dusk, Monotype of the Day #666

Day 296 of Year 2 (Actually Day 301)

The Moor
by R. S. Thomas

It was like a church to me.
I entered it on soft foot,
Breath held like a cap in the hand.
It was quiet.
What God was there made himself felt,
Not listened to, in clean colours
That brought a moistening of the eye,
In movement of the wind over grass.

There were no prayers said. But stillness
Of the heart’s passions — that was praise
Enough; and the mind’s cession
Of its kingdom. I walked on,
Simple and poor, while the air crumbled
And broke on me generously as bread.

Found on https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2018/03/16/r-s-thomas-the-moor-3/
If you are interested in sacred poetry, Poetry Chaikhana is a wonderful resource!
I am ordering this book right away: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1401923879

dawn breaks, Monotype of the Day #646

Day 276 of Year 2 (Actually Day 281)

Posting early tonight, well before midnight! I've been at this project for one year and nine months. It's hard not to repeat poems from time to time, but some poems are a joy to repeat.

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/2XImpYh (This was my first book of Mary Oliver poems, a wonderful introduction to her work.)

something's afoot, Monotype of the Day #568

Day 198 of Year 2 (Actually Day 203)

I guess I've completely fallen back into my bad habit of posting late at night. I feel confident it can be corrected though. 🙂 My head is brimming over with new ideas which is good because I have a lot of blank walls! After a big show it's common for an artist to hit a lull. I anticipated this and strategically planned projects not part of the show. These projects have me excited enough to carry me right through that lull. A lot of this lies in the framing. In my head I cast the show as part of my larger goal, not the end in itself. This way even though the work for the show is done, I'm still moving forward. It is so necessary to have a big dream, one that is so large it would seem like a miracle to fulfill. It could be a status goal like receiving recognition, it could an energetic goal like loving deeply, or anything that lights you up. The point is to create the climate of excitement that feeds the creative process and pulls you forward.

carried by wings, Monotype of the Day #540

Day 170 of Year 2 (Actually Day 175)

While cleaning my studio yesterday, I found a discarded print, just an empty boat. It called to me so instead of dumping it, tonight I printed two images on it- the angel and then the person. The creative process has no timeline.
Tonight is my son's last night home for a while so I'll leave at that for now. xo

getting handsy, Monotype of the Day #489

Day 123 of Year 2 (Actually Day 124)

The biggest lesson for me of the Monotype of the Day project is the importance of showing up. Showing up changes things. Most of life is completely out of our control. If I go into the studio, sit down to write, make a date, etc. there's no way to know really the result. But, internally I've taken a stand and acted on what I want, what matters. This changes me and changes my life. I've learned don't have to worry so much about how things will happen, it's become more about taking the first steps and trusting what comes next. It's an imperfect life. So much is wrong, but I keep showing up because so much is right too. I want to be there for what matters.

so much fuss about nothing, Monotype of the Day #411

Day 46 of Year 2

This is a very quick monotype made today as demo during a studio visit. I decided to post it because there is a different quality to a print done without expectation of results. When I do a demo, I always say, "This is just a quick print to show you how it’s done, I'm not really trying to make a finished image." And then low and behold, more often than not something worth saving is revealed. Even though I focus much more on process than product in my studio, it's really hard to fully abandon the desire to make a "good print". That desire alone changes the natural flow. I'm not judging. I don't know whether this is good or bad, but in my demo prints where muscle rather than mind prevails, it feels like there is more of a raw connection behind the veil.

the window, Monotype of the Day #356

356.jpg

It's very late. I've fallen off the sleep wagon, but only temporarily for a beautiful holiday night of family bonding. I won't say much more because sleep is calling except I love tonight's poem. This daily print making process has revealed so much to me that is really hard to put into words. I hope some of what I feel and experience in this intimate conversation between artist (me) and the Universal Artist, source of all creativity, spills over to you. xo

This work is paired with by "[Of all that God has shown me]" by Mechtild of Magdeburg, trans. Jane Hirshfield

The Visit, a temple for hearing, & the artist arrives, Monotype of the Day #136a, #136b, #136c

I loved being able to play the piano. Even though I can’t do it anymore, I use what I learned in my art practice. One of the exercises my piano teacher taught me was to play a piece very slowly so that I could get everything perfect and then so play it as quickly as possible forgetting everything and not even worrying about hitting the right keys. When you go back to playing the piece normally, it is transformed. So tonight, I’m working quick again, suspending my mind and judgement. Here are a few examples titled respectively: