Susan M Gibbons

2-26-19 Saying Goodbye In the solitude I sit waiting for the stillness to subside Pensive and hurried  thoughts fill my head Your presence no longer here but in another place Sorrow for what wasn't and for what was Making it hard to release and say goodbye

It's snowing in Denver and the solitude is lovely.  While I've been busy painting on my LAMENTATION Series, I'm taking a morning break of stillness. I'm looking at the tiny orchids on my kitchen table and contemplating their beauty.  But, with that, it is appropriate that I'll be working more on the series today as it is the second anniversary of my mother's passing.  I'm not sad for she is in a better place.  I can rejoice with that but I am contemplative; thinking of the brevity of life and all that this short time on earth offers.   With my musings this morning, I'm contemplating the Memento Mori - keeping death before us, the vanity of life, and the brevity of our lives.  We are told to number our days for we really don't know how long we have on this earth. For me, that means I must take in and give as much as I can to this life.  As an artist, I do create things; things that might not have value to anyone else but me and yes, they will, ...

11-22-18 I'm sitting in my kitchen, reflecting over this past year and a half.  All is quiet.  Soon the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving activities will be underway.  But until that starts, I'm able to just be, just sit here and take a deep breath, grateful for all that has happened - both the good and the bad.  This past year and a half has been one of many distresses and blessings. Family deaths, almost losing my husband earlier this year, my own health problems, moving, starting a business, new grandbaby, wedding, and of course, art - all part of life with but each brings it own unique element into the fabric of existence - I couldn't be more grateful.  What all this has taught me is that so much of my time is spent doing, spending it on activities - all important - but what I need is to be able to just spend time being, resting, rejuvenating myself before all the activities begin.  It has taught me to be dormant - like winter - waiting for th...

It was such a lovely sunrise this morning.  Not one of those sunrises that makes you say, "Wow", but just a beautiful, subtle transition from dark to dusk to morning.  Watching the colors brighten and fade, making coffee, I thought of just how fortunate it is to be able to take the time to watch such beauty.  I just wanted to exist within it.  It was beautiful.  The day was dawning.  The day's pressures and plans would be upon me soon enough.  But for now, in the quiet and stillness of the morning, I was sitting with my coffee, reflecting on the beauty of the day's dawn. It made me think of good days in the studio, when I can come to that place of stillness when working.  As of late, my process has been an emotional one, relying on painful emotions to create my work.  Stillness does exist within creating such work for pain is a part of every person's life at some point.  It is a part of this world.  So how does stillness come from...

10-22-18 I’m taking a chance.   While I’ve written poetry that reflects my bipolar ups and downs, I haven’t shared much pertaining to the journey I’m on with it.   It’s a bit intimidating to be sharing such intimate details about oneself, especially when such vulnerability can be rejected or misunderstood.   It is within that vulnerability though, I feel I can be most honest about who I am and what I do with my work.      My art work is taking on a new direction.   I’m allowing myself to be the subject matter of the work.   I always felt that I had to hide or try to stay ‘positive’ within my work so not to bring me or someone down in the process of viewing the pieces.   As a woman of faith, I wanted to my work to bring glory and beauty to God and not discredit Him in any way.   What I discovered was, I was being somewhat dishonest with myself as to who I was and how I was created.   I am in the process of realizing that I am...

Written 10-13-18 Darkened Dreams Waves move In and over Deep chasms Unsettling ancient Rhythms within  Troubled waters Glimpses of Faint echoes Haunts wearied Memories  Stirring bitter  Despair Cacaphonies of Mirrored screams Wrestle with Deepened depths of soulful Yearnings Yielding to Subtle piercings of quiet Breaths Shattering Darkened dreams

10-19-18 Inner Jazz (per request from W. A. G.) You want some of my Inner Jazz… The inner beatings of                 Sync –  o – pat – ed                                 Be bop                                                 Scoo be …  de doo                                           ...