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Message 1
From: Lana Lambert
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:05:44 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40150] Re:Proofing press question
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Hmmm, you say your press is a "proofing press" and that it slides from side to side but does not adjust up and down.  "Proofing press" would imply that it is a letterpress which normally don't require blankets.  When you say up and down it makes me think that you cannot adjust the pressure via screws that move the drum on an etching press or the bed on an a bed adjustable letterpress. Do you have a picture of your press?  Another trick to reduction block printing is registration and different presses have different systems for registering.  Anyway, if you indeed own a letterpress then it may be a matter of packing material.  Welcome to Baren Forum!  I have visited Alaska before and I must say that the view from Flat Top was breathless and the Caribou Sausage is delectable!

-Lana Lambert in Virginia

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Message 2
From: ArtfulCarol # aol.com
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:53:48 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40151] Re: Hiromi Paper
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New York Central Art Supply has a large Hiromi paper section in their
brochure and lots of description.
If you have paper that you want to match, mail it and they will send you
some sample papers. Recently that worked very well for me. Because of the
way I work, I use very thin paper.

I'llbe in LA this week for Thanksgiving and hope the family schedule
allows a visit to the Hiromi store which is having the sale. It's located in
Santa Monica, Bergamot Station, with loads of galleries.

My 2 cents on mold ---Experience is the best teacher once you have the
basics..

Carol Lyons
Irvington, NY

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Message 3
From: Sharri LaPierre
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:46:13 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40152] Re: Hiromi Paper
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Andrew,
I've used paper from Hiromi for years and years and always had more
than excellent service from her. Your message must have slipped
through a crack - give it another go and I'm sure you will have success.

Cheers ~
Sharri

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Message 4
From: carol Montgomery
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:53:08 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40153] Re: Hiromi Paper
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Hi, Andrew - You can check out their website - they sent me a little paper sampler one time for free. I still have it - it's so pretty. Carol M in Montana

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Message 5
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:07:19 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40154] Re: Fw: Forum
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Pete,
No one owns this list...it is run by 10 volunteers and belongs to the 400+ relief printers who belong to it...it is free and as long as the topic relates to woodblock or printmaking anyone is welcome to post if a question is asked, anyone can and might answer. It is paid for by the Baren mall, we make 5% or sometimes less due to the ups and downs of the dollar.
My best
Barbara

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Message 6
From: "Phare-Camp"
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:12:32 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40155] RE: New Baren Digest (Text) V49 #5042 (Nov 22, 2009)
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>"proofing press" as I am told. Maybe 100 years old. It slides from side to
>side but otherwise non adjustable up or down. I need tips about using the
>press. Also how do i come accross blankets for a press?

Hi Jerrick:

I was going to reply to you off list but realized that there are possibly
others in the list who might benefit from this info.

I also have a 100 year old "Challenge" proofing press that works in much the
same way. Regarding blankets, you don't want to use wool blanket like used
for an etching press. You want what is called a "compression blanket" its
thin and fells a lot like the vinyl used for topping a drafting table. Call
"Graphic Chemical Co.," I believe I've seen them offered there.

I aquired my press from a print shop that had it collecting dust in a corner
and they gave me a new blanket with the press. I got the press by calling
print shops to see if they had one they wanted to get rid of; I tell you
this as calling print shops will get you in contact with locals who can tell
you more about using these presses. And you can learn more about the
"graphic arts" (printmaking) from the elders who used these tools long ago
(found those old printers love to share knowledge of their craft).

Registration with these presses is not easy. If you create a registration
frame you can but it up to one side of the press. If my plate is not tall
enough for the rollers to reach I layer sheets of plexiglass on the press
bed till it lifts them up high enough. These presses are great for pulling
woodcuts...especially since they were designed for use with woodtype and
letterpress plates.

Have fun experimenting, its one of the best parts of printmaking to me...

Patti P-C
Phare-camp.blogspot.com

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Message 7
From: Peter Smith
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:14:07 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40156] Re: Fw: Forum
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Dear Barbara

Thankyou for your explanation. There are so many printmaking groups and each has a different structure, sometimes it can be very confusing.

Besides yourself and Charles who are the other 8 volunteers? 

What's Baren Mall?

Petey

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Message 8
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:45:13 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40157] Baren Forum
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>Besides yourself and Charles who are the other 8 volunteers?

>What's Baren Mall?

Petey



Pete,
If you go to the main page of the baren site, www.barenforum.org you will see the various things on the website. There are all the past print exchanges, a very informative encyclopedia and the archives of all the posts
Also there is a mall store where you can buy the tools for traditional Japanese woodblock printmaking. These are not readily available very many places outside Japan so a few years ago the group decided to open a small "store" and you can order from this store with things being shipped air express directly from Japan to your door. We have a wonderful translator, Sadako, who helps us. We could not run the mall without her and we appreciate her very much.

You can also find the tools and paper and wood at www.imcclains.com, a private mail order store in Oregon, but these are imported into the USA and shipped ups so the prices are higher but the shipping is less, sometimes. They bring in a container of shina plywood so ship it worldwide in small pieces that they cut themselves. the baren mall does not sell wood because the shipping is just way too high.

The baren list was started by Dave Bull of www.woodblock.com and originally he was the list owner. If you have a few hours, a trip through his site is just amazing. It became apparent after a year or two that it was too much work for one person so he asked several people that had volunteered to collate the first three exchanges if they would help him and gradually he backed off the forum but still does technical stuff if there is a problem, as he originally built the website. Down on the right hand corner of the main baren forum page there is a place that says administration...this gets you into all the stuff that is available to members
Below that is a place that says (baren) contacts. If you click on that you will get most of us who do the background day to day stuff, and if you want to talk to all of us at once, you click on "council" and an email will go out to all the people currently working to keep things moving along smoothly. We all have busy lives, and sometimes things are not handled quite as fast as we would like and there is the time change to deal with. Dave is in Tokyo, I am in Oregon, Julio is in Chicago, Gayle is in Ohio, David is in the UK, the mall assistant, Michelle Morrell is in Alaska,
Maria is in Las Vegas....Darrell Madis who handles the shipping and storing of the cases is in Dallas TX, and Mary Kuster, who handles, stores and ships the Iwano-san paper is in Kentucky. So we are a very spread out group. Charles belongs to the baren member list but is not on the council, he is busy enough with his own list.
I have probably missed someone since I am going by memory....it is good but short. Some of us have been involved for about 10 years, hard to believe but true, and some are new to the council.

So we at the baren forum welcome all to the site and list who want to make prints, especially if they are woodblock.
But we let the oily people who do lino block stay as well. After all, printmaking is our main thing and there are few of us worldwide so we have to stick together. You cannot post photos to the list, as the majordomo will reject them as spam, but you can post them to the blog and to the website in different areas.
My best
Barbara

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Message 9
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:04:20 GMT
Subject: [Baren 40158] Re: Fw: Forum
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WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!!! I am not a volunteer for Baren. I take no credit, and no responsibility!


I am just a lowly foot soldier, slaving in the trenches of art ...

Cheers ..... Charles

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Subject: [Forest in Winter - 4] : Proof puzzles ...
Posted by: Dave Bull

This item is taken from the blog Woodblock RoundTable.
'Reply' to Baren about this item.

Subject: Oxford and A Outrance
Posted by: Andy English

This item is taken from the blog Wood Engraver.
'Reply' to Baren about this item.

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