dawn, Monotype of the Day #717

Day 347 of Year 2 (Actually Day 352)

This print is what I would call a hot mess, but I decided to post it anyway! It's so important for artists to know that failure is part of the process, an essential part. Every piece can't be great or even good. Struggles with an unsuccessful piece so often bring new discoveries, techniques, imagery or etc. They can also serve to jolt us out of complacency. They are a call to wake up, not from doing anything wrong, but to be more alive and present in our practice, to grow and be more conscious. That's a beautiful thing. Artists must make peace with "failed" work and trust that everything we create is an essential part of our journey. It has meaning and purpose though we may not consciously understand why. Creating art is at its most basic level an act of deep and profound trust and intimacy. So trust yourself, trust your process, and know that all will be well in your studio.
PS I've also posted the ghost of the second layer on a more muted paper.

the path, Monotype of the Day #716

Day 346 of Year 2 (Actually Day 351)

This is the ghost from yesterday with a couple of new layers. I've gotten into the habit of ghost printing every plate and using it as an underlayer for the next day's print. Because of this, the prints are feeling like a continuing conversation rather than individual pieces. I'm enjoying listening to them talk as the days unfold, one piece adding understanding and meaning to the last.

I Go Down To The Shore
By Mary Oliver

I go down to the shore in the morning
and depending on the hour the waves
are rolling in or moving out,
and I say, oh, I am miserable,
what shall—
what should I do? And the sea says
in its lovely voice:
Excuse me, I have work to do.

From A Thousand Mornings: https://amzn.to/2BkaKWL

the ocean depth, Monotype of the Day #713

Day 343 of Year 2 (Actually Day 348)

This one has layers upon layers. Every time I had spare ink on a plate I used this print to remove it. In the end, so much was covered yet I can feel the weight of their hidden presence much as you can feel the unseen depths of the ocean. This reminds me of what it's like to make art. So much happens just outside of your consciousness at the edge of sight. So much of the beauty of process is felt.

boat and ladder, Monotype of the Day #712

Day 342 of Year 2 (Actually Day 347)

Here is the final print and a ghost print of one of the layers. Tonight I'm liking the simplicity of the ghost, a chance to breathe. Meanwhile, I'm busy researching and plotting how to make bigger prints!

Ladder
By Jane Hirshfield

Read it here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2020/oct/19/poem-of-the-week-it-was-as-if-a-ladder-by-jane-hirshfield

From Given Sugar, Given Salt https://amzn.to/2zYBhbv

angel moon, Monotype of the Day #711

Day 341 of Year 2 (Actually Day 346)

This is the ghost from last night with several layers on top. In addition to this print, I did some experimenting today. I want to work larger so i tried to print off my plexiglass table and it was a miserable failure! :) I suspected it might be. In order to print off a hard surface, you really need a printing press. Discovering Gelli plates ( a soft plate I used to make today's print) changed my life because I could finally print at home. But of course, I now want to expand. I am keeping my ears open. I know would not have this calling if it were not possible. There is a way, I just have to discover it. Wish me luck! xo

the keyhole at night, Monotype of the Day #709

Day 339 of Year 2 (Actually Day 344)

I'm hitting that spot in my process where it's clear my work needs to evolve. I try not to judge the finished piece but when things need to shift I get an unsatisfied feeling. When I look at this piece, I feel it more in my head than in my heart and I make art to escape the limits of language and feel and experience things that are hard to articulate. Part of my unsatisfied feeling stems from hitting some physical limitations in what I can do without studio help. This is not unique to me though. Every artist has to contend with how the physical world shapes constricts the scope of their vision. The solution is to get creative and think outside the box. I'm percolating. We shall see what happens.

the spring, Monotype of the Day #708

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Day 338 of Year 2 (Actually Day 343)

The fountain or spring is such a hopeful symbol, the deep and irrepressible source of creativity breaking through the hard shell of the material world. It's always there, this underground well, a gift for every human to tap. In troubling times it is great comfort to have this inner resource. Through deep listening I have found solace, nurturing, and profound connection. More and more I find my true work is listening to the tinkle and splash of this spring and then transcribing.

The Fountain
By Denise Levertov

Don’t say, don’t say there is no water
to solace the dryness at our hearts.
I have seen

the fountain springing out of the rock wall
and you drinking there. And I too
before your eyes

found footholds and climbed
to drink the cool water.

The woman of that place, shading her eyes,
frowned as she watched — but not because
she grudged the water,

only because she was waiting
to see we drank our fill and were
refreshed.

Don’t say, don’t say there is no water.
That fountain is there among its scalloped
green and gray stones,

it is still there and always there
with its quiet song and strange power
to spring in us,

up and out through the rock.
From Selected Poems https://amzn.to/2Y5nlUE

agent of change, Monotype of the Day #705

Day 335 of Year 2 (Actually Day 340)

Touched by an Angel
By Maya Angelou

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight,
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

From Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou https://amzn.to/3ftENJW

through the window and morning warmth, Monotype of the Day #704

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Day 334 of Year 2 (Actually Dya 339)

Today I couldn't decide which one to post. Which do you prefer, the layered print or the ghost print? All of a sudden, I have a deep urge to take these prints bigger, I mean really big. I have plexiglass on my large table. I'm going start experimenting and see if it's possible to print from it. I normally use a gelli plate which is a bit soft and allows you to print without a press. I'll have to see if the hard plexi will work. But, in order to do this, I have to clean my studio. Ack!!! Since I haven't had a studio assistant to help in a few months and I'm not generally focused on tidying, the place is a bit out of control to say the least. It's definitely nice to feel things shifting inside once more, a new adventure is about to begin!