In his chapter on Beginnings in the book To Bless the Space Between Us, John O'Donohue has written these words -
"When the heart is ready for a fresh beginning, unforeseen things can emerge. And in a sense, this is exactly what a beginning does. It is an opening for surprises. Surrounding the intention and the act of beginning, there are always exciting possibilities. This inevitably excites artists. So much can actually happen between the moment the brush is taken into the hand and the moment it touches the canvas. Such beginnings have their own mind, and they invite and unveil new gifts and arrivals in one's life. Beginnings are new horizons that want to be seen; they are not regressions or repetitions. Somehow they win clearance and become fiercely free of the grip of the past. What is the new horizon in you that wants to be seen?"
In the spirit of my word of the year - "Growth" and my vow of taking on new challenges during the Lenten season, I'll be heading off Saturday a.m. for a two day print workshop instructed by printmaker, Frank Janzen, of Crow's Shadow Press in Pendleton, OR. I know little about the medium but had the pleasure of working with Frank in a brief 4 hour workshop in January and am wanting to learn more. The time in January was with 3 of my great friends and we were sort of all in the same boat as far as learning or knowing anything about monoprinting. This workshop lends a little more tension to the challenge as I will be with 14 other people - many of whom I know are skilled artists in their fields. At any rate and keeping that thought mostly out of my mind (mostly) I'm off for a new beginning on Saturday; I know that you'll hear more about the experience next week. Wish me luck! ......and a lot of courage too:)
I hope your experience a marvelous and creative new beginning at your monoprint workshop, Sunrise Sister. I did a bit of monoprinting years ago. It was great fun and serendipitous. Alas, it requires special and very, very heavy equipment.
ReplyDeleteI liked the line from O'Donohue "so much can happen between the moment the brush is taken into the hand and the moment it touches the canvas." There is more involved in that moment, I am convinced, than the hand and the paper and the medium. That is certainly true for my shodoh calligraphy and for monoprinting, as I experienced it. Our shodoh teacher speaks of the energy in our bodies at the moment we create the strokes. Although we use the same brushes, the same paper, the same ink, the same Japanese characters, everyone's images are different, beautifully variant.
sorry i didn't get here to send you off with wonderful wishes, but know they were with you nonetheless. i look forward to hearing about and seeing what transpires. you go girl!!
ReplyDeleteDear Barbara and Lucy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your well wishes. It was an interesting weekend - lots of creativity in action. I may post about the experience this week. There's a LOT of ink in the process - maybe a little more than I will ever be able to handle.......