Exchange 73 Opens

April 1st

Exchange #73 is now open for sign up! This is in the larger Oban (traditional Japanese) size, and the theme is open so a chance for everyone to create freely in a larger format.

Here is the page link and the info:

Exchange #73 Information page is here.
Sign-up ** OPEN **

• TECHNIQUE CHALLENGE: None
• Medium: Woodblock print--hand rubbed or pulled on a press, any pigments, any paper
• Theme: Open
• Paper: Oban 10 x 15 inches (25.5 x 38 cm)
• Registration period: Four weeks starting April 1, 2017
• Deadline for finished prints: August 1, 2017

Exchange 72

Exchange 72 is well under way, four weeks to complete the prints and send to the coordinator. This unusual paper size yields very interesting prints and we can't wait to see all of them.

Here are some prints from past long-skinny exchange #47:
http://barenforum.org/exchange/exchange_47/exchange_frame.html

Claudia Coonen

Lynita Shimizu

Michael Gaffney

Viza Arlington

Exchanges Status

Exchange #71

This Exchange due February 1st.
Martha Knox, our fearless coordinator, has been posting regular updates on our YahooGroups Forum https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/baren_forum/info.

Some participants are posting their contributions on our Facebook Group as well so check to see everyone's images. Link to the FB group on our website front page: http://barenforum.org

Exchange #72

This exciting exchange has now closed with a full roster of eager printmakers and 3 on the waiting list. Should be a great one! Details:

Theme: "WINGS"
Paper size: other 5 X 11 inches (12.5 x 28 cm)
Image size: Any size to fit paper (any orientation)
Paper type: No restriction


Drop-out deadline: April 1, 2017
Delivery deadline for finished prints: May 1, 2017
http://barenforum.org/exchange/exchange_72/exchange_72.html

Coordinator To Be Announced

Exchanges Status Report!

Exchange #70

Gillyin Gatto, our awesome coordinator reports that about a dozen sets of prints have been received. Deadline is today November 1st so everyone should be very close to mailing their prints. Thank you for your constant updates on the YahooGroups-Barenforum, Gillyin!

Baren-folk

In addition to this blog, there are various ways to interact with Barenforum.org members and our many many friends!

• YahooGroup Barenforum - the conversation takes place here, exchanges, tips, tricks and updates
• Friends of Baren Facebook Group - where the world gets together to chat about woodblock, woodcut, workshops, and much more
• World of Woodblock Blog - Barenforum.org member blogs
• Barenforum.org -our official headquarters

Exchange #71

This exchange will be closing shortly and is fully loaded with eager printmakers willing to share prints. The theme is open and that always makes an interesting collection showcasing a variety of styles and subjects.

As of this day, 63,900 prints have flown all over the world in the name of sharing woodblock art since Barenforum's founding. That's 30 participants, 30 prints each, 70 exchanges if anyone wants to check my math. Each of the long-time participants owns an astounding collection of nearly 2100 prints from all over the world.

Our Exchange Program lives here: http://barenforum.org/exchange/index.html

Prints from Baren Exchange #67

Cut! Print!

Baren Exchanges continue strong

Baren Exchange #68

Exchange #71 Open for Business

Seventy-one! The resiliency of the Barenforum.org exchange program is amazing. Some members might remember the first few print exchanges, some continue to collect amazing prints from all over the world.
When we celebrated Exchange #50 we already thought that was an astounding achievement and now we are 20 past that and looking forward to #100? Well, one at a time.
For now Exchange #71 is filling quickly.

Exchange Basics

For those who don't know, printmakers traditionally exchange prints on a regular basis and organized print exchanges are very much part of any self-respecting printmaker's life.
Link to the exchanges:
http://barenforum.org/exchange/index.html

Exchange Galleries

Browse Barenforum.org's astounding collection of prints from the world over.
http://barenforum.org/exchange/exchanges.html

Chinese woodblock printmaking - video 1984

Found this short gem among the video library of the University of South Carolina. The film dates to 1984 and shows a group of woodblock printers at work.

Notice the huge difference between the brushes and baren used by the chinese printers versus the tools used by traditional Japanese printmakers. Also you can see that some of the printers are printing single sheets from a stack of paper while others use a technique were the sheets of paper are held/clamped to the desk at one end and the printer simply turns the sheets one at a time like pages in a big book.

To see the video go to: Chinese woodblock printmaking video

You can click on the enlarge button to see 'full screen'.

Printmaker Antonio Frasconi (1919 - 2013)

Legendary artist, Antonio Frasconi  died January 8th at the age of 93 at his home in Norwalk, Connecticut. Frasconi had a long and prestigious career as one of the America's greatest printmakers. Working primarily in wood, he illustrated over 100 books, album covers, Christmas cards, magazine illustrations and even a US postage stamp.

Click here to see images of Frasconi's work.

I found this short video and a great writeup on Frasconi's career at the  Letterology blog. Check it out, is a great tribute to a great printmaker:

http://letterology.blogspot.com/2013/01/lasting-impressions.html 

Kristina Hagman - woodblock printmaker

California woodblock printmaker Kristina Hagman demonstrates wood block printmaking using a Vandercook Proofing press at the Art Center College, Pasadena California. Showing wood blocks from the print series "36 Views of Mount Rainier" and "West coast Canada to Mexico".



For more info and to see a gallery of prints visit Kristina's website

Printmaker - Nana Shiomi

Continuing with our 'British printmakers' theme; here is a demonstration video(s) featuring printmaker Nana Shiomi. She combines woodblock relief and intaglio to make some outstanding prints. Not to be missed and of particular interest to me is her registration technique which uses the traditional kento but with a twist.

Make sure to visit her website for a wealth of information about her works, technique and printmaking background.





Excerpt from YouTube:
"Nana Shiomi is an extraordinary artist-printmaker who studied at the Royal College of Art from 1989-1991 and subsequently has gone on to a strong career exhibiting her own work and teaching.

She demonstrates her unique combination relief/intaglio water-based woodcut printmaking, rooted in the traditional methods of Japanese ukiyoe woodblock printmaking. These two videos are excerpts from her demonstration where we were fortunate enough to spend an afternoon watching her work at Double Elephant Print Workshop in Exeter, Devon. This was during the period that she had a show at The Brook Gallery in Budleigh Salterton, Devon."

www.nanashiomi.com

New Baren-Suji

Welcome to the NEW! Baren-Suji: The Official Baren Blog and Newsletter
 

Baren-suji are the marks left by the baren when printing. Similarly, this newsletter assumes the role of recording the marks left by the woodblock printmakers that constitute [Baren]. Comments and contributions are welcomed.  Baren and The Encyclopedia of Woodblock Printmaking were created by David Bull in 1997 to promote the art of and share information about woodblock printmaking. Baren activities include an international discussion forum, a network of woodblock printmakers, workshops and get-togethers, and the very successful Exchange and Exhibition Programs.