at sea, Monotype Monday

Welcome to February! I don't know about you, but the pandemic has dissolved my sense of time and I find it challenging to remember which day it is. It doesn't help that last week I took a fall while walking and injured my elbow a lot. It's on the mend, but it's kept me inside and relatively sedentary all week. It reminds me how fragile and fleeting life is. This is not depressing, it's a beautiful and inescapable truth. Good times must be seized and squeezed for every drop. I feel at sea right now without the structure of my daily posts or the ability to work as I'd like. But as my print shows, there is much richness in the sea. Structure and work will return soon enough. For now my fragile boat holds it's steady course. (Poem below the title)

at sea 2/1/21 Monotype of the Day Monday

The Ocean Moving All Night
By Rumi Trans. Coleman Barks & John Moyne

Stay with us. Don't sink to the bottom
like a fish going to sleep.
Be with the ocean moving steadily all night,
not scattered like a rainstorm.

The spring we're looking for
is somewhere in this murkiness.
See the night-lights up there traveling together,
the candle awake in its gold dish.

Don't slide into the cracks of the ground like spilled mercury.
When the full moon comes out, look around.

From Open Secret https://amzn.to/31EwLZ2

Monotype of the Day Mondays, Contemplation

contemplation2, monotype, 12 x 14”
Sybil Archibald

It’s been a week since I posted my last print. This is the first installation of Monotype of the Day Mondays. It’s been an interesting week. I’ve made art everyday (but only a few monotypes) because I must. I love the poem The Waking by Roethke. This line really gets me:

“I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.”

(Full poem below the title)

I did fear to stop the daily postings of The Monotype of the Day Project, but it knew that’s where I had to go. Now new projects are opening before me, but as usual I have no idea how they will get done. For now, I only have faith. The idea was given to me so there must be a way to make it happen. I only have to be patient, do the work I can, and the path will become clear.

It’s been a bit difficult to adjust to stopping my nightly prints. The pull of my studio at 10-11pm is so very strong, but I am resisting. I have committed to sleeping and I’ve made some progress moving from 3-4 hours a night to 5-6 hours. Even that much makes a big difference and with my more rested mind a lot is going on in the studio! Some highlights:

-Monotype of the Day Book- I finally have time to work on this! There are so many pieces that have to come together to make this happen but progress is being made and I’m excited!

-Sketching and planning for my newest sculptural installation project. Only Patreon members are getting the details for now but I am VERY amped about it!

-Cleanup and reorganization (It has to happen see messy pictures below!)

contemplation 1 & contemplation 2
1/4/21
Monotype of the Day Monday

The Waking
By Theodore Roethke 

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go. 

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. 

Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go. 

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. 

Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me, so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

 This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

From The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke https://amzn.to/3neIBST

For the first 24 hours after posting, this piece is 10% off and can be purchased here.

Hallelujah!, Monotype of the Day #900

Day 168 of year 3 (Total project days 900)

Day 900, the final print of my daily postings! Now I will switch to posting a monotype every Monday. Tomorrow I will post my thoughts on the project as a whole including what I've learned, thank yous, and some photo highlights. Today I wanted to end with my usual process. So as everyday for the last 900 days, I stood in front of my printing plate and received the images that came. Then I sat down at the computer and received the words below. This project has been a beautiful gift and I am tremendously grateful. But more on that tomorrow! Here is today's commentary:

I thought making today’s print would be a bit challenging, that I would feel the pressure to “make a good print” to end with. But the internal muscles I’ve built throughout this project to release judgment and let the creative process flow allowed me to work like it was any other night, which it is. Nothing has changed in my studio and tomorrow I'll be back in there working. Today is just another day. It's so often in our heads that we blow things out of proportion and create our own struggles. For every struggle in the studio, there is reward. And that reward is much more than beautiful art. The true reward is internal strength, spiritual growth, and connection. Wishing you strength and love. xo Sybil

the gift, Monotype of the Day #897

Day 165 of year 3 (Total project days 897)

For the first 24 hours after posting, this piece is 10% off and can be purchased here.

For more information about the process of monotype and the Monotype of the Day project click here.  

the gift, monotype, 12 x 14”
Sybil Archibald

listen!, Monotype of the Day #889

Day 157 of year 3

It's time, The Monotype of the Day Project is coming to an end in this form. Today is day 889, day 900 will be my last day. I will continue to post a monotype once a week (and more if I feel moved). Here on Patreon I will continue to post pictures of what I'm working on in the studio most days along with commentary as seems appropriate and updates on the progress of my book.

When I woke up this morning, it was clear something within me had shifted. I have been desirous of change in my work for a while now, I want to go deeper, to reflect more light, to touch truths unknown. It finally came to me that the root of my block is something I've struggled with for most of my life, sleep. This is a critical issue for both my health and my art. Currently a large portion of my day is taken up with health related activities designed to keep me going. I describe myself as a rickety car that needs plenty of tinkering to keep on the road! That's the day, but then at night I get an average of 3-5 hours of sleep which undermines everything I've done all day. Strange to think I never realized this, but the mind can justify a lot. So for the next 3 months after day 900, my focus will be sleep. Without the daily deadline of my monotype project, I will be able to work in the studio and stop when I need to. I am certain sleep will fundamentally transform my artistic practice. Art and the physical world are inextricably linked. By not sleeping, I resist the natural cycle of life. Resistance blocks the creative flow. Without sleep, I am too tired to be fully present and to listen deeply for direction from The Artist. My work will transform with sleep. It will bloom just as a garden blooms after the dark night of winter. I am excited to discover what will happen! I will keep you up to date about the effects of my new plan on my studio practice. I may take some work to transform a life time of bad habits. Thank you for all your support these last 889 days! Lots of love, Sybil

listen!, monotype, 12 x 14”
Sybil Arcibald

For the first 24 hours after posting, this piece is 10% off and can be purchased here.

For more information about the process of monotype and the Monotype of the Day project click here. 

trapped, Monotype of the Day #883

Day 151 of year 3

For the first 24 hours after posting, this piece is 10% off and can be purchased here.

For more information about the process of monotype and the Monotype of the Day project click here.  

trapped, monotype, 12 x 14”
Sybil Archibald

frustration (2), Monotype of the Day #882

Day 150 of year 3

I've hit a major stumbling block in the studio. I accept where I am and trust my process. I know eventually I will figure it out, but that hasn't dissipated my feelings of frustration which are intense. I have to honor those feelings instead of fighting them so they can pass. I am grateful to have art to help me do that.

frustrated (2), monotype, 12 x 14”
Sybil Archibald

For the first 24 hours after posting, this piece is 10% off and can be purchased here.

For more information about the process of monotype and the Monotype of the Day project click here.  

looking in, Monotype of the Day #880

Day 148 of year 3

Much of my work explores those places where the veil between the spiritual and physical worlds is thin, where we can begin to glimpse true mystery. In every moment many states of consciousness exist, spiritual, emotional, mental, physical. The physical is easy to see but others require more attention to access.

For the first 24 hours after posting, this piece is 10% off and can be purchased here.

For more information about the process of monotype and the Monotype of the Day project click here.  

embraced, Monotype of the Day #879

Day 147 of year 3

One of my favorite poets, Dorothy Walters, has a wonderful blog: kundalinisplendor.blogspot.com/. It's filled with beautiful poetry, her own and others. Often if I'm feeling out of sorts, I browse the archives and I am revived. I found the poem below the title there.

Find It in You
By Baba Afzal Kashani, Trans. David and Sabrineh Fideler
(13th Century Sufi)

The Divine Book's imprint
is nothing but you.

The mirror of the King's Beauty
is nothing but you.

Not a thing in this world
is outside of you.

Whatever you're seeking --
you'll find it in you.

Found on: http://kundalinisplendor.blogspot.com/2006/08/

For the first 24 hours after posting, this piece is 10% off and can be purchased here.

For more information about the process of monotype and the Monotype of the Day project click here.  

reflection, Monotype of the #878

Making art can be like medicine. If an image comes up that is uncomfortable to the artist, it is always important. It means there is an opportunity to heal and grow.

Day 146 of year 3

There are two ways of handling this discomfort.1) Stay with that uncomfortable feeling, breath into it and embrace it. Eventually the energy will shift. Or 2) consciously alter the piece in a way that changes its energy.

I used method 2 last night. Starting with a figure in the center, I placed a red mark on its chest. This brought up fears from past health issues so I added red lines connecting the mark with the angels in the lower corners. This helped me feel connected and supported so my anxiety eased.

A few days ago I wrote about my discomfort with a figure hanging upside down in that day's print. In this case I chose method 1, to embrace the discomfort and sit with it. This ultimately led to an internal transformation that allowed me to interpret that work in a more positive light. (See day #875 for more on this)

These methods are important ways artists can heal their internal landscape. If these tools are consciously embraced they are extremely powerful. Additionally any transformational energies an artist experiences while making a piece become integrated into their work. and are passed on to the viewer adding extra dimension, power, and depth.

Tonight's print is a response to the strong physical reaction I had to last night's work. I started with the same central figure and heart marking but the energy is much different, lighter and more spiritual. This shift shows a great internal change from yesterday to today. This deep work in the studio can be hard. There are many challenges, but when an artist sticks with it the rewards are great.

For the first 24 hours after posting, this piece is 10% off and can be purchased here.

For more information about the process of monotype and the Monotype of the Day project click here.  

dawn, Monotype of the Day #875

Day 143 of year 3

When I made this print this morning, I was out of sorts. I've been struggling with getting my new body of work going. The seeds of this work are inside but my physical limitations are slowing things down. I miss having a studio assistant to allow me to work at a much quicker pace. Even small tasks like cleaning my palette make a difference, more energy and time I can put elsewhere. I made this piece and I was really upset by the reversed hanging figure, it just felt wrong and made me uncomfortable. So during the day I worked on being with this discomfort and discovered I had forgotten a key truth about the studio. In the studio everything is in perfect harmony even though it often doesn't feel that way. Divine order seem chaotic and unreasonable to our minds, but there is purpose behind every delay, every mistake. An artist must have the humility to release their own plan and trust the process they are in. My delay will prove beneficial, giving the seeds of my new work the chance to grow strong and flourish. I forgot to trust. After this realization, I viewed my print again and instead of seeing something wrong in the hanging figure, I see a calm surrender at the edge of a sunrise, the coming dawn of new work.

For the first 24 hours after posting, this piece is 10% off and can be purchased here.

For more information about the process of monotype and the Monotype of the Day project click here.  

curious, Monotype of the Day #874

Day 142 of year 3

For the first 24 hours after posting, this piece is 10% off and can be purchased here.

For more information about the process of monotype and the Monotype of the Day project click here.  

gestation, Monotype of the Day #873

Day 141 of year 3

Sonnets to Orpheus, I, IV
By Rilke, Trans Macey & Barrows

You who let yourselves feel: enter the breathing
that is more than your own.
Let it brush your cheeks
as it divides and rejoins beside you.
Blessed ones, whole ones,
you where the heart begins:
You are the bow that shoots the arrows
and you are the target.
Fear not the pain. Let its weight fall back
into the earth;
for heavy are the mountains, heavy the seas.
The trees you planted in childhood have grown
too heavy. You cannot bring them along.
Give yourselves to the air, to what you cannot hold.

From In Praise of Mortality https://amzn.to/33AbL7S

For the first 24 hours after posting, this piece is 10% off and can be purchased here.

For more information about the process of monotype and the Monotype of the Day project click here.  

the chariot, Monotype of the Day #871

Day 138 of year 3

I liked the ghost print from last night so much, I kept the over layer simple. Ghost prints are magical. They are the perfect partnership between artist and materials. The artist controls the ink more fully on the first pull. On the ghost image, the artist's intent is still there but the ink has space to make its own voice heard. 

For the first 24 hours after posting, this piece is 10% off and can be purchased here.

For more information about the process of monotype and the Monotype of the Day project click here.  

emanation, Monotype of the Day #870

Day 137 of year 3

The image of the fish descending from the sky is kind of obsessing me right now. I feel something when I look at it. I can't articulate what it is and that is good. Much of life happens outside of language and often we are unaware. Art has the rare ability to make us conscious of the unsayable. That is a gift. On this busy shopping weekend, remember all that art gives to the world and consider supporting living artists with your purchases. xo

For the first 24 hours after posting, this piece is 10% off and can be purchased here.

For more information about the process of monotype and the Monotype of the Day project click here.