--- Go to the Opening Page of the [Baren] web site ---

Message 1
From: Victor Blank
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:17:59 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 33171] Thanks for the Info
Send Message: To this poster

Annie, Louise, Mark

Thanks for the information.
I had been to those sites and wondered why nothing happened (I had forgotten to download the necessary software for my browser to play video). Keiji's demo's were great....just what I was looking for......a jumping off spot to start with, and then we can see just how difficult this process is. I found the old posts from this message board, and as I read through it, there seemed to be random bursts of frustration from members over the process involved.

In the end, I may stay with the oil-based methods that I'm used to, but I've always been open to trying new things in the world of etchings, so I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do with the very thing that got me interested in printmaking in the first place: Traditional Japanese Woodblocks.

Cheers to all
Vlad

• [Back to message index]

Message 2
From: David Harrison
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:23:41 +0100
Subject: [Baren 33172] board and listless
Send Message: To this poster

Hi all,

I just scored a bundle of small maple boards from a local hardwood
flooring fitter. There were a few lumps of cherry in there as well.

All of it looks smooth, plane and free of shakes. If a bit on the long
and narrow side. However much of it has been finished with varnish. I'm
guessing that the best thing to do is sand those pieces until bare wood
shows.

However, d'you think I'll be able to print off 'finished' wood at all?
It would save a few tubs of elbow grease.

all the best,

David H

• [Back to message index]

Message 3
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:06:11 -0700
Subject: [Baren 33173] Re: board and listless
Send Message: To this poster

You can certainly print western style from finished wood ... no need
to sand them at all ... just carve your wood, roll on the ink, and print.

As for their long, narrow dimensions, that can be turned to your
advantage. These flooring pieces would be good for cutting out
designs and then gluing them down to a substrate for inking and
printing ...... saves a LOT of carving.

Finally, to strip the finish, you might want to avoid the pain and
mess and labor of sanding:

1) use a heat gun ... a real electric heat gun will get plenty hot
enough to allow you to strip the finish. Or you can buy an electric
paint stripper, which does the same thing. Apply the heat until the
surface sort of bubbles, then strip off with a putty knife ... use a
plastic putty knife to avoid gouging the wood. Then a light sanding
should be all that is required.

2) use liquid paint stripper ... caution: that stuff is pretty toxic
... use appropriate protective gear. Just brush on a layer of paint
stripper and let it sit for about 30 minutes ... follow directions
that come with the product you are using. Then you can usually just
wash/wipe off the finish. Again, a final light sanding should be all
that is required after the wood is dry.

Just a couple of suggestions ........

Cheers ...... Charles

• [Back to message index]

Message 4
From: David Harrison
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:00:51 +0100
Subject: [Baren 33174] Re: board and listless
Send Message: To this poster

Thanks, Charles! The varnish-stripping sounds straightforward enough...
But the 'jigsaw' print idea is really nifty! Might be worth doing one
just for the fun of it.

cheers,

David

• [Back to message index]

Message 5
From: "Oscar Bearinger"
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:56:38 -0400
Subject: [Baren 33175] Re: board and listless
Send Message: To this poster

From: Charles Morgan

> As for their long, narrow dimensions, that can be turned to your
> advantage. These flooring pieces would be good for cutting out
> designs and then gluing them down to a substrate for inking and
> printing ...... saves a LOT of carving.

What an excellent idea! Thanks, Charles! I have been looking at Edvard
Munch and his puzzle piece woodcuts recently.
He did that mostly to print several colours at once, but the idea could be
applied to large carved-out areas in a woodcut. I seem to have a fondness
for large, unprinted parts in my woodcuts.:o)

Thanks again. Great group here.

Oscar

• [Back to message index]

Message 6
From: Jenn
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:07:49 -0400
Subject: [Baren 33176] Periodic Table Project
Send Message: To this poster

Hi all -

I just wanted to share some of the wonderful work that is happening on the
Periodic Table Printmaking Project:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/periodictable/pool/

I love the spirit of fun going into the prints.

--Jenn


++++++++++++++++++++

azuregrackle#gmail.com
www.azuregrackle.com

• [Back to message index]

Message 7
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:12:42 -0700
Subject: [Baren 33177] Re: board and listless
Send Message: To this poster

Sometimes sloth can be rewarding ....

Cheers ....... Charles

• [Back to message index]

Message 8
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:21:35 -0700
Subject: [Baren 33178] Re: board and listless
Send Message: To this poster

I have refinished hardwood floors using both techniques ... sanding
and chemical stripping ... chemical stripping is BY FAR the easier. I
have used heat guns to remove layers and layers of paint from old
moldings and wall paneling ... trust me, it is WAY easier than
sanding. Save your energies for more rewarding tasks ...

I did a somewhat complicated print a couple of years ago by cutting
out pieces from thin material using a jig saw, and then gluing them
down to a substrate to make several blocks which I then printed ...
WAY easier than all that carving. I did it sort of like a reduction
print, but it was not so suicidal, as I could always go back to the
previous block.

Sloth, sloth, glorious sloth ...

Cheers .... Charles

• [Back to message index]

Message 9
From: Blog Manager
Date: 18 Apr 2007 03:55:17 -0000
Subject: [Baren 33179] 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. (32 sites checked, five minutes before midnight Eastern time)

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

Site Name: Woodblock Dreams

Author: Annie B
Item: Be It Resolved
http://woodblockdreams.blogspot.com/2007/04/be-it-resolved.html

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

Site Name: m.Lee Fine Art

Author: m.Lee
Item: Swirly Tree (with chine colle) Originally ...
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com/2007/04/finally-new-work.html

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

Site Name: pressing-issues

Author: Ellen Shipley
Item: More Gameday
http://pressing-issues.blogspot.com/2007/04/more-gameday.html

Author: Ellen Shipley
Item: Puzzle Block
http://pressing-issues.blogspot.com/2007/04/puzzle-block.html

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

Site Name: The Itinerant Artist

Author: Diane Cutter
Item: Monoprint 'La Garita de San Juan', (3.75"x4") (9c...
http://theitinerantartist.blogspot.com/2007/04/monoprint-la-garita-de-san-juan-3.html

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

Site Name: Belinda Del Pesco Fine Art Blog

Author: Belinda Del Pesco
Item: Watercolor: Nassco Shipyard
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com/2007/04/watercolor-nassco-shipyard.html

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

Author: Belinda Del Pesco
Item: Monotype: Window Sill with Glass Bottles
http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com/2007/04/monotype-window-sill-with-glass-bottles.html

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

Site Name: Amy Stoner's Fine Art Blog

Author: Amy Stoner
Item: Look, she's FINALLY back!
http://amymstoner.blogspot.com/2007/04/look-shes-finally-back.html

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

Site Name: Olansa Cuttings

Author: David
Item: Kept in the dark and fed on ink


Author: David
Item: Becalmed in a teacup


Author: David
Item: The Joy of Scraps


Author: David
Item: One step forward, five back


Author: David
Item: What we did on our winter vacation


Author: David
Item: Just like a New Year’s resolution, only late


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

[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
http://curiousmatthew.blogspot.com
http://laine.lainegreenway.com/index.html
http://azuregrackle.com/blogs/index.php?blog=2
http://blog.olansa.co.uk/
http://bea-gold-retrospective.blogspot.com
http://www.jauntyrakes.blogspot.com
http://sheiko.blogspot.com

• [Back to message index]

Message 10
From: Wanda Robertson
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 21:52:23 -0700
Subject: [Baren 33180] Re: Thanks for the Info
Send Message: To this poster

Victor, Don't let those frustrated posts (from some of us as beginners)
scare you off of producing Japanese Woodblock prints. It's like riding
a bicycle, once it sinks into your brain, everything falls into place &
it is a joy to work with! The simplicity & honesty of the tools, the
colors & shades of the inks, the lack of odor, the smallness of space
required. It really is worth the steep learning curve required. I had
admired the prints in books for years before I had a chance to learn
the process, and its' simplicity & beauty never fail to inspire me
again & again!

Off the soapbox for "Hanga" now.... :-)
Wanda

• [Back to message index]

Message 11
From: Annie Bissett
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 08:48:08 -0400
Subject: [Baren 33181] Re:help for Baren: Newsletter Idea
Send Message: To this poster

A few days ago, Barbara wrote seeking help for Baren and one of the
areas she talked about was reviving the newsletter. I would love to
see something like the newsletter revived, but it's a big job that
involves writing, editing, keeping after contributors to get their
stuff in on time, and perhaps some knowledge of html programming.

I thought of another possibility, though. What if we choose three or
four people whose "job" it is to do at least one post a week on the
Baren Blog that's an article of interest to relief printmakers. Could
be articles about interesting techniques, announcements about exhibit
opportunities, reviews of shows and exhibits, etc. We're not using
the blog anywhere near its potential, and three or four designated
"correspondents" (perhaps from 3 or 4 different geographical
locations) would keep things active there and encourage others to
join in.

Here are a couple of blogs with multiple contributors that show how
it could be done:
http://www.drawn.ca
http://www.illustrationfriday.com/blog

Thanks to everyone who keeps Baren going,
Annie


http://www.anniebissett.com

• [Back to message index]

Message 12
From: David Harrison
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:57:42 +0100
Subject: [Baren 33182] Re:help for Baren: Newsletter Idea
Send Message: To this poster

Hi Annie,

That's a good idea, not least in having contributors for a given area or
topic. The blog could certainly do with more posts in any case.

However a few of us have now volunteered to take up the newsletter
reins. I have mooted a magazine-style site as a repository for
newsletter issues, plus member-only small ads, stop press, events
calendars etc... This would also eliminate most of the need for coding,
or for stitching the final result together -- the site itself would
handle it. It could also provide a 'feed', blog-style, that other sites
can pick up on automatically.

cheers,

David H

• [Back to message index]

End of [Baren] Digest