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)
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
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
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
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
Day 230 of Year 2 (Actually Day 235)
Day 600! I feel so much gratitude for coming this far. Happy dance! And yet, it's just another day. One foot in front of the other. Until tomorrow! xo
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
Day 228 of Year 2 (Actually Day 233)
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
by Sybil Archibald
Now that my show is closed, I want to thank all the amazing people who made this experience possible. Nothing I do could happen without the tremendous love and support from Barry Echtman! Kathryn McGuire owner/ gallery director of Clerestory Fine Art was wonderful to work with! She supported every idea I had. I am so grateful for her belief in me. Clerestory is truly a magical place! The following list of super amazing and wonderful people, you know what awesomeness you did and I thank you! Thomas Archibald, Barbara Archibald, Gayle Mahoney, Wendy Bellermann, Liz Munro, Leslie Goldman, Ellen Kahaner, Jacob Samuel, bryce.bot, Celene Ryan, Sylvia Osner, Mark McLoughlin, George Chin, Lara Tomlin, Jay Pingree, Mariah Ayscue, Devyani Guha, @Nick Gaeta, Elizabeth Marcus, Jason Rulnick, Lou, Jaiyi, Miles, Skyler, Lizzy, Violet, Morgan, and of course my fellow Clerestory artists, Mary Young, Armando Outthere Diaz, Jorge Larrea, Brian Stymest, Steve Kelly, Nora Murphy, Gayle Mahoney THANK YOU!!!!! A few highlights from the show below.
Thanks to the more than 120 people who came out to my closing reception and artist talk! It meant so much to me to have you there. Here are a few highlights. What a wonderful event!
xoxo
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
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
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
Day 223 of Year 2 (Actually Day 228)
More experimenting! Don't forget to come to my closing this Saturday, 2/26 from 2-5pm. hope to see you there!
