire portfolio collection to date, including the newly-published 2005 portfolio. The exhibit runs from November 4th though the 26th with an opening reception First Friday, November 4th from 6 to 8:30pm.

The publication of the 5th annual Philadelphia Invitational Portfolio is cause to celebrate five years of commitment to serving the Philadelphia art community by creating opportunities for artists, collectors and print shops.

The 2005 artists are: Katie Baldwin, nationally exhibited bookbinder and printmaker who recently studied traditional Japanese woodblock printing at the Nagasawa Art Park in Japan; ... (more) ...

http://www.artdaily.com/section/news/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=15268

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Message 12
From: "Mindy Wilson"
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 05:45:45 -0600
Subject: [Baren 29059] Re: Mindy's print, etc
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Thank you Sarah! The year of the dog is now having me think of the real impact it may have on my pocket book!(old fashioned term, now) Is there a cap on participants or will we be broke into groups? IKES! I should start saving for postage now!

Mindy

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