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Message 16
From: Tiberiu Chelcea
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 20:57:50 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 36423] Advice on tools for traveling
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If this question is more suitable for the after 5 forum, please ignore it and I'll post it there.

I'll be moving to Brazil for about 9 months and would still like to do some printmaking there. I work with woodcuts (printing western method) and intaglio processes (collagraph, drypoint, engraving). Since I can't take my press and large brayers and cans of ink with me, I was thinking to try my hand at moku-hanga style printing. Haven't taken a class in moku-hanga, but read a bit about it, so I sort of have a general idea but no practical experience. Can I ask for some advice on what tools I should buy/take with me? Luggage space is an extremely important consideration, so I was thinking to limit myself to printing single color (black) blocks, and maybe reduction printing with a single color.

Here's a tentative list of things I'm thinking are needed -- please let me know if there are other things I need to buy.

- Carving tools: I have quite a few, japanese-style tools from Baren Mall

- Kento tool: have a 9mm Aisuki (straight) -- would this work for kento marks?
Should I buy a specialized kento/large straight chisel tool?

- Baren: got a 30$ one from McClain's (
http://www.imcclains.com/catalog/baren/disk.html ), seems to work
pretty well

- Nori paste: have a small tube

- Ink/pigment: I have a small tube of Sumi. Is that enough?
Should I buy some black Akua Kolor? I also have quite a bit of graphite
powder which I've used for printing (mixed with alcohol and Caligo
Intaglio Transparent Base) -- seems to work pretty well for rolling
it on the block, but not sure how the powder would work with
moku-hanga style printing.

- Brushes for bringing pigment/nori to the block: can I just use some
western-style brushes normally used for oils/acrylics? I assume that
I can find a twig for nori paste.

- Brushes for spreading the ink on the block (maru bake/hanga bake):
this probably I need. What sizes should I get? Should I get a
maru-bake and a hanga-bake for small details? I probably won't carve
large blocks, so maybe the 60mm sosaku brush on Baren Mall (
http://www.barenforum.org/mall/products/maru_bake.php ) and the 15
or 20mm Sosaku Hanga Bake (
http://www.barenforum.org/mall/products/hanga_bake.php )

As mentioned before, space is a big issue, so would like to fit all these tools in, maybe, an artist or fishing tool box. I assume that I can find wood and (possibly non-japanese) printmaking paper in Brazil.

Also, if there are any printmakers from Brazil on this forum, can you contact me off-list? I'd love to chat a bit about printmaking and available printmaking materials in Brazil.

Thanks for reading this long email,
Tibi

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Message 1
From: Scholes Graham
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 22:00:56 -0700
Subject: [Baren 36424] Re: Advice on tools for traveling
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Could I get a definition of the term which I have seen here several
times....
printing western method ....

Thanks,
Graham

PS Tiberiu, I will send you some suggestions privately.... dont want
to bore the forum.
.........Graham

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Message 2
From: ArtSpotiB # aol.com
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 02:39:10 EDT
Subject: [Baren 36425] Re: cutting paper and deckling
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"The Japanese did not generally frame their prints so it was perhaps the
American
Shin hanga market that called for larger margins to make framing
easier."

Tom, was the only way that they were displayed being mounted on descending,
cloth scrolls with wooden rods or am I missing something? It sounded like you
were describing books 9alblums)? Tell more, please. Your post was very
interesting.

Thanks.

ArtSpot Out
Benny Alba in Oakland, CA.



Underground nuclear testing, defoliation of the rain forests, toxic waste
... Let's put it this way: if the world were a big apartment, we wouldn't
get our deposit back. -John Ross

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Message 3
From: David Harrison
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:51:45 +0100
Subject: [Baren 36426] Re: Advice on tools for traveling
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That's probably the method that isn't Japanese. Generally using oily ink
applied with a roller/brayer, a press, and so on. Of course as the tradition
only goes back to the 15th century or so it may have slipped under the radar
of some list members :-)

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Message 4
From: Jennifer Martindale
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 12:57:49 +0100
Subject: [Baren 36427] dremel use
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Lately there have been several passing references in the Forum to using a Dremel or other miniature power tool. I used one for drilling etc when making dolls house furniture, but have not thought of using one as a carving tool. Does anyone have suggestions helpful hints and/or recommended reading on using this powered assistance in carving wood blocks for printing? I am not sure of the appropriate tool to put on the end, and the angle of use. Thank you

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Message 5
From: Maria Regina Pinto Pereira
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:12:45 -0300
Subject: [Baren 36428] Re: Advice on tools for traveling
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Dear Tibi

Where do you go in Brazil?
it is a large country with huge differences!
We don't have a water based ink tradition... so it is difficult to
find inks.
You can find pigments and Sumi (from Japan)
If you're coming to Sao Paulo, here, you can find papers including
japanese and chinese ones.
For presses, may be you can use in a public workshop... but it is
important to know in which city you'll stay.
kisses and welcome

MaRegina

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