Russ Stutler's Message Board

Submitted by
Name: Karla
From: Nashville Tn
E-mail: Contact

Comments:

Private post. Click to view.

Admin reply: Regarding yatate, I happened to have mine with me when I walked into an antique shop in Tokyo many years ago and casually brought it out during the conversation. The shop owner took one look and said it was from the Edo era. If you live outside of Japan, I suppose you might be able to find an online antique specialist, but they may be reluctant to answer your inquiry if there is nothing in it for them since I'm sure they get lots of similar inquiries!

Added: September 27, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Francis
From: Canada

Comments:
Hi, What an amazing site you have. Congratulations on a life well spent. I'm sure God is happy with what you have accomplished, what you have given to others lives, and what you will accomplish in the future.

Admin reply: Wow, thanks for such an encouraging message! God bless you!

Added: September 26, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Ron
From: Dublin
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Saw your lovely waterman pen pink no 7 ,when did you sell it and what was the original price you were looking for.
Regards
Ron

Admin reply: I sold that Waterman several years ago, and I think the price was around 600 dollars USD. Apparently I left the page up on the web although there are no links to it now from my web site.

Added: September 15, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Joyce Inouye
From: La Habra Heights, in Los Angeles County
E-mail: Contact

Comments:

Private post. Click to view.

Admin reply: Sorry for the confusion; that administer's password is for me to reply to messages, and I can't remember what it was, but it's written down somewhere. Fortunately the computer remembers it for me.

When you come to Japan, contact me and we can get together. Maybe we can see some of the Kirishitan sites I found.

Added: September 16, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Joyce Inouye
From: Los Angeles, California
E-mail: Contact

Comments:

Private post. Click to view.

Admin reply: Thanks for the message. I'll do that. I assume you are in Japan, right?

Added: September 15, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Puifai
From: Thailand
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Hello, I just found your website and I love it so much. All your drawing and painting are so wonderful. Actually I think you are really amazing ! ;) ;) ;)

Admin reply: Hello, Thanks for your wonderful comments! I'm really not amazing.

Added: August 23, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Nancy
From: Chicago, IL
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Hi Russ! I'm just writing to say thank you for the Fr. Frey psalter spread out to four weeks. I've occasionally managed to do the one-week plan, but only when I'm on vacation. FWIW, I'm a former evangelical who converted to Eastern Orthodoxy about eight years ago. I'm on a life-long quest to knead the Psalter into my being.

Admin reply: I'm glad you found that plan useful. Great to hear from another former evangelical who made their way into the Church!

Added: August 17, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Eric Sprouse
From: Newcastle, Ca
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Sorry I wasn't very clear. I did find plenty of information on the vacuform. Thanks! I'm more interested in the dimensions and process of making the sketch boxes. They are exactly what I'm looking for! If I could put one together that's half as good I would be happy

any details would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks, Eric

Admin reply: Well, every box I've mad has been a different size, so I can't say what the best dimensions are. I base the size on the plastic palette, adding the size of small walls which are about the same heigh as the palette. I think I usually use wood around 6X6mm. I cut it with one of those snap off disposable blade knives, and glue it down to a square of plywood which is just thick enough not to bend (I think anywhere from 2 to 4 mm thick). I use white craft glue, and when it's all dry, I sand the heck out of everything because I always cut the wood a little too big. Of course, where the side walls have to fit together snugly from the start, I cut them to the exact size. Most of my time is spent sanding!

Added: August 7, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Eric Sprouse
From: Newcastle, Ca
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
First let me say I love the work and time you have dedicated to the things you love! Thank you!! I am the other person on the planet that is interested in making the perfect watercolor sketch box

I am going to build a vacuform box this weekend! I would like to get a little more info on how to build the boxes. Also, do you notice a lot of staining on the plastic you use? Thanks again! Eric Sprouse

Admin reply: Hi Eric, as for staining, it's not any more than any regular palette as far as I've observed. Not so bad at all.

As for more instructions, in contrast to all the instructions on the web and YouTube on how to make a perfect sturdy vacuum form box, I went with the cheapest, bare minimum materials, and cut lots of corners. As long as it is fairly airtight, has a hole for the vacuum cleaner and a mesh on top, it should work. Even now, I waste a lot of styrene sheets trying to get a decent palette, So my advice would be to get lots of styrene sheets, more than you will need at the moment. After you make the vacuum box, you will want to use it a lot anyway -- usually at a moment's notice when there's no time to get more sheets.

Good luck!

Added: August 7, 2015

Submitted by
Name: Benny
From: Belgium
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
First off all great site and beautiful sketches, I like the style. I have questions For the platinum fountain pen and platinum brush. Can you use a converter with the brush and How to fill with It? And how fine is the line from the platinum fountain pen in comparison with a rotring art pen (if one uses for both * * * EF)? Is It like they say, when you buy a Japanees fine pen it’s a European extra fine pen? Greetings and happy sketches.

Admin reply: You can use a Platinum cartridge in both the Platinum fountain pen and brush pen, so that means a Platinum piston converter will also fit. I've never tried to use the brush pen with a converter because my favorite ink Platinum Carbon Ink comes in a cartridge. Platinum nibs are more fine than western nibs. I only have a Rotring art pen with a BB nib so I can't say how a Platinum compares with their EF.

Added: July 29, 2015