Hi Elaine,

I think that charting tape and pressure-sensitive letters are obsolete --
all of this having been taken over by computers. Computers add the
feature of ease editability (sometimes to a disadvantage!).

I'm not as sure about the airbrush. I expect airbrushes would still be
useful for a number of things, including murals and the like for museum
dioramas (one example). Although in the art supply store I shop in,
the main use for airbrushes is for arts and crafts.

As for cartography, may I suggest you contact Dan Cole at the
Smithsonian and ask him. He could certainly provide you with a good
response, I think. His e-mail is [log in to unmask]

Hope that helps.

And hello to everyone else...

I'm back on the listserv after a major change in job (from Smithsonian to
university) and a major move (2 dogs and 17 birds). I'm now teaching
and coordinating the design program at Indiana University South Bend,
and I like it very much. It is a positive work environment -- my colleagues
seem enthusiastic and intent on building and refining the fine arts program
here. Plus they play a mean game of darts.

South Bend, Indiana is a change from D.C. There is no such thing as
rush hour (except on Saturdays when there is a Notre Dame home football
game!). I have a 10-minute commute to work, and parking! My work schedule
is flexible and I'm even finding some time to work on my PhD dissertation.

So hello to everyone -- I'm glad to be back on the listserv.

Karen Ackoff
Asst. Prof. of Fine Arts / Graphic Design
Indiana Univ. South Bend
1700 Mishawaka Ave.
P.O. Box 7111
South Bend, IN 46634-7111
Ph: 219 237-4124
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

Elaine Hodges wrote:
>As many of you know, I am revising the Guild Handbook, mainly to include
>computer graphics.
>
>Question:  we have an airbrush chapter.  Are enough people doing real
>airbrush to justify retaining it?  Airbrushes still are sold in art stores.
>
>Same question regarding charts and diagrams - another chapter.  Most of
>these are done on the computer now.  Should we include this topic as a
>separate chapter?  Should hand techniques like cutting charting tape be
>included?  Art stores are getting rid of charting tape and transfer type.
>I think the principles of doing good charts and diagrams/graphs need to be
>included.  Perhaps these could go in one of the introductory chapters or in
>the basic computer graphics chapter.  The principles apply regardless of
>the medium.
>
>Cartography - same/similar problem.  Is anyone using a scriber or any hand
>techniques to do maps?  Clara Simpson's question about her
>computer-produced map illustrates this situation, I suspect.