the keyhole visits the beach, Monotype of the Day #595

Day 225 of Year 2 (Actually Day 230)

Tonight I made muted seascape after seascape. In the final one, a keyhole appeared. I grew up in Los Angeles and spent a lot of time staring off at the ocean. It was a meditative, healing experience. I guess I need that calming regenerative energy right now because the image I planned to make disappeared the minute I stood in front of my plate! My show has been a wonderful experience. I have been spiritually filled and nourished but physically depleted. I'm fine with that. When you live with illness, you learn there is a fine line between conserving your energy and strength and unnecessarily losing opportunities. It's really tricky because it's next to impossible to be certain how much energy you will have on a given day. You don't want to push yourself so far you get into a mess, but you also don't want to be so timid you miss things you might actually be able to do. It's a constant quandary. Some days 5 minutes in the studio is overdoing and some days two hours or more is overdoing. The key is accepting where you are and what is possible at the present moment. I just take it one day at a time and know that even 5 minutes a day adds up to something real over time. One foot in front of the other and eventually you arrive. I'm feeling incredibly grateful for my show, all the amazing visitors, the outpouring of love, & my ability to continuing working. xoxo

Even if You Have Trudged
By Dorothy Walters

It is never too late.
Even if you have trudged
through snow and ice
for a thousand miles
and still have not arrived.
Even if the map is lost
and the compass broken.
When the eagle who is
supposed to guide you
goes off on a tangent
of its own
and you know you are,
once again, deserted
do not fall into
the pit of despair.
It will return,
brighter than ever.
There will be feather tokens
falling down.

Nothing is irredeemable.
Nothing is lost forever.
Be guided by the stars.
Let the moonlight
direct your steps.

There will be a path
which will open
in the forest.
The treasure which is yours
is waiting.
Claim it.

From her blog: http://kundalinisplendor.blogsp

keyhole, Monotype of the Day #594

Day 224 of Year 2 (Actually Day 229)

I had a revelation tonight about the meaning of the keyhole in my work. I will write it up soon with a print. For now I have family in town for my closing reception Saturday so I will keep it short. (I am not sure if I've posted this poem. I'll have to do a listing one of these days. But in truth, beautiful poems are a rare beauty and bear repeating.)

Thirst
By Mary Oliver

Another morning and I wake with thirst
for the goodness I do not have. I walk
out to the pond and all the way God has
given us such beautiful lessons. Oh Lord,
I was never a quick scholar but sulked
and hunched over my books past the
hour and the bell; grant me, in your
mercy, a little more time. Love for the
earth and love for you are having such a
long conversation in my heart. Who
knows what will finally happen or
where I will be sent, yet already I have
given a great many things away, expect-
ing to be told to pack nothing, except the
prayers which, with this thirst, I am
slowly learning.

From Thirst https://amzn.to/37WO5tS

it goes both ways, Monotype of the Day #592

Day 222 of Year 2 (Actually Day 227)

Still playing with gluing cut paper down before printing. I used a thicker paper than last night to form the ladder. It's an interesting effect, but I'm not a huge fan of this one. That's ok though, there's a learning curve which I adore. When it comes down to it, I love learning something new with all the ups and downs so much. The place where there is discomfort or perceived failure is the place to chase. There's something there but you can't see it yet. So fun, so invigorating.

Mysteries, Yes
By Mary Oliver

Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.

How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds
will never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.

Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.

Let me keep company always with those who say
“Look!” and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.

From Devotions : The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver

remember you are supported, Monotype of the Day #591

Day 221 of Year 2 (Actually Day 226)

It's really wonderful to work in the morning, totally renewing. I tried a new technique today, gluing a piece of acid-free white tissue paper in the shape of hand down first and then printing over it. I love the effect. Photographs never quite capture these pieces perfectly, but some prints fair better than others. This one lost detail but you can still get a feel for it. The past month or so I've been feeling a little stale with these prints. It's not that I haven't had good prints, but I need more adventure and experimentation. As someone told me today, if you are not making mistakes and messes you're not pushing yourself enough. So I'm excited to delve into this new technique and see where it takes me.

This work is paired with "Evolution & Glass" by Jane Hirshfield

from After : Poems https://amzn.to/2HLOqoF

breathe, the sun rises again, Monotype of the Day #590

Day 220 of Year 2 (Actually Day 225)

In my on going effort to get to bed before 3AM, I've decided to make my print in the morning before I do anything else. There are too many variables in the middle of the day and of course working at night is the root of my problem. Habit is such an important support, it carries you through when your mind or body just doesn’t want to cooperate. A consistent studio time is therefore a must. I was surprised by the difference morning energy brings to working. I'm excited to see how this change will effect my work. Next step is to do my writeup earlier. Tiny steps add up to great changes! Until tomorrow.

greening, Monotype of the Day #589

Day 219 of Year 2 (Actually Day 224)

Yesterday's print was a fast demo piece for studio visitors. I cleaned the plate quickly and poorly 🙂 leaving some of the soap and ink. It left this interesting sort of striated pattern underneath the image. Tonight I played with that effect a little more intentionally. It's fun to experiment with something new. I am really exhausted from all the excitement around my show but also, and more importantly, profoundly nourished by all the beautiful interactions I've had with people. I think this image expresses the nurturing I've experienced. I am deeply grateful. Next Saturday 2/29 is the last day to see my show. The gallery will be open from 12-5pm and official closing reception begins at 2pm. I hope to see you there! xo

moonrise, Monotype of the Day #588

588.jpg

Day 218 of Year 2 (Actually Day 223)

Today I was interviewed for a news program. (More on that later!) I did this piece as a demo using older dryish ink and when I lifted the paper I really didn't like it. I did another print and told them not to use this one. But then I remembered that it's not for me to judge my work and good or bad, it's all part of the process. So I'm posting it here tonight as a reminder to myself to trust the process and carry on. It was a long but lovely day so I'm off to bed. Until tomorrow. xoxo

sunrise, Monotype of the Day #587

Day 217 of Year 2 (Actually Day 222)

It's been so busy lately with my show in a wonderful way. I do still need calm to make work and rest for my body. Since I'm not finding enough of it in my life at the moment, I am creating that energy through my work. This piece was made to simply feel peace and stillness and to let that energy saturate my system.

This work is paired with by "The Task" by Jane Hirshfield

Found on Poetry Chaikhana https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/H/HirshfieldJa/Task/index.html

From October Palace: Poems https://amzn.to/2VcU0s9 

voyager, Monotype of the Day #585

Day 215 of Year 2 (Actually Day 220)

Last night I dreamed I was climbing a ladder. I don't dream very often these days, so when it happens it's significant. In September 2018, near the beginning of this project, I was making a lot of ladders and there is an image similar to this one. This one has keys though, the image has evolved. These evolved images resonate with special energy, they are tender personal messages from The Artist to the artist. I always come back to the alchemical saying, "As above so below, as within so without, as the universe so the soul". Everywhere I look I see cycles, ebb and flow, winter and summer, night and day, it only makes sense to see it in the studio as well. I am heartened when I see evolution in an older image. Growth and change are at the heart of life and I am happy to be carried along in that rhythmic pulse.

what lies behind?, Monotype of the Day #584

Day 214 of Year 2 (Actually Day 219)

No words have been coming the past few days though new project are beginning to hatch and grow. I am in that uncertain space where marks have been made but the road map remains unclear. I am off on a new adventure and I am grateful to be at the beginning again.

Sonnets to Orpheus Book 2. 12
Rilke, Trans. Stephen Mitchell

Will transformation. Oh be inspired for the flame
in which a Thing disappears and bursts into something else;
the spirit of re-creation which masters this earthly form
loves most the pivoting point where you are no longer yourself.

What tightens into survival is already inert;
how safe is it really in its inconspicuous gray?
From far off a far greater hardness warns what is hard,
and the absent hammer is lifted high!

He who pours himself out like a stream is acknowledged at last by Knowledge;
and she leads him enchanted through the harmonious country
that finishes often with starting, and with ending begins.

Every fortunate space that the two of them pass through, astonished,
is a child or grandchild of parting. And the transfigured Daphne,
as she feels herself become laurel, wants you to change into wind.

From Duino Elegies & Sonnets to Orpheus https://amzn.to/31ZbYQd

into the Light, Monotype of the Day #581

Day 211 of Year 2 (Actually Day 216)

It is really common for an artist to have an ebb after putting together a large project like a show. I knew this and planned a number of projects to keep me moving. I've embarked on all of them and things are moving forward in the studio but the flow of energy is what it is. Things fill and empty, they ripen and fall. I can not escape the cycle of life. Although planning has helped lessen my ebb, I still find the need to recharge. That means keeping up my work but being ok for now that it is floundering a bit and I'm not satisfied. Something new and mysterious (for now) is growing. My job is to refill my tank so I can pour forth creative flow again. By trusting in and accepting that this is a natural cycle, it is much easier to go though.
Technical note, tonight I started with printing small plates multiple times and then put the large plate on top. That's the reverse of my usual process. It was fun to work this way and I like the results.

"...That Passeth All Understanding"
By Denise Levertov

An awe so quiet
I don't know when it began.

A gratitude
had begun
to sing in me.

Was there
some moment
dividing
song from no song?

When does dewfall begin?

When does night
fold its arms over our hearts
to cherish them?

When is daybreak?

From Selected Poems https://amzn.to/2SpmWLn