It all started on Baren with some ideas brought on by a discussion of the traditional Japanese approach to hanga.
Wednesday 25 Aug 1999, Wanda posted to Baren:
You know, this collaboration idea is an interesting "what if". What if we produced some woodblock prints in a round robin kind of way? Are there any takers on trying this? For instance, one person would pick thewood or blocks - send it on to the next person who would choose a design and attach or draw it on the blocks - send it on to the next person or persons to cut the blocks - etc. until it was a finished product of however many prints were decided apon. Could enough people suspend their control of the outcome to do this? It would surely be an interesting collaboration, IMHO. Personally, I would love to participate in something like this - what do the rest of you think?
Thursday, 26 Aug 1999, Horacio posted to Baren:
Suggestion about collaborative printmaking.As you know, my figurative prints are black and white. Horacio's web page Sometimes I consider to experiment putting colors on some of them, but always give up because of the lack of time (due to my professional duties). So, I prefer spend my precious free hours in new black and white prints or writing short stories.Besides that, I must confess my incompetence to deal with colors.
My egoistic suggestion: The first participant of a group submit, on Baren's web site or in his/her own web site, alternative master prints/key blocks (or drawings of tentative master prints/key blocks) in black and white to the other members of his/her group to choose one to be object of a collaborative process. After the master print/key block is chosen, the first participant would sent the master/key block to the following member on the printing production line, who will be responsible for designing the other blocks (using or not the original master/key block in a reduction method) necessary to make a color print. After that, other participants of the group adhere to the work flow until the print is completed.
I hope you understand my suggestion.
Horacio.
From Wanda to Horacio in response to comments about my
foxglove print:
Thank you Horacio! Hanga is very much like the linoleum and woodblock prints, except more colors & damp paper!
By the way, I liked your idea of having someone else take your woodblocks and print them out with color. It would be fun to do.
Wanda
From Horacio:
Wanda,
Enclosed is the print I have in mind for the collaborative work.
Be free to express your opinion, please. I have others
"Menina caipira" means country girl, I suppose.
Thanks,
Horácio, from Rio.
From Wanda:
All I can say is "Wow"! That is one amazing print. You get so much expression and "color" into a black and white print. You know, if we do get to do this collaboration thing, I think it really would be fun. But, when a print/drawing is this detailed and finished and professional looking - I would be a little afraid of the changes that it would go through in being made into a hanga print - or even a color print in oils. Would that bother you? Having someone take your print and turn it into something else entirely? Because that could sure happen - and it might not be something you would like.
From: Horacio
Thanks for your positive comments.
I don't care about eventual changes on my original print. I decided to takethe risk and make the experiment, preferably with you.
Hi Horacio,
<<snip of boring computer break-down problems>>
Is the image you sent me a scan of a woodblock print? Or a drawing? I forgot to ask earlier. It was really fun to carve. And I think it will be wonderful in color. I made it larger than the original image you sent. About 17 x 21, I think. [actual image size turned out to be 12"x18"]
Wednesday 27 Oct 1999, Horacio wrote to Wanda:
Hi Wanda,
<<snip of more computer stuff>>
I am very excited with this experience, curious to see the result of our cooperative print and to know the Baren fellows reaction. I'm happy that is being fun for you to carve it. By the way, what I sent to you was the scanned image of a woodcut print, not a drawing. If you give me your home address, I'll send you copies of the print.
The original size of the "Country Girl" is 5" x 8". I intend to publish it on my webpage as soon as you publish your version.
What do you think?
Thank you again Wanda
Horácio.
Here is the print - before the key block has been printed
5 blocks on birch plywood, 5 colors, oil inks on Arches 88 paper
(larger image)
And after the key block.....
Horacio & I would both like to hear what you think about our little "collaboration". We have both had a lot of fun with it, and hope that you enjoy seeing some of the process and the results.
Please write to us!