Ditto

A while back I was able to score myself an authentic Ditto brand copy machine from the Junk Store. Technically, a Ditto isn't a Mimeograph. Ditto is a brand of spirit duplicator copy machines. All I knew is that they are non-electrical machines that somehow made the awesome blue tinted copies I used to get in grade school before toner photocopies became the norm.

The copier came with some methanol "duplicating fluid" to make copies, and with a little research I figured out that basically the methanol transfers the image from a carbon-paper like master to the paper. But would any carbon-paper do? I had no idea until about two weeks ago when a box of Ditto brand masters came into the Junk Store!

It looks like it is carbon-paper that then transfers the carbon-ink image onto a waxy paper, and then that is what gets soaked in methanol and transfers that image onto paper. I'm actually pretty surprised there isn't more info about these things online. And every teacher I mention it to just suggests I used a Xerox machine. 

After an afternoon a tinkering around I finally got the paper running through the machine decently and even got it to pump some of the fluid. Remember, all the mechanics are driven by the single hand crank. I did a little drawing on a master and wrote some text along the left side (where most of the fluid was flowing) and managed to get it all drummed up.

Well, the results were less than stellar. It seems that I can't really get a smooth and even distribution of the spirits onto the felt so that the paper or master is soaked enough to pick up the ink, or maybe something else. I was able to get some cool accidental images, and even a few cool looking prints.

As a few days have gone by I actually sort of dig the inconsistency of these. I'll give it another go soon and hopefully get a little more image to transfer. I really want to make some sort of small-run print edition with this thing. Other than Raymond Pettibon's Psychedelic Translation of Alan Ginsberg's Howl, I don't know of any artist who has used Dittos or Mimeographs for printmaking. Here are some of the many page I made:

Not exactly what I was hoping for but I'm pretty proud just to have gotten any image at all. The images are a little less faint in person. I have a limited supply of duplicating fluid. Once it is in the machine there is no getting it out for storage, and I bet it evaporates pretty quickly. I'll post the results (if there are any).

And, yes, I'm aware of the toxicity of this stuff. As you can see from the first photo in this blog, I'm working outdoors. Honestly, the prints don't nearly reek of solvents as much as I think they should.

UPDATE: Since taking these photos I have managed to get some pretty good prints from this thing during another session. I used the old manuel typewriter, tried printing from the carbon paper instead of the master (lots of purple), and had better results with old newsprint paper. The best images arrived when I really soaked the paper in fluid. I made a pretty big mess, wasted a lot of paper, screamed curses more than once, came out with a few great images (I'll post them soon) and probably shortened my life span by a year or two. I probably have just enough newsprint and duplicating fluid for one more try.

So check back here soon or stop by the studio and see how it's going.

In the meanwhile, here is one of the only good resources on Dittos I could find on the net:

http://theyalwayscomeback.blogspot.com/2008/02/ditto-machine.html

Pen-Opake vs. all other white inks

Pen-Opake is the best white ink there is. The only problem is that they stopped manufacturing it several years ago and nobody seems to have a stash for sale. Occasionally it is mentioned nostalgicly on some art blog or another, but other than there is little info about it on the net or anywhere.

I've been using up the few crusty bottles I procured from the Junk Store on all those ink-and-white-on-paper-bag drawings I've been doing, so I set out to find a suitable replacement. Some illustrator friends of mine mentioned that FW Acrylic Ink is a very opaque and fluid white, so I procured me some and put it to the test... a test it failed miserably.

So I went through my stash of white inks and gouaches to see who had what it takes.

I tested the FW, Rotring, Talens Ecoline, Pro White, Pen-Opake, and Higgins Super White, all in jars with a brush on a paper bag. I also tried tubes of Talens Plakkaatuerf, Winson & Newton Designers in both Permanent and Zinc White. Some of the thicker ones needed a touch of water to get going.The Pen-Opake was easily the best and brightest. And this was from a jar that is likely 20 years old. The Talens Ecoline was a decent 2nd place, and I suppose the Pro-White will do in  a pinch. The Rotring and FW are liquid, which I thought would work well in a japanese water-brush, but I thought wrong. The Higgins was, by far, the worst.All the tubes of gouache looked pretty good. I was hoping to find a suitable replacement for Pen-Opake that is bright and opaque but fluid enough to use in the water-brush. I also ended up learning quite a bit about water-brush technology and the fact that my current white brush only works because it is a cheap imitation without a stopper mechanism to block the overflow of water. Fascinating.So, yeah, if you come across any Pen-Opake in any condition, let me know and I'll buy it from you. Or if you have any other bright ideas about an opaque white, hit me up.
The water-brush jar.

Veggie Boxing

Last summer we built a raised veggie garden box on top of an old stump we had hacked down. It was basically wasted yard space. Narangkar designed it, of course. It took almost a ton of quality dirt to fill it.

We dug the post holes with a little help from the local tool lending library. That place is great!
Then we covered the area with landscaper's cloth to (hopefully) keep all the yard-weeds out.

Those are quality redwood planks there.

Ta-daaa!

Our neighbors helped pitch in for the dirt. It was hard work getting all the bags into the yard. Our first round of plantings consisted of a bunch of lettuces, some swiss chard, some tomato plants, basil, peas, some chile plants, and some leeks. The arugula and chard did really well. The peas, not so much. The thai chiles were ridiculously hot. Like weapons grade hot. 

Then a long while went by where I didn't really take many photos of our veggie box. Plants pretty much grow year round, so we've been snacking all winter. Then, this spring we panted more tomatoes, plus new seeds of lettuces, mustard greens, leeks, plus more chard, some green onion, carrots, and some cucumbers. Plus some cosmos flowers for looks. 

While we were away on our two week vacation, the tomatoes and cosmos grew like nuts. 

The tomatoes are just now starting to ripen (not in this photo, though, which I took two weeks ago) so we are pretty much snacking a few everyday.

Look at the size of those cukes!
I'll post more photos of all our veggies, not to mention the avocado trees, as they get taken. Eat up.

East Coast Tour - Phase 4: Philadelphia

We finished our tour in the city of brotherly something or other.
We stayed in the Row House of our friends Kris and Tim. They recently got a half-puppy-half shark named Porkchop.

Most of our day in Philly was just me rambling nostalgic to Narangkar about how great it was to skate this city back in the day.
This seemed like a mandatory photo.

Our Philly map, by Tim Gough.

Narangkar sketches Benjamin.


Skulls.
Bobble heads.
Lots of good beer in this town.
Turkey sandwich at the Amish cafe in Redding Station. 

Great finds at the Army Surplus store.
Awwwww.
Couldn't leave Philly without stopping by Pat's. One Cheez Whiz wit and a Cherry Coke.
Porkchop.
The view from the upper deck at Citizen Bank park, where the Phillies rocked the Mets 7-2.



Because it was July 4th weekend or something the Mets also wore red caps. It really looked like everybody was wearing the same colors. 

Big, big "thanks" for our Philly leg go out to Kris and Tim. They rule! Also Porkchop, Kris and Tim's friends whom I can't remember their names. Also thanks to Siriji and Steven for holding down the fort while we were away.

East Coast Tour - Phase 3: Connecticut

Birthday breakfast.
Pudge.
Bobo.
Pudge.
Bobo.


Some new paintings by Kathryn Glover. 
Train time to Philly.

We got "sushed" a lot.
We stayed in CT with my Mom for a few days. It was a good chance to relax after the hectic pace of New York. We ate that delicious cheap family-style Italian food that is all over the place in the East Coast but nowhere in California and saw Up for my birthday.Big "thanks" for our CT leg go to Kathryn, Pudge, and Bobo. 

East Coast Tour - Phase 2: New York

The Chicken Bus. Boston to NYC in a little over 4 hours for only $15.
New York City. We were there for Narangkar's cousin's wedding. We also saw the Francis Bacon show at the Met.
We stayed at the Off Soho in the Lower East Side. Apparently Rollins stays there, too.

Stormy skies for the harbor cruise. Lightning all around. It was awesome.


I thought this cabin toilet was interesting.
Tuf Nut
Rehearsal dinner.
Brunch at Bread while listening the Michael Jackson.




Ceremony at the Old St. Patrick's Cathedral, complete with choir and organ music.
Then off to Prospect Park in Brooklyn for the reception.
How much did the rainbow cost them?
Wedding polka band, playing all the traditional hits plus Brick House on the accordion. The band had this old sound guy and then this other kid who just stood there with his arms crossed looking angry. 
The horah.
Late night drinks at Baby Grand.
Secret downstairs studio and drum kit.


The Sky from The Met.
Big "thanks" on of New York leg to Jared and Ilona, the Lamenzo family, Donut Plant, Pickle Guys, Francis Bacon, Mark and Raylene, and my Mom for picking us up. More to come tomorrow.

East Coast Tour - Phase 1: BOSTON

Narangkar and I recently took off for two weeks of travel, family, friends, photos, fun, and lots of food. Here is the proof:

3 hour delay.
Oakland to Boston, where we met our new niece, Delilah Mae Fox.
Baby D gets a bath in the sink.
No game, but still plenty of security at Fenway.



Some awesome old tombstones on the freedom trail.
We spent the afternoon walking and trying out the many disgusting gummies available at the candy store. 
Delilah and her auntie.
Crooner crooning.

Jimmy cooking out.

The studio and vapo-room. 
Big "thanks" on our Boston leg go to Julia, Jimmy, and Baby D. Also Crooner and Lorelei. More of our trip tomorrow.