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Message 1
From: Andy English
Date: Sat, 19 May 2012 13:08:45 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45483] Re: Uneven wood for engraving
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This is something I faced in my early days as an engraver before I bought all my wood as finished blocks. All printed easily using the back of a spoon or other small burnishing tool. I did have a screw-down book press with a fairly mobile platen which compensated for the flat surfaces being not parallel and had great results from this.

Good luck!

Andy


Wood Engraver / Printmaker / Illustrator

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Message 2
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Sat, 19 May 2012 17:17:46 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45484] Not woodblock but really interesting
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The British Library recently acquired a book from the 7th century...It is an amazing photo of a book this old.
I am not sure if it was printed, but probably copied by hand..I will have to read it again to be sure but I thought some of you might be interested in this...I sure was.
http://news.yahoo.com/uk-library-acquires-key-early-gospel-14-million-153431983.html

My best to all
Barbara

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Message 3
From: Juergen Stieler
Date: Sat, 19 May 2012 17:45:47 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45485] Re: Not woodblock but really interesting
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Barbara, I am rather sure that it was not printed. Remember Gutenberg
invented the printing with exchangeable letters around 1450. The book
described is hand-written, as characterized by "The manuscript copy of
the Gospel..."

When searching online for old manuscripts, you find a lot of pictures with
illustrated examples, too. Try keywords like "Lindisfarne", "Book of
Kells" ...

My best
Juergen

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Message 4
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Sat, 19 May 2012 21:39:27 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45486] Re: Not woodblock but really interesting
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I knew that...but you know, there were wood blocks earlier and they did make books...hahaha
I will do some research...I was amazed a book could survive 1300 years.
Barbara

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Message 5
From: john ryrie
Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 00:02:58 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45487] RE: New Baren Digest (HTML) V59 #5993 (May 19, 2012)
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Hi Jenny
This wood is Huon Pine from Tasmania. It's really good for woodcuts and wood engraving as end grain. I've used it sometimes. It's a protected tree, so the wood is hard to get.

Cheers John

I have some timber (cannot remember what it is) that has a very even end
grain. A very famous Australian printmaker, Margret Preston used it in
woodblock prints. My problem is that it has been cut unevenly, and I
would like input relating to either/both how to get the end grain ends
parallel, or printing from blocks that are not parallel. Besides a
gorgeous Albion press such as Andy English has, what would be the best
mode of printing? I have an etching press, proof press and a little
adana press in a bad state of repair. Would a bottle jack press be the
way to go? If I use the etching or proof press, would it weaken the edge
of the end grain?

Jenny

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Message 6
From: "Maria Arango Diener"
Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 00:30:39 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45488] RE: nature print project ??
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Hi Gillyin,

I just mentioned to everyone a crazy idea I had once about going off into
the desert and attempting to make a print "from scratch", paper from plants,
pigment from minerals, woodblock from found wood.
Perhaps I'd bring my McGuiver knife and a good set of Flexcuts!
Hand plane, hatchet, lots of MREs, water, camera/video a must.

I thought I would lure some others into the art-venture.
Half way in jest, no really in jest, kind of...only I know if it's for real
or not. Film at 11.

Maria

[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]
www.1000woodcuts.com
www.artfestivalguide.info
[=o=][=o=][=o=][=o=]

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Message 7
From: john ryrie
Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 05:38:17 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45489] RE: New Baren Digest (HTML) V59 #5993 (May 19, 2012)
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Repeat of Message 5

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Message 8
From: Juergen Stieler
Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 10:31:05 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45490] Re: Not woodblock but really interesting
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Yes Barbara, right with the woodblocks. In German the word for "letter"
is "Buchstabe", consisting of "Buche" which is beech and "Stab" which is
bar, rod or pole; tried to explain with my English knowledges. So the
origin of printing with wood blocks (or bars, I think from line to line
printing) is still there in our language.

About the ability to survive such a long time: I learned that paper
(mould made paper) is one of the most durable grounds for painting,
drawing etc when stored correctly; even better than linen cloth. But the
old books from the medieval are mainly written on vellum, extremely
durable when stored out of moisture. My dream is to visit an old
library in an old abbey or cloister and look on such old books.

My best to all
Juergen

schrieb Barbara Mason:
> I knew that...but you know, there were wood blocks earlier and they
> did make books...hahaha
> I will do some research...I was amazed a book could survive 1300 years.
> Barbara
>

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Message 9
From: Jan Telfer
Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 11:46:01 GMT
Subject: [Baren 45491] Re: Powdered pigments
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Hi Peter,

I use powdered pigments all the time as many of the tubed colours are
either too expensive for woodblock or else half dried by the time they
get to our shelves in Western Australia.

I use Langridge powdered pigments from Victoria, Australia or Bauwerk
powdered pigments from Perth (imported I think from Germany) which are
popular here in adding to house paint for a "colonial" look, but have
had no trouble in fading, etc.

Mixing - In a jar (about 4 to 8 oz) I use half a teaspoon of dry
pigment (for most of the prints A4 or A3 I do) and squirt a bit of
alcohol as Maria suggested into the dry powder and mix it to a creamy
consistency. The alcohol I use is called Isocol an antiseptic alcohol
that is available through the pharmacies or even the better
supermarkets. Then I add water to the strength of colour I require for
the print. The left over mixed colour I just leave in the jar with a
lid on and I have never had any mould problem because of the alcohol.
If it dries out and I need it for another print or to mix with another
colour I just add water. Ultramarine and the reds are the powdered
pigments that don't mix well with just water and so the alcohol will
disperse the particles to an even consistency. I don't even have to
strain the mixture.

The Isocol has a very pleasant fragrance but don't get too "high" on it
!!

Cheers,
Jan

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Subject: Arts of Japan series : print #2 - the image
Posted by: Dave Bull

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

Subject: Fujii-san's Kunimasa actor
Posted by: Dave Bull

This item is taken from the blog Mokuhankan Conversations.
'Reply' to Baren about this item.

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