Recent Works by Sybil Archibald

Fire Down Below, an Illumination

2009-03-27T14:25:00.005-04:00

Thank the flame for its light,
but do not forget the lampholder
standing in the shade
with constancy of patience.
-Tagore (Little Birds 64)

If in your heart you make
a manger for his birth,
then God will once again
become a child on earth.
-Angelus Silesius

Fire Down Below (c) Sybil Archibald
(Click image for larger view)

See listing here.

This piece is about joining Spirit and Earth. That is why it was important for me to use all handmade materials from natural, earth sources. I used medieval recipes which are deeply steeped in spiritual symbolism.

It is painted on sheep skin parchment which, for the medieval artist, represented the body and the painting the soul.

I made these paints myself from azurite stones, different colored earths, plants including indigo, and metals. The grinding of the deep blue azurite stones into pigment is a meditative process which helps me to clear my mind and enter fully into the creative process.

The 22k gold leaf is applied to a raised bed of gesso. This gesso is likened to the clay from which the Divine formed Adam the first man. To activate the glue in the gesso, the artist must breathe on it. When the artist breathes, it symbolizes the Divine blowing the breath of life into Adam. Gilding is not easy. It requires the proper deep diaphragmatic breath or it will not work. To create this breath, the artist must achieve a calm focused meditative state. For more on the meaning of this process see here.

The style of the painting is influenced by medieval Armenian manuscript illumination.

Thanks for looking!

Light and Dark Drawing

2009-03-27T14:16:00.002-04:00

Of all that God has shown me
I can speak just the smallest word,
Not more than a honey bee
Takes on his foot
From an overspilling jar.
-Mechtild of Magdeburg

Listing here. Don't forget to visit me at Art of the Spirit, my blog on art & spirituality.

Thanks for looking!

Sybil

The Vesel 1

2009-03-26T22:14:00.006-04:00

Where is the fountain
that throws up these flowers
in a ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy?
-Tagore (Little Birds 70)

"The Vessel 1" is from my "Artist as Vessel" series which explores the idea creativity is a ceaseless spring welling up within the artist and flowing into the world. Listing here.

For more on this idea, see my blog Art of the Spirit.

Image Copyright 2009 Sybil Archibald

MOTHER an illumination on parchment

2009-03-25T22:04:00.004-04:00

Love came and emptied me of self,
every vein and every pore,
made into a container to be filled by the Beloved.
Of me, only a name is left,
the rest is You my Friend, my Beloved.
-Abil-Kheir

My newest Etsy listing is called Mother. It's an illumination from about 8 years ago which I have never wanted to part with until just recently although I have had several offers to purchase it. The time just feels right now to send it into the world.

Mother (c) Sybil Archibald

This piece is about the nature and source of the creative process.

All the materials used are handmade from medieval recipes which are deeply linked to spiritual symbolism.

It is painted on sheep skin parchment which, for the medieval artist, represented the body and the painting the soul.

I made these paints myself from azurite stones, different colored earths and metals. The grinding of the deep blue azurite stones into pigment is a meditative process which helps me to clear my mind and enter fully into the creative process.

The 22k gold leaf is applied to a raised bed of gesso. This gesso is likened to the clay from which the Divine formed Adam the first man. To activate the glue in the gesso, the artist must breathe on it. When the artist breathes, it symbolizes the Divine blowing the breath of life into Adam. Gilding is not easy. It requires the proper deep diaphragmatic breath or it will not work. To create this breath, the artist must achieve a calm focused meditative state. For more on the meaning of this process see here.

The style of the painting is influenced by medieval Armenian manuscript illumination. When I paint, it is my goal to step aside and allow mentally unfiltered creativity to flow through me. I do not plan my work, I just sit back and enjoy the process!

Don't forget to stop by and see me at Art of the Spirit, my blog on my journey using art as a spiritual path.

Some Initials

2009-03-25T15:55:00.006-04:00

I have a couple initials I did from a number of years ago when I was exploring traditional illumination techniques. See my book Lapis & Gold for more info.

So this is old work, but I've listed them in my Etsy store so I'll post them here to. I'll have a mix of older and new works for a few weeks while I'm cleaning up my archives.

Celtic Letter "B" is inspired by the cats in the Book of Kells. I love the way these cats twist and wrap around themselves. I think we've all seen cats do some amazing contortions with their bodies!

The green is hand-ground malachite and the blue is made from indigo plant. I use the grinding of the malachite stone as a deep meditative process to prepare me for painting. That's also 22k gold leaf on paper. See the Etsy listing here.

Celtic Letter "A" is also inspired by the Book of Kells. The rooster is painted with hand-ground malachite, hand-ground azurite & 22k gold paint. The early Celts had a deep respect and appreciation for the natural world which can be easily seen in their depictions of animals.
See the Etsy listing here.

Don't forget to visit me at Art of the Spirit, my blog on art & spirituality.

Woman Creates - ACEO from the Artist as Vessel Series

2009-03-24T20:48:00.006-04:00

Just listed on Etsy:

This piece is from my "Artist as Vessel Series" exploring the source and process of creativity. This series finds the artist as a container through which the boundless river of Divine Creativity flows. My poetic inspiration:

Within this earthen vessel are bowers and groves, and within it is the Creator:
Within this vessel are the seven oceans and the unnumbered stars.
The touchstone and the jewel-appraiser are within;
And within this vessel the Eternal soundeth, and the spring wells up.
Kabir says: "Listen to me, my Friend! My beloved Lord is within."

-Kabir

For those of you who don't know what an ACEO is:

ACEO is an acronym which stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. ACEOs are 3.5 inches (89 mm) x 2.5 inches (64 mm) and are a great, affordable way to collect original artwork. I started doing them recently for fun and as a way to make my work more affordable for people.

Don't forget to checkout my blog Art of the Spirit on art & spirituality.

The Stigmata of St. Francis

2009-03-23T19:44:00.002-04:00

This is an old piece, an altar I made of St. Francis of Assisi's feet. There is aloe planted in the stigmata. I'm just posting this as a test for layout purposes. New work will follow soon.

Don't forget to checkout my blog Art of the Spirit on art & spirituality.