painting

(in a) material world

material world tree s

If I could disguise
myself as a tree—ancient,
unnoticed, unknown–

when all was wild
unruled
each day began

alive, encircled
by the present
all was strangely itself

taking refuge
without before or after
neither first nor last

accepting changes
as intrinsic
to what is

a dance
always balanced between
darkness and light

Mish, at dVerse, asked us to talk about what has been revealed to us by our present isolation. I try to write a bit each morning and this was composed from fragments in my current notebook.

The art is from my continuing series inspired by Joan Mitchell’s trees.

under the new moon

cherry blossoms s

The day is dreary and cold. A passing subway train, nearly empty, rattles the window as I remove the screen. A few black umbrellas walk by.

The apartments on the opposite side of my building look out on the river and the park. I wonder if they see signs of spring emerging through the grey blur of the rain.

cloudburst
blossoms fill the sky
pink showers

For Frank Tassone’s #haikai challenge #131, first cherry blossoms. I did the artwork sometime last year, and saved it for spring. The seasons will come, with or without our approval.

world water day

world water day s

world water day magnetic

Today is World Water Day.

“World Water Day is observed annually on March 22 to raise awareness about the vital importance of water to safeguarding human security and maintaining the health of the planet’s ecosystems. This year’s theme, “Water and Climate Change,” highlights the urgent importance of strengthening water security and establishing access to a sustainable water supply in the face of changing climate conditions worldwide” Read more here .

come climb out
of the lonely dark–
wander deep
blue rivers–
listen to ancient secrets
of water and light

as our footsteps answer in a timeless dance

as our footsteps angled s

we journey, a field of voices
emanating from the golden
earth, the sky pulling, lifting

the sounds into light, lifting
the wings of birds into voices
calling within a chorus of golden

majesty, the songs writ golden
on the beckoning horizon, lifting
the weight of history with voices

echoing voices—golden, hearts lifting

A tritina, for Sue Vincent’s photo prompt, above, and Jane Dougherty’s new weekly challenge. Jane featured a work from poet Francis Ledwidge, asking us to choose 3 words from his poem for Thomas McDonagh as the 3 words featured in a tritina. I chose voices, golden, and lifting.

as our footsteps s

I used metallic paint in my watercolor, but the light was not right to reflect it when I photographed it from above. I think the angled shot works well with the words as well as holding on better to the light.

I’m so happy to see Jane’s challenge has been revived–my discovery of it was a real stimulus for seriously writing poetry and using my art in conjunction with it, not to mention connecting me with many WordPress friends. And she always finds interesting art and words! I was trying to find the first one of her challenges I did, and I think it may be this one, which was part of a back-and-forth of art between my co-blogger on MethodTwoMadness, Nina, and me. Nina works in a medical office so is on the front lines so to speak. I miss her art, but applaud her, and all those working to keep us going in these uncertain times, for their important work.

I did not consult the Oracle yet today, but she was definitely looking over my shoulder for this one…

as the crow flies

as the crow flies s

a world built of stories to dream upon–
paths to follow like rivers to the sea–
ancient horizons that stretch on and on

bordered by waves that mirror wings—a bird
reciprocating every single breath
released to the wind—a sounding, a word,

a sky that keeps its time adrift, at bay–
speaking in unknown tongues, beyond all sound–
silence that pivots both toward and away

For Sue Vincent’s photo prompt, above, an attempt at the dVerse challenge from Laura to use 3 rhyme sets from poet Raymond Garlick in 10 syllable lines. My rhythm is definitely not pentameter, although it is 10 syllabled. I think that requires more distinctly separate lines.

This is my first watercolor in quite awhile, definitely since I moved as I unpacked the paints and brushes just this morning. It felt good to get back to it.

penumbral

penumbral s

almost a shadow
almost an echo between
vast uncertainties

hidden voices wandering
the uncharted borderlines

This year’s Wolf Moon comes with a penumbral eclipse. For Frank Tassone’s #Haikai Challenge #120, and also linked to OLN on dVerse, hosted by Grace.

This is a watercolor with a moon photo collaged on top.

I’m going to be absent from posting for awhile, though I will try to check in with what everyone’s doing. I’m moving into a small temporary space, putting most of my stuff in storage, and hoping to move into a permanent home before 2020 is through. I won’t have a drawing table and not sure how many supplies will fit into the space, but I’ll be back to doing more work of some kind as soon as I can.

stormstruck

stormstruck grid s

stormstruck magnetic

It’s clear the Oracle is feeling the world’s distress.

I had a dream recently about weaving paper. I’ve done it before, but in the dream I was using wax paper left over from monoprints (I’m low tech in my technique) and weaving painted paper through it. I’ve been saving the wax paper images and wondering what to do with them. I used newspaper that had been underneath my watercoloring (protecting the drawing table) and cut it into strips. I like the interaction of layers, papers, and paint.

The newspaper happened to be the front pages with headlines about the Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh in 2018. The world seems to be falling ever deeper and deeper into a vast hole.

why was
the bare sky
crying raindrunk
wind whispering
with the shadow language
of raw rusted light

K.

lines that aim to be