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Message 1
From: "Mark Mason"
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 15:16:13 -0000
Subject: [Baren 32354] Re: Print pricing and question re Baren care.
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Following on from the absorbing messages about pricing of prints I thought I'd mention the price of genuine Japanese woodblock reprints. I've purchased a couple of these prints on ebay over the last few months and they are lovely. They've been printed at various times from the late 1940's up to the 1980's mainly from re-cut blocks and printed on good quality Japanese paper, showing bleedthrough and sometimes baren marks. The quality is great, and excellent for study and learning. They've only cost me between £6-£12 ($3-$7) each. Hokusai, Hiroshige and Utamaro reprints.

I've found the link on the Barenforum homepage to
a.. Weslayan Ukiyo-e Techniques with Keiji Shinohara
a real inspiration. The video demonstrations are packed with so much knowledge, especially with regards to printing technique. I've started to emulate the demonstrator's printing methods and they've really helped me get to grips with it. (Although I was holding my breath a little when he was clearing his block. I looked like he nearly hit his finger at one point!)

Thankyou enormously to whoever at Barenforum added this link.

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice? I just recieved a Sosaku Sumi Baren ordered through Baren Mall (Early Christmas present to myself) and tried it out last night. It's lovely, really smooth printing, and 100 times better than the £4 plastic Baren I have. Honestly, I can't get over how nice it is, and very reasonably priced.
Is there anything I need to do to keep the Baren in good condition? Is any special care or maintainance required?
Any advice would be greatly welcomed.

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Message 2
From: L Cass
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 11:26:02 -0500
Subject: [Baren 32355] Re: Selling...or not...
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Hello All -

I think everyone has said it all by now but it is such an
interesting, controversial and never ending topic, I'll add my 2cent's worth.
Our "average person" (who we mistakenly expect to purchase art) is
busy producing it themselves.. Every country, city and village
has a plethora of artists -it seems to be the one thing that no
one hesitates to take up - they can't go into
scientific research, physics, advanced math, etc. even music (playing
instruments) requires more discipline for the beginner - I think the growth of
abstract art, computer generated stuff, kids and people with problems
'expressing themselves' etc thru' art (which is great because at the least
it provides us with teaching jobs) art has made it all too
accessible - to do, that is.

A professional used to be defined by their dedication in not working
at anything else and also by the ability to make money (or a living)
with it but that
doesn't really apply any more as so many who do good work can be
dedicated and don't make a living - except for the superstars
who attain the status
of film and sports celebrities- It's all entertainment! Maria, I
know, is aware of the entertainment' factor as she promotes her work
at fairs. Not everyone
can do this for various reasons. I find it curious that there are no
artists' agents around -they're available for authors, actors, etc so
perhaps there isn't
enough money in it?? Our top superstars in the Art world are usually
great at promoting themselves or have helpful partners who devote themselves to
the task as well as prominent private galleries and eager public
curators as well as crtitics to do the job.

I feel I, personally, am very fortunate re making a partial living
from my work without having to really 'promote' myself - I'm too disorganized
for that part of the job. I once dreamt of star status but am happy
to know that a lot of my work is 'out there' in people's homes in different
parts of the world (at least, I hope they hold on to it). As some of
you bareners have said, one can be content with less than America tells us we
should have .

A bit of happy news that has amazed me is that purchasing woodcuts
here in Toronto (the city I'm always putting down) is on the upswing. (maybe?)
Along with another print, I recently gave my first attempt at 'moku
hanga' to a gallery auction and it was bought! (I keep meaning to
send a pic as it's
the little image I started at the Summit this summer - I hesitated as
it doesn't reach the technical perfection some of you strive for - my
registration
system is very hit and miss but I like to think this gives 'life' to
my images.) As well, from this show, someone went to my web site and
is coming to
see more- possibly buying. This makes me realize that if the work
isn't in public places one can't expect the public to see it.

One good thing worth stressing is that you never know what's around
the corner - with an ordinary job you know what your working hours are and
exactly what pay you receive - if you can manage to provide yourself
with food and shelter - sales of work that come along unexpectedly are
exciting and may add 'luxuries' to life.

By the way, artists have never had 'the center of power' -having
always been dependent on patronage - be it church, state or private.
In a way the cult of personality that has grown up over the centuries
since artists first started signing their work is still alive. As everyone
realizes, there are just too many of us now!!

cheers
Louise Cass

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Message 3
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 09:24:14 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 32356] artist agents
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Louise,
There are artist agents...they are called galleries! Finding a gallery you like and trust is wonderful...as printmakers we are in a lucky spot since our work is multiples. It makes you philosophical when a gallery disappears and your work goes with it into the sunset....this has happened at least once or twice to everyone I know, the risk of selling out of state. We just go on and make more work...

Also individual agents that sell to corporations are out there. It is finding one that is the hard part, and working with them over the long haul. I know of several agents who make their living selling other's work...not an easy task as you have to know everyone and be everywhere and work like crazy. The commission is not as good as you need to share it with a venue at times...but if you click, like the gal here in Portland that represents Dale Chihuly, well, commissions are good. So as always, luck plays a part, but tenacity and determination are also needed. I met a guy in our gallery recently that represented 13 artists from San Francisco and was in Portland to see Weiden and Kennedy, the big ad agency. The thing they do is find markets the artist does not think of, also they find ways to license the work for all sorts of things.
So they do exist....out in the great beyond....beyond most of us, that is. hehehehe
Best to all,
Barbara

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Message 4
From: Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 11:25:40 -0600
Subject: [Baren 32357] Re: Print pricing and question re Baren care.
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Mark,

The best link I can recommend are the many entries in the encyclopedia
regarding baren use....if you have not already you may want to pickup a
small bottle of camellia oil to lubricate the baren. Also some Ategami
paper (or a substitute - I use the waxy paper they give out at Dunkin
Donuts !) comes in handy to place between the baren and the print when
rubbing. Of course you will need some replacement covers as the one that
came with the baren will eventually wear off. It's a good idea to rotate
the baren cover every so often during an edition so that the coils and the
bamboo sheath (takenokawa) are not always rubbing on the same spot....read
on...

http://www.woodblock.com/encyclopedia/topics/001/001_frame.html


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

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Message 5
From: Bobbi Chukran
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 11:52:35 -0600
Subject: [Baren 32358] Re: Selling...or not...
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>I find it curious that there are no artists' agents around -they're
>available for authors, actors, etc so perhaps there isn't
>enough money in it?? Our top superstars in the Art world are usually
>great at promoting themselves or have helpful partners who devote
>themselves to
>the task as well as prominent private galleries and eager public
>curators as well as crtitics to do the job.>

There USED to be agents, but as you said, they realized they can't
make much money at it. There are still "art consultants" who scout
out work for commercial applications, and I have friends who do
occasionally sell through those. Also, interior designers/decorators
will sometimes buy original art for a client's home so they're sort
of working as agents.

> As everyone realizes, there are just too many of us now!!
>

And there will be more. I went to sign up for a photography class at
a local private university....they said ALL their art/design/photo
classes were filled for the next two years---something that's never
happened before. They surmised that people are tired of high tech,
and are going into creative avenues instead.

I got a call from a UT art student the other night, trying to hit up
alumni for donations for the Fine Art Department. She was asked
about my "art career", then was stunned and shocked when I told her
how it was out in the "real world"....LOL. Husband said I burst her
bubble for sure, but I felt that since the university doesn't give
one speck of business advice, I felt that the poor girl needed a
little reality check.

bobbi c.

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Message 6
From: "claudia g coonen"
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 08:20:58 -1000
Subject: [Baren 32359] Re: Exchange 30
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sorry everyone
Doug your mail was rejected by my server

Claudia G Coonen
Haiku Maui
Lu Kitty
woodblock, done with oil relief ink on chiri paper
Lu kitty was my daughter and son in law's kitty which had a major indifference to all, except him. always slept sprawled on her back.


I did send it before also

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Message 7
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 15:52:10 -0800
Subject: [Baren 32360] Gone to the dogs
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Hey, am I happy!!! I just put my dog prints in the mail
...YYYAAAYYYYYY ... one less thing hanging over my head. Sorry to be
so late ... if you were on the list, you will get two prints as compensation.

Cheers ...... Charles

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Message 8
From: juan
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 10:30:26 +0100
Subject: [Baren 32361] Re: New Baren Digest (Text) V37 #3718 (Dec 6, 2006)
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DEAR ALL:


Very interesting conversation about art, pricing, frames, public, etc. I
really enjoy it and many topics make me think about the roll of artists in
actual societies. Although many great artists were "full time" artists,
many others had to do a lot of different jobs to get money for a living. It
would be nice no know what other activities besides art you guys do in your
life, and how such activities fulfill your artistic life.
I teach art in a pair of schools, work for a programme with orphan children
on weekends, and also collaborate in an art programme for children in rural
areas. I seldom make commission works but I don't hesitate to do them if I
get the time. Fortunately all my jobs are related to art for the moment,
but before I had to do lot of works, from dishwasher to cropper to "wedding
film maker" to journalist.


Best wishes,

Juan Guerrero
Alternative e-mail:
2ojos#ozu.es
www.guerreroart.tk

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Message 9
From: Blog Manager
Date: 7 Dec 2006 04:55:12 -0000
Subject: [Baren 32362] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification
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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. (25 sites checked, five minutes before midnight Eastern time)

*****************

Site Name: Woodblock Dreams

Author: Annie B
Item: Japanese Printmakers In Portland OR
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com/2006/12/japanese-printmakers-in-portland-or.html

*****************

Site Name: m.Lee Fine Art

Author: m.Lee
Item:
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com/2006/12/gift-certificate-originally-uploaded.html

*****************

Site Name: The Itinerant Artist

Author: Diane Cutter
Item: The Christmas season is upon us and life is getti...
http://theitinerantartist.blogspot.com/2006/12/christmas-season-is-upon-us-and-life-is.html

*****************

Site Name: Belinda Del Pesco Fine Art Blog

Author: bdelpesco
Item: Lineage 1: Monotype
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com/2006/12/lineage-1-monotype.html

*****************

Site Name: Amy Stoner's Fine Art Blog

Author: Amy Stoner
Item: the joy of the doodle
http://amymstoner.blogspot.com/2006/12/joy-of-doodle.html

Author: Amy Stoner
Item: Because it's Never Really "Done"
http://amymstoner.blogspot.com/2006/12/because-its-never-really-done.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

For reference, sites/blogs currently being checked are:
http://barenforum.org/blog
http://woodblock.com
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com
http://studiodiary.blogspot.com
http://larimerart.blogspot.com
http://artflights.blogspot.com
http://printmakersmaterials.blogspot.com
http://mlyon.com/blog
http://room535.blogspot.com
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com
http://snowgum.blogspot.com
http://onthisblock.blogspot.com
http://pressing-issues.blogspot.com
http://www.1000woodcuts.com
http://theitinerantartist.blogspot.com
http://PLawing-Printmaker.blogspot.com
http://readdevine.blogspot.com
http://mokuhankan.com/conversations
http://mokuhankan.com
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com
http://vizart.blogspot.com
http://phare-camp.blogspot.com
http://amymstoner.blogspot.com
http://williamleeholtfineart.blogspot.com
http://web.mac.com/g_wohlken/iWeb/Site/Blog/Blog.html

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Message 10
From: "Marilynn Smith"
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 21:14:45 -0800
Subject: [Baren 32363] Re: Baren Digest (old) V37 #3716
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Today I carved, I sat in the sun and got so hot that I had to move inside to
the balcony. I got a blister, I have a sore back. And I am happy, I got to
create art today. I work every year in the school, helping wonderful
children, to pay for my art. I am not poor and I could manage without that,
but I need to feel I pay my way.
The important thing for me was time. time to just do art, some how life eats
up that time and it is a luxury.
Mar

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End of [Baren] Digest