rising, Monotype of the Day #797

Day 65 of year 3

Lately I've been making a real effort to get out into nature on a regular basis. It's something I haven't done consistently since I was a child and it's changing me. Each trip feels like dust falling from my eyes. My vision is clearer and I definitely feel more grounded. Sometimes when you feel a little blocked up like I have this last week, the best thing to do is get out of your head and clear the mind. One of the things that has been frustrating me is the small size of my printing plate. My experiments at going larger have all been failures. Today it dawned on me that I need to make my own plates out of gelatin. I'll start with small-sized tests but I'm hoping to be able to get really large with it. We shall see, I've ordered the supplies. It's at times like these that I really do miss my studio assistant because some things are challenging because of my physical limitations. I've learned to have patience though. I do what I can and try to find creative workarounds for the rest. If I absolutely can't figure out how to do something, I remind myself that all things have their proper time. I trust that time will come and, while I am waiting, I turn my process to something else. One foot in front of the other and eventually all will be done.

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empty boat, Monotype of the Day #757

Day 25 of Year 3

I'm experimenting with watercolor tonight instead of ink. It's quite interesting to work with because you can layer it on a print in a way that's not possible (or at least easy) to do when painting. This print isn't entirely successful, but I learned a lot and I love nothing more than learning in the studio. The empty boat is me. I am completely out of energy right now. It took determination to get this print done tonight. So I'm off to bed. Sweet dreams to you.

wings & the descent, Monotype of the Day #756

Day 24 of Year 3

I'm so happy! No more self portraits, at least for now. However, I am in a bit of a muddle, I'm in that in between stage, the ebb between two flows. Usually I feel a bit lost during these periods. The antidote to this is to keep working but forget about the product. I try to do this anyway, but it is so much more important in an ebb. If you focus on making good work in an ebb you will get frustrated.. This is a major cause of artist block. Instead, I am using this ebb to experiment. I desperately miss cadmium red light. It is such a passionate color and not available in my inks so I'm experimenting with acrylic paint. I had many disasters tonight- paper gluing itself to my plate and tearing, paint drying to quickly, etc. I was fun though. Here are a couple of my attempts. I've barely scratched the surface here. Looking forward to playing some more tomorrow. xo

print 1: wings

print 2: the descent

revelation, Monotype of the Day #744

Day 13 of Year 3

This picture is intentionally askew. Why do prints usually sit level on the paper? Maybe there is something pleasing in the balance it brings, but also because it's one of those conventions we never think to challenge. So much of life around us is like that. When something happens as it did to me, limiting the use of my hands, in a way it's a blessing. It forces you to think outside of the box, dive deeply into creativity, and to grow.

hand, Monotype of the Day #726

Day 356 of Year 2 (Actually Day 361)

I had a break though tonight. The piece is fine, but what happened in my mind was important. The number one limitation on any artist is their mind, the unconscious rules that shape our actions. This is particularly true in printmaking. The plates must be lined up, no marks on the paper, etc. etc. etc. Somewhere in my head, I decided I couldn't add more color to a print unless it was printed with a plate. Tonight I painted in a touch of color on this print to wake it up. It's a surprisingly small thing that has the potential to transform the way I work. Will it? I don't know, but anything that breaks through the hold the mind has on possibilities is a good thing.

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

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

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!

the key to sleep, Monotype of the Day #649

Day 279 of Year 2 (Actually Day 284)

This image is the reverse of the image from two nights ago. It is yellow ink over blue ink where the older print was blue over yellow. There is definitely more depth in this one, but it still isn't the effect I was hoping for. There will be more experimenting tomorrow I'm sure. By the way, the blue under image here is the ghost print from last night.

restless night, Monotype of the Day #648

Day 278 of Year 2 (Actually Day 283)

Last night I tried doing a print overlaying a dark blue as a face onto a bed of ochre images like the piece above. It didn't turn out as I expected. I thought that since the ochre ink was wet it would bleed through the blue. No such luck, but it did provide an interesting varied subtlety to the piece which a flat underlayer of color does not. Lesson learned. So tonight I decided to do that process in reverse, ochre on top of blue. This piece was supposed to be the blue underlayer but I liked it too much to print on top of it 🙂. Maybe tomorrow I'll take a ghost print and try it with the ochre face as an overlayer as planned. We shall see! This is one of the things that makes art such an adventure. Art materials have plans of their own, they dream and actively partner with the artist. Sometimes our plans sync, sometimes materials will fight us all the way. This complex relationship is a subtext in all material works of art and is essential in grounding the artist. It is the earth calling us back. Our materials silently chant, "though your vision soars high above. you are clay and bound by the frailty of the world."

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

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

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

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

the fountain at night, Monotype of the Day #526

Day 156 of Year 2 (Actually Day 1 61)

I had a great day and made some really exciting progress on a new installation piece. As often happens, a kernel of the idea for this piece popped into my head like a gift one day and the act of working caused it to expand and grow. The piece involves light, which is a brand new material for me. I was really worried about finding all the technology to finish it but then I remembered the idea was given to me. I relaxed knowing the idea wouldn't have come to me if it weren't possible to complete. I kept working, trusting everything would unfold and be well. Out of nowhere, about halfway through the piece, someone volunteered to help me in the studio. I showed him the piece and he had a contact who could help. I was able to hire that person to do the technical aspect of the lighting and the demo was tonight. It's even better than I expected. I'm really thrilled. Sometimes making art is a leap of faith. I had no idea how to do this or where to look for help when I started it. If I had used comfort zone and current ability as measures, the idea would have been set aside. Instead, trust in process and trust in working brought me through.

protected, Monotype of the Day #522

Day 156 of Year 2 (Actually Day 157)

Experimenting again with these more muted tones. It's a fun change and feels really different while working. And, in the spirit of change, I am trying out a new time for posting my daily print: the early evening rather than between midnight and 2AM. I must get more sleep! Posting late only keeps me up. Let me know how this works for you. I may try a few different times until I find the right rhythm. Habit is important, but it's also important to mix it up every once in a while. It shifts the energy and creates new possibilities. Habit makes us feels safe and secure, but rigid things break. So I will keep my daily monotype practice but be flexible with my midnight habit.
NOTE: For those of you who are not night owls, you probably see my daily print the next day so this will seem like two prints in one day! Tomorrow look for my daily print in the evening, not the morning. Again, let me know how this change is for you because I may readjust. xoxo (Poem below the title)- the artist feels

Three Things to Remember
By Mary Oliver

As long as you're dancing, you can break the rules.

Sometimes breaking the rules is just
extending the rules.

Sometimes there are no rules. -

From Devotions . https://amzn.to/2PWonP0