self portrait with chaos, Monotype of the Day #610

Day 240 of Year 2 (Actually Day 245)

Every few months a self portrait comes up. Sometimes they are a way of learning something new about myself, sometimes they are to relieve feelings. Tonight's piece is the latter. Although I am generally feeling calm, it's hard not to pickup on all the anxiety in the air. It's important to acknowledge and embrace whatever it is we are feeling so it doesn't overpower us. This will pass, this will pass.

Jane Hirshfield just released a stunning new book of poetry called Ledger (https://amzn.to/33nvmXF). I highly recommend it. Tonight's poem, from Ledger, is excerpted from the poem Nine Pebbles. It is a work of deep calm and stillness. It helped me to touch this energy today.

This work is paired with "Retrospective" by Jane Hirshfield

You can find it here: https://briefpoems.wordpress.com/2023/03/06/pebbles-brief-poems-by-jane-hirshfield/

from Ledger https://amzn.to/33nvmXF

march of the keyholes, Monotype of the Day #609

Day 239 of Year 2 (Actually Day 244)

Again with the keyholes! 😊 What are they all about? Symbols are complex and have many layers of meaning. Examining them is like peeling an onion and at different times, different meaning come clear. Tonight keyholes strike me as a pivot point between two worlds. There are so many doorways in life, so many times we must leave safety and be thrust into to the unknown. Keyholes promise transformation. Into even the darkest room they shed some light. We are all deep in the unknown right now, these keyhole remind me to look for signs of light.

today in keyholes, Monotype of the Day #608

Day 238 of Year 2 (Actually Day 243)

Poet Lynn Ungar posted a beautiful, comforting poem today on Facebook. Many people are scared and disturbed by the corona virus and all the cancellations and potential sickness. There is so much uncertainty and things feel out of control. I am in the high risk category, but I'm trying not to worry too much, just a little 🙂. Over all my years of dealing with illness, I've learned you can't let a possible future steal your present moment. We can’t control what events happen to us, but we can control how we chose to meet them. Ungar’s poem helped me today. I hope you find comfort in it too.


Pandemic
By Lynn Ungar

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.

And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love--
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live. --Lynn Ungar 3/11/20

This was published on Facebook, but checkout Ungar's book Bread and Other Miracles https://amzn.to/2IDCGov

portal, Monotype of the Day #606

Day 236 of Year 2 (Actually Day 241)

Another evening of failed attempts on the etching press. But I'm really enjoying the learning curve. This monoprint is my favorite of the night. It has a lot of subtlety in color that isn't completely coming through in the photo. What I need is a full day to just play, to work, rest, absorb, and work again. Hopefully soon I'll be rested up enough to attempt this, my tank is a bit empty at the moment. Until tomorrow. xo

all fish desire home, Monotype of the Day #605

Day 235 of Year 2 (Actually Day 240)

Earlier today I did demo monotype of this image but the energy didn't feel complete so I tried again tonight. I find this image strangely stirring. Longing for the Unknowable yet fearful of it. xo


Meeting the Light Completely
By Jane Hirshfield
Read it here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/152783/meeting-the-light-completely

From October Palace https://amzn.to/2PWxEHC)

presence, Monotype of the Day #604

Day 234 of Year 2 (Actually Day 239)

Yesterday's spat with my new printing press took its toll on me. I woke up exhausted, that wheel is HARD to turn! So I decided to take a breath tonight and go back to a more traditional monotype. Here I'm experimenting with multiple thin layers of texture. Lately I've been taking ghost prints of everything I make, but often they are not strong enough to use a a completed piece. I saved them knowing they would be of use at some point. In this piece, there are three layers of texture- soapy ink I left on the plate, the ink I put down over it, and the ghost ink already on the paper. It's an interesting effect. I'm definitely going to play with this more. When in doubt, play. Until tomorrow... xo

Your Ocean
By Dorothy Walters


When you are in love
you do not say
you are near love
or beside love,
or seeking to know
love's truth.
You say you are in love.
Never mind how you got here.
This is your ocean.
Drown in it.
From A Cloth of Fine Gold https://amzn.to/3cLgQxp

open boat, 3 parts (and a pile of technical mistakes😊), Monotype of the Day #603

Day 233 of Year 2 (Actually Day 238)

A rough night in the studio, but I learned a lot. I had one technical problem after another. I made so many prints that went straight to the trash due to bleeding over the edge, smearing, sticking, or you name it. I'm also not loving the image. I wanted to try something simple, but this image was too simple, not enough inscribed lines to get the interesting effects from last night. These are the three best images, none of them excite me. I feel frustrated. You might think that's bad, but on some level being frustrated is a great place to be. I know I have so much room to grow and that's exciting. I can't wait to try again tomorrow. Hopefully I have something I like better to show, but if not I'll be looking forward to trying again. I trust that what I am going through now is necessary to where I am going. Every work of art can't be a masterpiece, but holding through the difficult moments will ultimately bear fruit. Until tomorrow. xo

listen: four part harmony, Monotype of the Day #602

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Day 232 of Year 2 (Actually Day 237)

Something new today! I made four different monotypes on top of a single drypoint etching plate. Technically, this is called a monoprint, but because I did monotypes on top, I'm still counting it as part of the monotype of the day series. 🙂 Last year I purchased a rickety old press that I thought was in good working order. I let it sit in my studio for a full year as a reward for finishing my show. As soon as the show went up, I had an expert come over to get it working. Sadly, it's not in great shape. He advised me to get rid of it and find something in better condition. However, there was nothing available for a reasonable price. If you've been following me, you know one of my mottos is "if there is a will, there is a way". So we got it rolling as well as possible and today I tried it out for the first time. There's a big learning curve and the wheel is definitely hard to turn but I'm pretty happy with the results. I had my studio assistant to help turn the wheel, but I'll have to figure something out for future sessions. Here are the four prints, the base plate inscribed with a drypoint image, and a picture of the press. I've tentatively named her Myrna after Myrna Loy. xo

keyholes by moonlight, Monotype of the Day #601

Day 231 of Year 2 (Actually Day 236)

I seem to be obsessed by keyholes right now (if you haven't noticed 😊). I'm pretty worn out, but I'm so filled up by my solo show experience that as I am resting, a torrent of new ideas are flowing through. I hope I'm able to get to work soon. It's challenging to wait and feel life moving forward while you stay at rest. During times like these, I take great comfort in today's poem by Tagore.

Gitanjali #81
by Rabindranath Tagore On many an idle day have I grieved over lost time. But it is never lost, my lord. Thou hast taken every moment of my life in thine own hands. Hidden in the heart of things thou art nourishing seeds into sprouts, buds into blossoms, and ripening flowers into fruitfulness. I was tired and sleeping on my idle bed and imagined all work had ceased. In the morning I woke up and found my garden full with wonders of flowers.

From Gitanjali https://amzn.to/38iqHao

conversation, Monotype of the Day #599

Day 229 of Year 2 (Actually Day 234)

Wow, I just realized tomorrow will be day 600! That feels like a significant milestone to build on. And speaking of building, tonight's print is built on the ghost ink from last night. I couldn't bring myself to wipe the ink off. My exhibit started to come down today. I wasn't sure what to expect. I somehow thought I would be sad or upset but instead I'm excited. I have so many projects to look forward to including a large walkthrough tunnel. Can't wait to be rested up enough to get to work. We have another couple days of breakdown and then I'll need some rest, but the future looks bright.

What I Have Learned so Far
By Mary Oliver

Meditation is old and honorable, so why should I
not sit, every morning of my life, on the hillside,
looking into the shining world? Because, properly
attended to, delight, as well as havoc, is suggestion.
Can one be passionate about the just, the
ideal, the sublime, and the holy, and yet commit
to no labor in its cause? I don't think so.

All summations have a beginning, all effect has a
story, all kindness begins with the sown seed.
Thought buds toward radiance. The gospel of
light is the crossroads of -- indolence, or action.

Be ignited, or be gone.

From New and Selected Poems https://amzn.to/2TuZhJ3 found on
http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/O/OliverMary/WhatIHaveLea/index.html

the keyhole takes a ride, Monotype of the Day #597

Day 227 of Year 2 (Actually Day 232)

Today was my closing, it was wonderful and I am so grateful to everyone who came out. What an amazing experience my show has been! Tonight's print is a quick demo I did during the closing. I'm not in love with it. But as I said during my artist talk, it's not for me to judge. My job is making, let everyone else do the judging 🙂. Right now I am so depleted I can't even think, so until tomorrow. xoxo @clerestoryfineart

dance of the keyholes, Monotype of the Day #596

596.jpg

Day 226 of Year 2 (Actually Day 231)

Trying out something new, trying to embrace the unknown and new beginnings. This month's studio video for my Patreon subscribers will feature demos of these new techniques. (www.patreon.com/sybilarchibald) Tomorrow is the closing reception, so I'll keep it short. Hope to see you there if you are in the area! xoxo

2-5 pm, Artist Talk around 2:30pm
Clerestory Fine Art, 40 Church Street, Montclair, NJ

How Dark the Beginning
By Maggie Smith

All we ever talk of is light—
let there be light, there was light then,

good light—but what I consider
dawn is darker than all that.

So many hours between the day
receding and what we recognize

as morning, the sun cresting
like a wave that won’t break

over us—as if light were protective,
as if no hearts were flayed,

no bodies broken on a day
like today. In any film,

the sunrise tells us everything
will be all right. Danger wouldn’t

dare show up now, dragging
its shadow across the screen.

We talk so much of light, please
let me speak on behalf

of the good dark. Let us
talk more of how dark

the beginning of a day is

From The Poetry Foundation website https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/152103/how-dark-the-beginning