[Baren] Daily Digest

Today's postings

[Baren 36712] Re: Changing Directions in Creativity (Elizabeth Atwood)
[Baren 36713] Re: Changing Directions in Creativity (Shireen Holman)
[Baren 36714] Re: Baren Digest (old) V44 #4500 (Marilynn Smith)
[Baren 36715] Re: Changing Directions in Creativity ("Ellen Shipley")
[Baren 36716] Re: Changing Directions in Creativity (ArtSpotiB # aol.com)
[Baren 36717] book arts and exhibits (Barbara Mason)
[Baren 36718] changing directions ("bobcatpath # 207me.com")
[Baren 36719] Re: book arts and exhibits ("Amanda Miller")
[Baren 36720] Re: Changing Directions in Creativity (Bill Joel)
[Baren 36721] RE: New Baren Digest (Text) V44 #4500 (Aug 25, 2008) ("phare-camp # imp-s.com")
[Baren 36722] Leech (Jason VanDeusen)
[Baren 36723] Re: Leech ("DePry Clan")
[Baren 36724] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification (Blog Manager)

Message 1
From: Elizabeth Atwood
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:06:15 GMT
Subject: [Baren 36712] Re: Changing Directions in Creativity
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Eli................
Check out the artistbooks group on Yahoo for lots of examples.
Artist books are loads of fun and a good place for small woodcuts.

ElizA

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Message 2
From: Shireen Holman
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:23:29 GMT
Subject: [Baren 36713] Re: Changing Directions in Creativity
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I make artists' books - I have some on my website www.shireenholman.com

Shireen

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Message 3
From: Marilynn Smith
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:39:51 GMT
Subject: [Baren 36714] Re: Baren Digest (old) V44 #4500
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What do you do when you come to the end of a series?

I get out my sketch book. I go to places of interest and draw.
Sooner or later I have a whole lot of new ideas and jumping off places
for new work. I usually do not do series, just whatever comes to
mind. Look at the world around you. I also have photos or scans of
most of my sketches and watercolors. When I get bored and want
something new i stick in a CD and start going through stuff until
something catches me and it than becomes my next jumping off place for
a print. I do sometimes have sketches that are not on CD and just a
browse through my sketch book will at times give me an idea. Some
times a failed sketch or watercolor can be made to work as an exciting
print! I have used my computer to distort and resize many an image
and that can also be a fun start for something new.

Marilynn

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Message 4
From: "Ellen Shipley"
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:10:57 GMT
Subject: [Baren 36715] Re: Changing Directions in Creativity
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When I finish a piece and can't jump right into another one, I usually
change gears completely. I just finished up three print exchanges in a big
flourish and wasn't ready to begin a new one. So this weekend I picked up a
project I dropped last year and made a new kimono jacket out of outrageously
patterned polar fleece. The body is big black and white pokadots and the
batwing arms are black and white stripes. I can't wait to wear it in
public. ;-]

Now I think I'm ready to work on an idea for a small woodblock. I just
needed to take a little vacation from art for awhile.

Ellen

-(>-----~
Ellen Shipley
Trompt As Writ
~-----

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Message 5
From: ArtSpotiB # aol.com
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:58:14 GMT
Subject: [Baren 36716] Re: Changing Directions in Creativity
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Wow. Shireen, your artist books are absolutely stunning! At first I was
expecting the listings to be of the same book, different pages. Imagine the delight
in seeing how many you have up for us to view on the Web.

I once saw a show at Mills College of artist books. It was put on by the
Women's Caucus for the Arts' several chapters. The guard, not knowing that I was a
board officer, when answering my question regarding the show's attendance,
told me that people were chasing him down on the campus asking him to open the
gallery. He was kind enough to do so. I was so proud to be a part of the group
that made it happen. Still am! Do you get to show your books much? Where? I
don't see many artist books in juried shows, which has made me wonder. Do the
display issues make for less exposure to the public?

There's a huge base of artist books creators out here in the Bay area, with
letter press as well as other facets. I wonder, how many book artists do so via
woodblock?

Wow, again!

ArtSpot Out
Benny at OMebase

Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength. -Eric Hoffer, philosopher
and author (1902-1983)
xxxs

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Message 6
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:29:04 GMT
Subject: [Baren 36717] book arts and exhibits
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I think book arts are under-served as an art form even more so than printmaking. When I took the executive director job for a half year while they hunted for a director at our local print council, the first thing I did was find someone to organize a national book show. It was very successful and of course featured printmaking, since we are a print center. One book was printed on wooden slats. Book artists are the MOST creative when it comes to doing unusual things. Our own Shireen is absolutely amazing.

Maybe at some future date we can do a book exchange, I think in the past we did one that could be made into a book. I sort of forget the details as I did not do that exchange. I think you had the option of making it into a book.
Always good to extend our horizons a bit. You never know what you can actually do until you do it.
My best to all,
Barbara

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Message 7
From: "bobcatpath # 207me.com"
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:48:52 GMT
Subject: [Baren 36718] changing directions
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What do do to change direction or refresh one’s ideas?
Well , the way I have used to not get bored is to have MANY series going at
the same time.
There is usually one in which I want to engage .
I have series of birds , animals, people working , women , birth ,
solstice (which are
usually portraits of me and my animals) , cats , dogs , local architecture
and landscape
and broadsides (posters)
That seems to give me a lot of room for innovation , also
I like to keep several pieces going at once , especially if they are large
If I get stuck, I just work on the other one for a while .
Another method I use is to hand color one of my woodcuts
Turning into a one of a kind "painting" which I can sell for more $$
Also and maybe my favorite is to create collages of my woodcuts
Cutting them up and rearranging them into new compositions
Providing endless fun for me and new ways of looking at "old" work,
And giving me lots of room to play.
Just reading the newspaper gives me ideas-
Going to other artists’ shows is also a great way to get inspired-
friends will often send me pictures they think I might be interested in .
If all else fails – I clean the studio !!
Gillyin Gatto in Machias main

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Message 8
From: "Amanda Miller"
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:45:47 GMT
Subject: [Baren 36719] Re: book arts and exhibits
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For those interested in book arts, the National Museum of Women in the Arts
has an incredible collection in their Library and Research Center and an
annual exhibition called Book As Art. You can follow this link
http://www.nmwa.org/bookasart_flash/bookasart.asp to see the interactive
from the 20th anniversary exhibition last year. You can look at specific
books and "turn the pages" with your mouse.

For educators, check out the Art, Books, and Creativity curriculum (also
with great interactives) at this link http://www.artbookscreativity.org/. I
had the pleasure of working on this project (along with many others) when I
worked in the Education Department.

Another great resource is the museum's database of women artists,
http://www.nmwa.org/clara/, which includes women artists working in
all media, including printmakers, of course.

Shireen, I love seeing your books!

Amanda Gordon Miller

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Message 9
From: Bill Joel
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:47:24 GMT
Subject: [Baren 36720] Re: Changing Directions in Creativity
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Sometimes I describe myself as a big sponge. That is, when I'm full
of deliciously ideas, all I need do is to give a tiny squeeze and the
creative juices flow. But when I'm near bone dry, I need to soak up
more stuff. Usually I'll visit a few local galleries/museums, or
perhaps just doodle, one of favorite pastimes.

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Message 10
From: "phare-camp # imp-s.com"
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:52:44 GMT
Subject: [Baren 36721] RE: New Baren Digest (Text) V44 #4500 (Aug 25, 2008)
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"...whom here has done this and can they show some examples of their own
work?"

Hi Eli:

A while back, in my blog, I posted images and information on the creation
of a book I did last year. I posted three times to get it all in because I
didn't know how to get more than 5 images in one blog entry at a time. This
book is a mixed media art book. I printed digital images throughout the
book. Some of the pages featured digitally created collages with woodcut
printed atop.

Here are the Urls:

http://phare-camp.blogspot.com/2006/10/bookarts-midterm.html

http://phare-camp.blogspot.com/2006/10/autmn-follies-first-five-spreads.html

http://phare-camp.blogspot.com/2006/10/autmn-follies.html

Hope you enjoy it.

Patti P-C

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Message 11
From: Jason VanDeusen
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:41:18 GMT
Subject: [Baren 36722] Leach
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I have a considerable problem on my hands and would like to know if anyone has any advice
on what to do. I have been struggling with this issue for a month now so I will try to summarize
the problem the best I can.

I am printing a large mdf woodcut that is 5' wide by 3' tall. I am using oil based relief ink
with miracle gel and setswell ink additives. Lastly I am using oil of cloves to slow down the ink
drying time as the prints take 1.5 hours to pull each by hand.

After two years I am finally able to print the edition of 15 prints, I finally was able to save
up and buy the paper and ink. After printing 7 prints with no big problems I noticed a oily residue
"leeching" from the edges of the inked areas on the prints. The "leech" amount varied from print to print.

I have tried to isolate the problem by testing additives and mixture ratios on smaller test prints, I have
cleaned the block over and over with solvents, I have even tried printing small areas on the block itself
with different ink and additive mixtures and I cannot replicate the problem by test printing but I also
cannot stop the "leech" every time I print a full size print.

I have multiple theories on what is causing this and the main culprit I suspect is the vegetable oil
I used to clean the block after printing for the day. My fear is that the mdf absorbed too much veggie
oil and is now leeching it onto the prints. The problem is that I cannot replicate this by test printing
so maybe this is not the issue.

Right now my main concern is the prints I have pulled so far. I have stacked the prints up and placed sheets
of newsprint on top of each print to act as blotters with the hopes that the excess "leach" will be absorbed.
I have placed a blank sheet of clean mdf on top of this stack and placed dumb bells on top the mdf sheet for
weight. I cannot afford to loose these prints, they represent a considerable investment of time and capital for
someone who lacks both fresh out of school. The edition was suppossed to be printed by now and I have a waiting list
for buyers.

I was not sure how to get rid of this oily leach or if it was even possible, this blotter approach is my last ditch
attempt to salvage what I have so far.

I am at my wits end here, I keep good printing notes and am pretty much self sufficient and have never had any
problems with this block before.
I am not sure what to do next, this had been totally unexpected.

http://jasonvandeusen.com/thelastmichigangrayling.html

Jason

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Message 12
From: "DePry Clan"
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:55:23 GMT
Subject: [Baren 36723] Re: Leach
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Jason,
You need to get out as much of the absorbed oil by dry-printing on to sheets
of paper. Then degrease the block with a solvent, let it dry, and seal the
block with a solvent based sealer like polyurethane. This sealer will
prevent the veggie oil from being absorbed back into the block. It may
though be too late due to howthe oil has already been absorbed. Next time
seal the block before printing.
Later days,
DD

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Message 13
From: Blog Manager
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:55:35 GMT
Subject: [Baren 36724] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification
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Baren Archives

[Baren] - the International Forum for Woodblock Printmaking

Volume: 44 / Number: 4501

Monday, 25th of August, 2008

Today's postings

End of [Baren] Digest