Written on April 30, 1989 [Permalink]

April 11

As usual, difficult to get started on a new block. It seems like a vast expanse of 'territory' to be carved. Managed to get in 5 hours between bouts of translation. Sent off the payments to Aoyama Shoten, Yamaguchi, and the Dosa people. Gulp! Also shipped off Terry's print.

April 12

English preparation day, but squeezed in an hour on the block.

April 14

Planned to do about four hours, but translation ... "it's due in 15 minutes ..." ... Got in two hours. It's interesting that there is already a discernible difference in today's work on this block from that of a few days ago. The lines are becoming thinner and more secure. This happens every time. Because months go by between prints, I pretty much have to learn to carve again each time I start a new job! If I can ever get rid of the English stuff, and do carving/printing on a daily basis, how good can I get? (and could my knees stand it?).

April 15

Translation, teaching ... 1.5 hours.

April 16

2 hours in the afternoon. The outlines of the cherry blossoms are getting thinner every day!

April 17

6 hours ... plus wrote a 25 page 'suction machine' manual for Michiyo!

April 18

Off to Tokyo to see the Nihon Hanga Kai show at Ueno Park. I don't know why I bothered. There's nothing in that kind of show that I would want to own under any circumstances ...

The main reason for going into town was to stop at Takahashi (the film company who took the color negatives for me at Toyo Bunko). It's time to start thinking about the hanshita for the next print (Dainagon Tsunenobu [1-3]), and the half-size negatives I got from these guys are just barely adequate. I wanted to see if they had any information on that new Kodak super-fine film (Ektar?) that's supposed to be available, but of course, they didn't. He took the negatives, promising to call back next week or so with some information on how 'we' could get better resolution. 5 1/2 hours on the block in the evening.

April 19

English preparation day, but 1 1/2 hours.

April 20

Thursday, so six classes today, but squeezed in an hour in the afternoon before Michiyo started to jump up and down (she has 50-60 pages or re-writing waiting for me...).

April 21

Classes ... translation ... 1 1/2 hours on the block. Skipped over to the local printing shop and picked up the metal type to put the paper maker's name on the prints.

April 22

Put Yamaguchi's name on the small stack of prints that are finished. Finished wrapping up 'freebie' copies for Yamaguchi and Matsuzaki. I'll mail them out Monday. Ordered another 100 sheets of paper, for delivery at the end of June, or the beginning of July.

This month, just as last April, we have had a run of English students leaving us (mostly going over to cram schools). Our income is starting to sink pretty fast, as I have been refusing to advertise for, or accept any new students. I'd better start getting serious about trying to move some of these prints! Tried preparing a 'press release' type of blurb - aimed at newspaper features editors. Took a negative in to the film counter at Chujitsuya for some prints. I'm going to try a small sample mailing of a blurb and picture to some papers.

1 1/2 hours on the block in the afternoon, before heading off to Fussa English classes.

April 23

4 1/2 hours, plus a million pages of 'Laser Sales Techniques' for Michiyo.

April 24

A busy day! Mailed the prints to Matsuzaki and Yamaguchi. Finished the 'Press Information' blurb, typed it out, ran off some copies, and pasted on the photos. Got Michiyo to do a Japanese translation.

Also wrapped and sent a print with covering letter to Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. I talked to her for a bit a couple of years ago at a print display in Matsuya Ginza. Maybe she'll be interested ... and maybe not!

About 4 hours on the block, interspersed with another million pages for Michiyo ('Laser Maintenance contract' ... ugh!).

April 25

Another 4 hours. Matsuzaki-san phoned to thank us for the print. He's making all kinds of noises about payment, etc. etc. We tried to express that it was just for 'fun', but I think he'll be sending something 'in return'...

April 26

2 hours, mixed in with English preparation. Finished the kimono patterns!

April 28

Starting on the hair ... and becoming quite frustrated with the 'softness' of this particular block. It doesn't have much crispness, and I'm beginning to wonder how well it will stand up under the printing. 3 hours. Got a phone call from the film place. They say that they will re-do the job (I think for free!). They will be expecting me next Tuesday...

April 29

5 1/2 hours. Prepared two 'mini-hanshita' for the reverse side of the block. They are for portions of the hair, where lines cross and re-cross each other. The sumi will need three impressions.

April 30

5 hours. Did the thin lines forming the 'box' around the print.