reflection, Monotype of the Day Monday

Well, it turns out that I fractured my elbow. It’s funny how we have to keep learning the same lessons over and over. I was walking too fast and pushing myself and I know better than to do that. This situation could suck, but I am making it into an opportunity. It is my usual way to be down on myself when these things happen. This time though I am choosing to be kind to myself. This is a muscle I need to develop. I am three weeks in a sling and although it’s very limiting, my life is still happening. I’m not going to let this time pass by. I need two hands to do most things so I’m thinking outside of the box I'm learning new ways. For instance, I figured out how to dictate this post and I am pivoting from making sculpture to painting. It was a bit of a challenge to do tonight’s print but I got it done and I enjoyed it. One foot in front of the other and you’ll be surprised how much gets done. Poem below the title.

reflection
2/8/21
Monotype of the Day Monday

Something about uncontainable Love
By Dorothy Walters

Often it is the ocean itself
that speaks in its roiling voice
its thunderous tongue.

What it is saying
I have listened to for years,
as it crackles and whips,
or whispers in its silken tones.

Even now I am not sure of its message,
its assaults of thrill and boom
shattering the rocks
into flares of light.

Something about Mystery,
something about uncontainable
Love.

From A Cloth of Fine Gold by https://amzn.to/3jw1Yq6

partners, Monotype Monday

An attempt at a video today below.

partners
1/24/21
Monotype of the Day Monday

Monotype of the Day Monday, transference

The studio is in gestation mode and I've been working hard on my monotype book this week. Going over all the poems posted during the project is a joy. One that struck me particularly today below the title.

Transference
1/11/21
Monotype of the Day Monday

What Harbinger?
Denise Levertov

Glitter of grey
oarstrokes over
the waveless, dark,
secretive water.
A boat is moving
toward me
slowly, but who
is rowing and what
it brings I can’t
yet see.

From Selected Poems https://amzn.to/3bwDPhu

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 Artist and the artist, Monotype of the Day #899

The Artist and the artist
Day 167 of year 3 (Total project days 899)

Tomorrow is the final day of this project in this form. In the beginning of the project, I made many prints each day and chose one to post with no commentary. As my project progressed and the commentary and poetry became more and more important, I did fewer prints each day. It worked because I was in a rhythm and I never really left the flow from one day to the next. Today I slipped back into making many prints. It was so freeing. There is a different quality to working this way. It's not that one is better or worse, but the daily prints are more like a dairy, like dipping a cup into a stream. The multiple print sessions are like mining to tap a deep well. I am looking forward to mining for a while and I'll be posting the results each Monday on "Monotype of the Day Monday". I am filled with gratitude for all of you who have taken this journey with me and supported my work with your comments, likes, and purchases. xo Sybil.

Heavy Secrets
By Dorothy Walters

You and I carry heavy secrets within.
This is why our breasts have grown so large.
Already they are overflowing,
ready to fill the world’s waiting mouth.

From A Cloth of Fine Gold https://amzn.to/34QewCH

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

the language of dawn, Monotype of the Day #896

Day 164 of year 3 (Total project days 896)

Wishing everyone a beautiful day whether it's a Merry Christmas or a lazy day off. May you feel loved and content. 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.  

the language of dawn, monotype, 12 x 14”
Sybil Archibald

incubate, Monotype of the Day #895

Day 163 of year 3 (Total project days 895)

This is a tough time of year to finish up this project because it's so busy. Today was completely filled with the holiday and I didn't get into the studio until 12:00am. We went around town spreading holiday cheer. (Photo attached.) It was a wonderful day. I wish you love, cheer and a very happy holiday whether you are celebrating this week or just enjoying the days off. Until tomorrow. 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.  

holding, Monotype of the Day #893

Day 161 of year 3

I struggled tonight in the studio. Studio practice requires spaciousness. Today was very busy and completely lacking in that quality. Some days are like that but an artist has to fight for emptiness. Our culture is obsessed with busyness and busyness kills creativity. Tomorrow I will make more space. 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.  

incubation, Monotype of the Day #892

Day 160 of year 3, Total project days 892

“And I am the egg that surrounds and nurtures the seed of the God in me.”
-Carl Jung, The Red Book

Today I woke up with my head full of ideas for new projects. I got out my idea sketchbook which I haven't done for a while. It feels good.

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.  

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. 

the keyhole, Monotype of the Day #886

Day 154 of year 3

We are all keyholes waiting to be unlocked so our inner light can spill out into the world. Poem below the title.

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

Read it here: http://inwardboundpoetry.blogspot.com/2006/10/233-door-jane-hirshfield.html

from The October Palace https://amzn.to/2Ku42kY 

the fire within, Monotype of the Day #885

Day 153 of year 3

Quatrain 359
By Rumi, Trans. Moyne & Barks

Do you think I know what I am doing?
That for one breath or half-breath I belong to myself?
As much as a pen knows what it's writing,
or a ball can guess where it's going next.

From Open Secret https://amzn.to/3gJYnmX

the fire within, 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.  

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