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. : About me : .
 Name::Sapphire Dakini From::Santa Fe, NM, United States "The secret of life is in art." - Oscar Wilde View My Profile . : Artist Statement : .
My art is an exploration of the importance of change and releasing the past, especially the people and situations
that hinder personal growth, empowerment and transformation. The utilization of mythic figures, archetypes, motifs
and themes allows me to explore letting go of the familiar, safe and secure in order to travel to the dark, often
frightening, places of the soul. In this way, I've learned to trust my inner voice and honor my soul's need for
expression and challenge. . : Recent Posts : .
Words of Wisdom from the Daily Om . : Archives : .
May 2005 . :Blog Rings : .
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. : Social Media : . . : Daily Om : .
. : Portfolio : .
www.flickr.com
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. : Printmaking : .
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Artists Foundation . : Yahoo Groups : .
Art Dollz . : Blogrolls : .
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009Words of Wisdom from the Daily OmFocused Foresight "You could feel excited about new goals today & experience a sense of confidence about your abilities. You might also be considering ways to direct this confidence toward achieving your goals. By choosing to lend your conscious focus to this process, you will be able to overcome any challenges & accomplish your objectives easily. You might consider taking some time today to write out your plans, dreams & wishes for the future. Dare to dream big & consider what you truly want & then come up with a detailed plan to make it happen. You might also consider using your foresight to determining potential obstacles you might encounter & create a plan for working through them. Our willingness to think ahead & develop a detailed plan of action can help us to approach our goals in a focused way. If we take the time to plan ahead, we can increase our chances of overcoming unexpected challenges & obstacles. Using our foresight can help us to determine the best ways to proceed & we can then channel our excitement into focused action-steps & allow our confidence to carry us forward. We then feel motivated & empowered to persevere, even if we occasionally encounter stumbling blocks on our path to success. Channel your excitement in a productive & focused way today & you will empower yourself with the tools to make the achievement of your goals a reality." - Daily Om Labels: Daily Om 
Saturday, March 21, 2009What I'm Reading "The seventies are over. All across America, the overgrown kids of the middle class are getting their acts together & getting older. The once-tight Chicano community of Chamisaville is long gone & the Anglo power brokers control almost everything. Joe Miniver -- faithful husband, loving father, all-around good guy -- is about to sink roots. To buy the land he wants, he dreams up a coke scam that will net him the necessary bread. Joe is also about to embark on a series of erotic adventures with 3 headstrong women, bringing him face-to-face with the terrors & absurdity of the modern man - woman scene.This final volume in the New Mexico trilogy is a lusty, visionary novel that blends comedy & tragedy, reality & fantasy, tenderness & bite, to illuminate some very troubling truths about America -- truths no less pointed & accurate today than they were 20 years ago." Labels: books
Tuesday, March 17, 2009Solarplate Print I seem to have lost some of the details of the solarplate on this chine colle. I'm not sure if it's because I used Akua ink instead of oil-based printing ink which also means it was printed on dry paper versus damp paper or if it's because the paper I used as the chine colle was too absorbent. The problem seems to be consistent on all 3 prints that I did over the weekend.Labels: printmaking, solarplate
 Labels: printmaking, solarplate
 Labels: printmaking, solarplate
Sunday, March 15, 20092009 Conference on International Opportunities in the ArtsThe 2009 Conference on International Opportunities in the Arts April 3 - 5, 2009 Boston, MA Don't miss the chance to interact directly with key players in the global arts arena at the 2009 Conference on International Opportunities in the Arts. The conference will take place April 3-5, 2009 at Boston's Omni Parker House Hotel. Join more than 70 representatives from around the world to learn about residencies for artists, writers & musicians. Learn about international exhibitions & performance opportunities, grants & other funding sources to help you find the inspiration, time & money for your work. Come to Boston to meet, network & have your work seen by the conference's distinguished curators, critics & panelists. Detailed information about the conference including schedule & registration forms are available at 2009 Conference on International Opportunities in the Arts. TransCultural Exchange is a 501c3 non-profit organization, whose mission is to bridge cultural, geographic, political & linguistic divides by bringing people together through the arts in order to foster a greater understanding of world cultures. Labels: TransCultural Exchange
Saturday, March 14, 2009Words of Wisdom from the Daily OmInevitable Success "A certain degree of stubbornness can be an asset to you in your pursuit of your goals today. You may be resolute in your opinion that you are destined to achieve success, & even if others feel compelled to share discouraging words, your determination will likely remain unshaken. Since your main objective may be to ensure that you are able to work toward the fulfillment of your ambitions, you may find that you address related tasks with a surprising relentlessness. To maintain an optimistic attitude, you should explore your expectations for the future in your minds eye. As you visualize success today, you enthusiasm will likely soar. Resolutions of a positive nature can be a boon to us in our quest for personal & professional success because they provide us with a set of expectations that can guide us in our choices. We may not be able to predict the nature of the blessings that will appear in our paths, but we can anticipate the choices we will be asked to make as we pursue our ambitions. Our optimism allows us to brush off minor difficulties & delays because we understand that these are a normal part of the goal-realization process & can teach us how to be more resourceful in our pursuit. We are not only determined to succeed but also resolved to do so on our own terms. Your relentlessness will serve you well today as it will likely allow you to make thoughtful choices concerning your future & stave off disillusionment when you meet with roadblocks." - Daily Om Labels: Daily Om
Wednesday, March 11, 2009Words of Wisdom from the Daily OmSet Yourself Free Letting Go of Perfection "It is good to remember that 1 of our goals in life is to not be perfect. We often lose track of this aspiration. When we make mistakes, we think that we are failing or not measuring up. But if life is about experimenting, experiencing & learning, then to be imperfect is a prerequisite. Life becomes much more interesting once we let go of our quest for perfection & aspire for imperfection instead. This doesn’t mean that we don’t strive to be our best. We simply accept that there is no such thing as perfection — especially in life. All living things are in a ceaseless state of movement. Even as you read this, your hair is growing, your cells are dying & being reborn, & your blood is moving through your veins. Your life changes more than it stays the same. Perfection may happen in a moment, but it will not last because it is an impermanent state. Trying to hold on to perfection or forcing it to happen causes frustration & unhappiness. In spite of this, many of us are in the habit of trying to be perfect. One way to nudge ourselves out of this tendency is to look at our lives & notice that no one is judging us to see whether or not we are perfect. Sometimes, perfectionism is a holdover from our childhood — an ideal we inherited from a demanding parent. We are adults now & we can choose to let go of the need to perform for someone else’s approval. Similarly, we can choose to experience the universe as a loving place where we are free to be imperfect. Once we realize this, we can begin to take ourselves less seriously & have more fun. Imperfection is inherent to being human. By embracing your imperfections, you embrace yourself." - Daily Om Labels: Daily Om
Tuesday, March 10, 2009Solarplate Print Of the 3 new plates, this is my favorite. I took a chance & didn't use an aquatint screen so the light areas are much more prominant & there aren't any issues with the dark areas. This plate has some real potential, I think.Next week is Spring Break at the SMFA so we don't have classes. I'll be using the week to finish work for the mid-term critiques that are scheduled for the following week. Labels: photo and digital applications in printmaking, printmaking, solarplate
 Here's the test print from the 2nd solarplate. It has some potential if used in a chine colle, I think. Labels: photo and digital applications in printmaking, printmaking, solarplate
 I managed to get to class an hour early tonight so I had some extra time to work on new solarplates & to pull a test print from each new plate.This image was a scan from a fashion magazine & I knew going in that it was going to be a difficult image to work with. But what can I say, I'm stubborn. I exposed the plate with an aquatint screen to minimize the possibility of open bite in the larger black areas & then I exposed the plate with the image. It came out better than I expected but the white areas are way too dull. Labels: photo and digital applications in printmaking, printmaking, solarplate
You Deserve To Have Your Dreams Come True Personal Power "Many of us do not understand what personal power means. We have been given the false notion that power is bad — that it is something we use to exert our will upon others. In fact, when our personal power is intact, we are neither overbearing nor meek. We have a clear sense of our strength & the impact we can have on others. This actually enables us to be more sensitive. Personal power is what permits us to work on behalf of our dreams & desires. It allows us to realize that we are worthy & deserve to be heard. In addition, our personal power lets us extend the respect we know that we deserve to the people around us. There is no reason to be afraid or ashamed of fully owning your power. In the chakra system, the solar plexus is the seat of personal power. One way to evaluate your sense of power is to breathe into this part of the body. If it feels tight or nervous, it is an indication that you may not be fully expressing your power. You can heal this imbalance by expanding the area of the solar plexus with your breath. You can also visualize a bright yellow sun in this part of your body. Allow its heat to melt any tension & let its light dissolve any darkness or heaviness. Repeating this exercise on a regular basis can restore & rejuvenate your sense of power. Another way to nurture your personal power is to honor your dreams & desires by making concrete plans to manifest them in the world. Start by making a list of things you want & let yourself think big. Choose 1 goal from the list & commit to bringing it to fruition. In addition, break the goal into tasks that you can work on each day. Know that you deserve to have your dreams come true & that you have the power to bring them into being." - Daily Om Labels: Daily Om
Sunday, March 08, 2009I'm HeartbrokenTonight is the series finale of The L Word. So many great shows -- The Sopranos, Queer As Folk, Sex in the City, Carnivale, Six Feet Under -- are gone & haven't been replaced by anything of substance. The only thing really worth watching now is Big Love which I have to admit creeps me out sometimes. Labels: life
Saturday, March 07, 2009New Print This print seems to need a little "oomph"... maybe some silver ink. The gold doesn't "pop" quite enough.Labels: chine colle, monoprint, printmaking
Blogrolling is finally back online. I spent the morning updating my blogroll so that it reconciles with my blog listings in Google Reader. There are still a few kinks in the new version of Blogrolling so it took a couple of hours. But, lots of interesting blogs so pour yourself another cup of coffee & pay them a visit. You won't be disappointed. Labels: blogs
Friday, March 06, 2009Variations on a Monotype Labels: monotype, printmaking
 The red ink is still too dark but it does have a certain "moodiness" to it.Labels: monotype, printmaking
 This is dark red ink on black paper. Another idea that isn't working out quite like I had hoped. The black printmaking paper seems to "kill" every color I've tried on it so far.Labels: monotype, printmaking
 I've never been a big fan of the "simplicity" of just black & white.Labels: monotype, printmaking
Wednesday, March 04, 2009What I'm Reading "When in their lives do great artists produce their greatest art? Do they strive for creative perfection throughout decades of painstaking & frustrating experimentation, or do they achieve it confidently & decisively, through meticulous planning that yields masterpieces early in their lives?By examining the careers not only of great painters but also of important sculptors, poets, novelists, & movie directors, Old Masters and Young Geniuses offers a profound new understanding of artistic creativity. Using a wide range of evidence, David Galenson demonstrates that there are 2 fundamentally different approaches to innovation & that each is associated with a distinct pattern of discovery over a lifetime. Experimental innovators work by trial & error, arriving at their major contributions gradually, late in life. In contrast, conceptual innovators make sudden breakthroughs by formulating new ideas, usually at an early age. Galenson shows why such artists as Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Cézanne, Jackson Pollock, Virginia Woolf, Robert Frost & Alfred Hitchcock were experimental old masters, & why Vermeer, van Gogh, Picasso, Herman Melville, James Joyce, Sylvia Plath, & Orson Welles were conceptual young geniuses. He also explains how this changes our understanding of art & its past. Experimental innovators seek & conceptual innovators find. By illuminating the differences between them, this pioneering book provides vivid new insights into the mysterious processes of human creativity." Labels: books
Tuesday, March 03, 2009Solarplate Print Here's a relief roll of the same solarplate prior to cleaning the plate.Labels: printmaking, solarplate
 Here's the first solarplate print.The original image was printed onto a transparency then the image was transferred to the solarplate using an UV exposure unit. The plate was then developed using lukewarm water. The plate was inked as an intaglio plate then printed on damp paper using an etching press. I was a bit surprised at the quality of the print. I wasn't sure what to expect. Labels: printmaking, solarplate
Monday, March 02, 2009It's F*cking Snowing AGAIN!The groundhog MUST die! Apparently this winter is never going to end. Just when all of the snow from the previous storms had melted, we get another 15 inches along with a hearty helping of sleet just to give it a nice sparkle. ARGH! Usually cold weather doesn't bother me but this winter has been different. I haven't felt well for months & I just can't seem to get warm. This is the 1st time EVER that I've missed living in Arizona. Trust me, those are words that I never thought I would utter. I just want to go lie on a rock in the sun & warm my poor decrepit body. Oh well, hopefully this will be our last blast of winter. The last few months have prompted me to start thinking about living somewhere where winter isn't quite so long & miserable. I don't know where that "somewhere" would be though. But, my gypsy blood is starting to wake up. I can't wait until it's warm enough to open the windows & get some fresh air into the loft. I love it when I can wake up to the calls of the seagulls who summer on the warehouse across the street from me. On a positive note, I completed a number of monotypes this past weekend during a "Big Love" marathon. I'll post pictures as soon as they're dry enough to scan. Monoprinting class is cancelled tonight because of the weather so hopefully when I get home from the office tonight, I'll have time to finish some digital images to transfer to solarplates in tomorrow night's class. During my travels through blogland today, I came across Late Bloomers: Why Do We Equate Genius with Precocity at Ancient Artist. Interesting reading... especially on those days when you feel like time is passing you by. Labels: life
Sunday, March 01, 2009What I'm Listening To "The birth of Jesus has been well chronicled, as have his glorious teachings, acts, & divine sacrifice after his 30th birthday. But no one knows about the early life of the Son of God, the missing years -- except Biff, the Messiah's best bud, who has been resurrected to tell the story in this divinely hilarious yet heartfelt work.Verily, the story Biff has to tell is a miraculous tale, filled with remarkable journeys, magic, healings, kung fu, corpse reanimations, demons, & hot babes. Even the considerable wiles & devotion of the Savior's pal may not be enough to divert Joshua from his tragic destiny. But there's no one who loves Josh more -- except maybe "Maggie," Mary of Magdala. And Biff isn't about to let his extraordinary pal suffer & ascend without a fight." Labels: audiobooks
 "The 84 illustrations in this book (including 49 full-color plates) capture Pozzatti's bountiful creativity in etchings, engravings, lithographs, & collages produced over the course of his career. Pozzatti's personal insights & anecdotes about many of the prints enliven the extensive catalog entries which, along with an inclusive bibliography & a compendium of the artist's exhibitions & chronology, make this book an indispensable resource on the artist & his work."Labels: art books
 "Printmaking in the Sun introduces a revolutionary new printmaking technique known as the solarplate method, first developed in 1972 by 1 of the book's authors, Dan Welden. He began experimenting with light-sensitive polymer plates in place of traditional metal plates, freeing the artist from exposure to poisonous fumes. To make a solarplate print, the printmaker creates a piece of artwork on a transparent film, overlays it on a solarplate, & exposes the film & plate together in the sun. The drawing is transferred to the plate, which is then developed in ordinary tap water. Printmaking in the Sun covers the various techniques of solarplate printing including the proper use of equipment & materials, preparation of relief & intaglio images, production of relief & intaglio plates, exposing the plate to the sun, using digital images & photogravure, & working with color printing. The book is generously illustrated with color images by accomplished artists, as well as clear step-by-step illustrations showing how to prepare & process your images & plates. The book also contains a comprehensive glossary, selected further reading, & a list of suppliers."Labels: art books
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