Today's postings
- [Baren 29536] Re: Baren Digest (old) V33 #3294 ("Marilynn Smith")
- [Baren 29537] Re: Thoughts on 'Speed drying' waterbased inks... (Sharri LaPierre)
- [Baren 29538] Re: How Did You Discover Woodblock Printmaking (Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com)
- [Baren 29539] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification (Blog Manager)
- [Baren 29540] Re: Test and question. (Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com)
- [Baren 29541] First Woodblock, Another Newbie Question, etc. (Bretsch Katie)
Message 1
From: "Marilynn Smith"
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 12:04:30 -0800
Subject: [Baren 29536] Re: Baren Digest (old) V33 #3294
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I think I have shared how I got into printmaking a few times already on this
list. Mainly because I found it soooo amazing. I got my fine arts degree:
painting and started taking a class at the community college called figure
painting watercolor. It was filled with poeple like me who just wanted a
place to come and draw. I became friends with many of the regulars,
including the professor. I did this for 10 years every Friday. We had a
very talented lady join the class who had a masters in paitning from
California. One day she said I should take the printmaking class. I said,
"no", I have enough to do just with my painting. The next week I was the
last person in the painting studio and said I would lock up after I finished
my painting. This lady and the professor said they were going to the
printmaking room to pull some prints. I accidentally locked my portfolio in
the painting lab and had to go to the printmaking room to get the key. I
walked in just as they were pulling a print from a plate. My eyes grew huge
and I knew I had to try this. So next term I took printmaking. The first
thing the professor did was hand me a piece of linoleum and a cutting tool
and said, "this is where we start". I laughed and said. " I do not carve".
But I took one of my watercolrs, grey scaled it on the computer, put it on
the block and started carving. As he had classical music playing it was a
very relaxing moment. He gave me no instruction, I just sat and carved.
Than he came over to me and said, "do you know what you have there?" I said
in utter amazement that yes I thought I did. This was my very first black
ane white lino print. Since he had done nothing more than give me the
tools, show me how to ink the bolck and press run it I felt no shame
entering it in the art show at the coast where I now live. I took a blue
ribbon with that piece and was hooked for life. I am still completely amazed
and wonder how a person can live so many years on thie earth until they find
something that comes so naturally.
Now for how I got into woodblock and Baren. I belonged to several online
art lists. I met a charming lady named Georgia Garside and sent her a
picture of one of my prints. She said Baren would love it and that I should
join. I did and found it way too intense and dropped the list. Than I did a
black and white print that I thought would be really nice on a piece of wood
so I came back to Baren to learn about wood carving. Still am a novice at
this Moku Hanga stuff, but because of my background in working with colors
and watercolors I feel I must move with this medium. Right now I am very
excited by the sharing of work some of our newer members have done. One in
pattricular has caught my eye. A multi block print that is not so tied to
exact registration, something I can do more easily with my free form
approach to this art. I feel very low in my cariving and printing abilities
and now have no time for art, but I am determined to hang in ther and do
hanga. As for the other lists, as Georgia told me, Baren had become here
main art list, it is now my only art list, amazing! I think this stuff is
an addiction!
What fun to read about how each of us found our way into wood carving, I
love the smell of wood, wow!
Marilynn Smith
list. Mainly because I found it soooo amazing. I got my fine arts degree:
painting and started taking a class at the community college called figure
painting watercolor. It was filled with poeple like me who just wanted a
place to come and draw. I became friends with many of the regulars,
including the professor. I did this for 10 years every Friday. We had a
very talented lady join the class who had a masters in paitning from
California. One day she said I should take the printmaking class. I said,
"no", I have enough to do just with my painting. The next week I was the
last person in the painting studio and said I would lock up after I finished
my painting. This lady and the professor said they were going to the
printmaking room to pull some prints. I accidentally locked my portfolio in
the painting lab and had to go to the printmaking room to get the key. I
walked in just as they were pulling a print from a plate. My eyes grew huge
and I knew I had to try this. So next term I took printmaking. The first
thing the professor did was hand me a piece of linoleum and a cutting tool
and said, "this is where we start". I laughed and said. " I do not carve".
But I took one of my watercolrs, grey scaled it on the computer, put it on
the block and started carving. As he had classical music playing it was a
very relaxing moment. He gave me no instruction, I just sat and carved.
Than he came over to me and said, "do you know what you have there?" I said
in utter amazement that yes I thought I did. This was my very first black
ane white lino print. Since he had done nothing more than give me the
tools, show me how to ink the bolck and press run it I felt no shame
entering it in the art show at the coast where I now live. I took a blue
ribbon with that piece and was hooked for life. I am still completely amazed
and wonder how a person can live so many years on thie earth until they find
something that comes so naturally.
Now for how I got into woodblock and Baren. I belonged to several online
art lists. I met a charming lady named Georgia Garside and sent her a
picture of one of my prints. She said Baren would love it and that I should
join. I did and found it way too intense and dropped the list. Than I did a
black and white print that I thought would be really nice on a piece of wood
so I came back to Baren to learn about wood carving. Still am a novice at
this Moku Hanga stuff, but because of my background in working with colors
and watercolors I feel I must move with this medium. Right now I am very
excited by the sharing of work some of our newer members have done. One in
pattricular has caught my eye. A multi block print that is not so tied to
exact registration, something I can do more easily with my free form
approach to this art. I feel very low in my cariving and printing abilities
and now have no time for art, but I am determined to hang in ther and do
hanga. As for the other lists, as Georgia told me, Baren had become here
main art list, it is now my only art list, amazing! I think this stuff is
an addiction!
What fun to read about how each of us found our way into wood carving, I
love the smell of wood, wow!
Marilynn Smith
Message 2
From: Sharri LaPierre
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 15:23:55 -0800
Subject: [Baren 29537] Re: Thoughts on 'Speed drying' waterbased inks...
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Do as I say, though, not as I do! Regarding the transportation of
blocks and carrying them with you on trips. I took one with me one
time, it was an 18" x 24" image. I do not recommend this to anyone!!
I will leave it to you to picture all the problems it is possible to
have with that size block in hand . . . . I guess the situation calls
for practicality - obviously, not my long suit. There really is a
reason that "travel size" of various things are small!
Cheers!
Sharri
blocks and carrying them with you on trips. I took one with me one
time, it was an 18" x 24" image. I do not recommend this to anyone!!
I will leave it to you to picture all the problems it is possible to
have with that size block in hand . . . . I guess the situation calls
for practicality - obviously, not my long suit. There really is a
reason that "travel size" of various things are small!
Cheers!
Sharri
Message 3
From: Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 22:32:42 -0600
Subject: [Baren 29538] Re: How Did You Discover Woodblock Printmaking
Send Message: To this poster
For me discovering woodblock printmaking as something I wanted to pursue
and discovering Baren came about the same time in late 1997. An internet
search led me to barener's Jean Eger's website and I think from there I
found the link to Dave Bull's home page. Dave had just started the Baren
forum in November of 1997. I read the archives (or what little was of
them back them ) and then after a month or so I stopped lurking and posted
my first entry to the forum ( a book report !) in response to Dave's
request for entries to the Baren Encyclopedia. At the time the number of
bareners was under 20 but word was quickly spreading and new members were
coming onboard daily.
I have always been 'artistic' in some form or another...does that go with
being a Pisces ? In grammar school drawing was a favorite pastime
specially doing horses, tigers and pirate ships and some crude form of
painting...later in High School I put together my own darkroom and taught
myself Photography. My big heroes were Ansel Adams, Brett Weston and the
early photographers who documented the American West with their large
format cameras, their panoramic views and their traveling studios. When
everyone was using SLRs in the 1970's, doing color and looking for the
smallest and most automatic camera in the market, I was stepping back into
the past and learning to use large format equipment ala Ansel Adams and
sticking to B&W photography....
My younger brother also earned several Art awards for his drawings and
paintings from different organizations so I guess you can say there was
always that type of atmosphere flowing in the house. Later in college I
took several Art classes including Composition, Primitive Art, Oil
Painting and Sculpture. As an adult I became obsessed with violins and
violin making....learning everything there was to learn about the craft,
the history and also apprenticing on my spare time to a famous German
violin maker in Chicago. That lead to five years of violin classes with a
Russian Concertmaster and many failed attempts to become the next
Stradivarius....
In 1998 I knew woodblock printmaking was the next adventure for me and I
dedicated myself to learn as much as possible from Dave Bull and the other
members. Unfortunately my other passion is coaching Youth Sports and my
year round duties of coaching baseball and basketball for my two boys has
not allowed as much time as I had hoped for printmaking. Nevertheless here
I am, still struggling with moku-hanga but having a wonderful time at it.
Meeting everyone that attended the KC Summit in 2003 was an incredible
experience. The Baren family has become very special to me not only for
the eight years of how-to advise, the fantastic source of information and
the wonderful exchanges but also for allowing me and many others to
connect on a global way and to share a bit of what drives us all to make
Art. Thank You Baren !
Julio Rodriguez (Skokie, Illinois)
and discovering Baren came about the same time in late 1997. An internet
search led me to barener's Jean Eger's website and I think from there I
found the link to Dave Bull's home page. Dave had just started the Baren
forum in November of 1997. I read the archives (or what little was of
them back them ) and then after a month or so I stopped lurking and posted
my first entry to the forum ( a book report !) in response to Dave's
request for entries to the Baren Encyclopedia. At the time the number of
bareners was under 20 but word was quickly spreading and new members were
coming onboard daily.
I have always been 'artistic' in some form or another...does that go with
being a Pisces ? In grammar school drawing was a favorite pastime
specially doing horses, tigers and pirate ships and some crude form of
painting...later in High School I put together my own darkroom and taught
myself Photography. My big heroes were Ansel Adams, Brett Weston and the
early photographers who documented the American West with their large
format cameras, their panoramic views and their traveling studios. When
everyone was using SLRs in the 1970's, doing color and looking for the
smallest and most automatic camera in the market, I was stepping back into
the past and learning to use large format equipment ala Ansel Adams and
sticking to B&W photography....
My younger brother also earned several Art awards for his drawings and
paintings from different organizations so I guess you can say there was
always that type of atmosphere flowing in the house. Later in college I
took several Art classes including Composition, Primitive Art, Oil
Painting and Sculpture. As an adult I became obsessed with violins and
violin making....learning everything there was to learn about the craft,
the history and also apprenticing on my spare time to a famous German
violin maker in Chicago. That lead to five years of violin classes with a
Russian Concertmaster and many failed attempts to become the next
Stradivarius....
In 1998 I knew woodblock printmaking was the next adventure for me and I
dedicated myself to learn as much as possible from Dave Bull and the other
members. Unfortunately my other passion is coaching Youth Sports and my
year round duties of coaching baseball and basketball for my two boys has
not allowed as much time as I had hoped for printmaking. Nevertheless here
I am, still struggling with moku-hanga but having a wonderful time at it.
Meeting everyone that attended the KC Summit in 2003 was an incredible
experience. The Baren family has become very special to me not only for
the eight years of how-to advise, the fantastic source of information and
the wonderful exchanges but also for allowing me and many others to
connect on a global way and to share a bit of what drives us all to make
Art. Thank You Baren !
Julio Rodriguez (Skokie, Illinois)
Message 4
From: Blog Manager
Date: 13 Dec 2005 04:55:06 -0000
Subject: [Baren 29539] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification
Send Message: To this poster
This is an automatic update message being sent to [Baren] by the forum blog software.
The following new entries were found on the listed printmaker's websites during the past 24 hours. (11 sites checked, just before midnight Eastern time)
*****************
Site Name: Woodblock Dreams
Author: Annie B
Item: Working the Background
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com/2005/12/working-background.html
*****************
Site Name: Flights of Art
Author: Carol
Item: Printing day
http://artflights.blogspot.com/2005/12/printing-day.html
*****************
Site Name: m.Lee Prints
Author: m.Lee
Item:
I had this idea for a pattern that I wanted to tr...
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com/2005/12/i-had-this-idea-for-pattern-that-i.html
Author: m.Lee
Item:
Last night J and I drove out to Somerville to go ...
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com/2005/12/last-night-j-and-i-drove-out-to.html
*****************
[Baren] members: if you have a printmaking blog (or a website with a published ATOM feed), and wish it to be included in this daily checklist, please write to the Baren Blog Manager at:
http://barenforum.org/contact_baren.php
The following new entries were found on the listed printmaker's websites during the past 24 hours. (11 sites checked, just before midnight Eastern time)
*****************
Site Name: Woodblock Dreams
Author: Annie B
Item: Working the Background
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com/2005/12/working-background.html
*****************
Site Name: Flights of Art
Author: Carol
Item: Printing day
http://artflights.blogspot.com/2005/12/printing-day.html
*****************
Site Name: m.Lee Prints
Author: m.Lee
Item:
I had this idea for a pattern that I wanted to tr...
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com/2005/12/i-had-this-idea-for-pattern-that-i.html
Author: m.Lee
Item:
Last night J and I drove out to Somerville to go ...
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com/2005/12/last-night-j-and-i-drove-out-to.html
*****************
[Baren] members: if you have a printmaking blog (or a website with a published ATOM feed), and wish it to be included in this daily checklist, please write to the Baren Blog Manager at:
http://barenforum.org/contact_baren.php
Message 5
From: Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 23:25:59 -0600
Subject: [Baren 29540] Re: Test and question.
Send Message: To this poster
Carolyn writes:
"Is this really off topic? If we want to show or sell our work on-line,
it
is an important subject, one I would also be interested in."
One of the areas of the Baren Encyclopedia that is truly lacking in
information is the "Business" end of printmaking. From time to time
interesting threads show up on the forum that are worth 'saving' for
future reference but lack of resources (volunteers) usually results in no
action taken. There are a few notes and a Q&A section (including an
article on web usage by Bill Ritchie JR.) that can be found at:
http://barenforum.org/encyclopedia/topics/020/020_frame.html
The Q&A section is an interactive page so that you can fill the form and
enter your
own answers to the questions already posted...there is also a form for
suggesting new questions. It would really be cool if members took
advantage of this section and help fill a major gap in the pedia. Don't be
shy and help by sharing your business knowledge.
We have lot of new blood onboard that was not around when the pedia was
first
put together...it is 'our' resource, an should be a never-ending project
that needs to continue to grow with the membership.
The Baren website also has a member's profile page on which you can
display a few images for free and links to your own website...there is
also a members directory..to
get added to these resources contact member Darrel Madis.
There are as many ways to create webpages for your work as there are
artists and each person has their own preference and style...while some
prefer to get a catchy domain name, rent space in a server and create
their own page, others chose to go with a simpler approach of a commercial
online gallery and pay the associated fees. Websites by Maria Arango,
April Vollmer, Mike Lyon, David Bull, Andrea Rich, Lynita Shimizu, Barbara
Mason, Matt Brown and other full-time pros here will give you some general
direction although perhaps displaying completely different styles.
thanks...Julio Rodriguez
ps. Maria's website has many articles specifically dealing with the
business end....
"Is this really off topic? If we want to show or sell our work on-line,
it
is an important subject, one I would also be interested in."
One of the areas of the Baren Encyclopedia that is truly lacking in
information is the "Business" end of printmaking. From time to time
interesting threads show up on the forum that are worth 'saving' for
future reference but lack of resources (volunteers) usually results in no
action taken. There are a few notes and a Q&A section (including an
article on web usage by Bill Ritchie JR.) that can be found at:
http://barenforum.org/encyclopedia/topics/020/020_frame.html
The Q&A section is an interactive page so that you can fill the form and
enter your
own answers to the questions already posted...there is also a form for
suggesting new questions. It would really be cool if members took
advantage of this section and help fill a major gap in the pedia. Don't be
shy and help by sharing your business knowledge.
We have lot of new blood onboard that was not around when the pedia was
first
put together...it is 'our' resource, an should be a never-ending project
that needs to continue to grow with the membership.
The Baren website also has a member's profile page on which you can
display a few images for free and links to your own website...there is
also a members directory..to
get added to these resources contact member Darrel Madis.
There are as many ways to create webpages for your work as there are
artists and each person has their own preference and style...while some
prefer to get a catchy domain name, rent space in a server and create
their own page, others chose to go with a simpler approach of a commercial
online gallery and pay the associated fees. Websites by Maria Arango,
April Vollmer, Mike Lyon, David Bull, Andrea Rich, Lynita Shimizu, Barbara
Mason, Matt Brown and other full-time pros here will give you some general
direction although perhaps displaying completely different styles.
thanks...Julio Rodriguez
ps. Maria's website has many articles specifically dealing with the
business end....
Message 6
From: Bretsch Katie
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 21:26:42 -0800
Subject: [Baren 29541] First Woodblock, Another Newbie Question, etc.
Send Message: To this poster
Got a first print and put up a blog where you can find it at....
http://snowgum.blogspot.com/ Oh, brother! Do I have lots to
learn!
Have temporarily given up block carving for seasonal candy making, but
already have about five more prints coming together in my head,
including three that use two colors already. Going to use black India
ink for one and iron oxide red for the other. Any comments from the
masters on this list on iron oxide for pigment? TIA!
http://snowgum.blogspot.com/ Oh, brother! Do I have lots to
learn!
Have temporarily given up block carving for seasonal candy making, but
already have about five more prints coming together in my head,
including three that use two colors already. Going to use black India
ink for one and iron oxide red for the other. Any comments from the
masters on this list on iron oxide for pigment? TIA!