tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97805242024-02-19T20:59:37.010-05:00Cody Goodin - The artistic and spiritual journey of Cody GoodinA glimpse into Cody's creative world.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.comBlogger400125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-50814515002074511832018-08-12T17:16:00.001-04:002018-08-12T17:16:50.744-04:00Projects a plenty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello out there on this rather balmy Sunday afternoon. I hope you all are having a nice weekend. I thought I'd post the three projects I have been working on for the past three months. I have been making some books for an upcoming show at Kennedy Heights Art Center here in Cincinnati. The show is called "Contents Unknown" and the premise is books in containers. Now the idea was to conceal a book in a container. But, many of us in the show have taken liberties on this. Some of mine aren't obvious when you look at the box. But, since we have to display the contents as well it will be obvious what the box held.<br />
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This first set of images is for a book called "Memories in Blue". This book is a sort of picture/diary of the pivotal moments in my life that made me who I am. Some good and some not so good. I wanted to give an honest yet abbreviated snapshot of my life and those moments that shaped me.<br />
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I created the images as cyanotypes on cotton fabric. So, I wanted to show you the process. The first step beyond the image is creating a digital negative of each image in the appropriate size. This method is a direct contact print method which means that there is no enlarger to project the image onto the surface of your print medium. So, you need to make the negatives the finished size that you want your images to be. They are then exposed in the sunlight for the recommended amount of time. I used Jacquard products cyanotype treated cotton fabric sheets. This stuff is amazing. I have discovered a whole new way of exploring photography.<br />
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Once the sheets are exposed, they are then rinsed in cold water to bring out the image. This washes away all the excess chemicals. They are rung out and hung up to dry. The blue oxidizes and gets much darker when it dries. It becomes a beautiful Prussian blue.<br />
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The images were then heat bonded to the paper that I dyed to match with my very own Prussian blue ink I made myself. I used a white gel pen to create the text.<br />
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The cover was made from a pair of old jeans and dyed with the same ink as used on the paper. I bound it like a travel journal with a matching jute cord.<br />
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The cover has words made from pounding copper wire and wooden letters painted blue. All in all a beautiful result.<br />
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The book will be placed in a box painted to coordinate with the book. I kept the box plain as to not be too obvious as to what's inside.<br />
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The <span style="background-color: yellow;">next </span>book I created is the second in my personal dialogue series. The blue book was the first. I am intending to create a series of these books that are about my life up to this point. The second book is called "Family Heirlooms" and explores the idea of things passed down. For me it was a no brainier. I decided to create a cookbook of collected recipes that were given to me by a few influential women in my life in addition to some of my own. Cooking is such a major part of my life and a beautiful creative outlet outside the studio. I left some of the pages blank deliberately so that it could be added to in the future. I used a heavy duty handmade Thai rice paper for the actual pages. I used a variety of handmade inks to dye these pages in coordinating colors of the various food groups. Most of the inks are made with plant dyes so they tend to lighten up with age.<br />
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In the photo below you can see the signatures stacked. I used a piece of colorful cotton in the coordinating color for each section/ I used a Golden Paints product called GAC800 that is for stiffening fabric. This allowed for the folding of the fabric like paper.<br />
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The above image is of the signatures with the cover which is made from laminated silks.<br />
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This is the book bound and I used chop sticks painted orange initially for the edge treatment. I later cut the ends off of the stick and toned them to a reddish brown color.<br />
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Another view of the book before it's final incarnation.<br />
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Here she is in all her glory. The wooden box is one that my grandmother gave to me. So, it was the second thing that was passed down from one generation to the next. I added the cutlery.<br />
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This last project book three for the show is called "Songs of Oceania" and is a book about whale songs. I decided early on that I wanted to try my hand at creating an exploding box style book. Each of the panels represents one of the major oceans. I have created a center piece that is tiered like a wedding cake that depicts a variety of see life. There are four little accordion style books one at the end of each panel. Each one represents an image of an actual sound wave of a whale song. This same wave is painted on the panel with UV activated paint. Use a black light to see it. I also used a variety of glow in the dark paints to add texture and color to the books themselves. Each book has a different whale species. I will include a little bucket of sea animals that people can place on the book panels.<br />
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Here you get an idea of what it looks like opened up. It was a fun little project and my humble homage to the sea and some of the largest creatures on our planet.<br />
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I enjoyed making all three of these books and it is always a unique learning experience while doing so. It is also nice to learn new things about myself along the way. As I have said many times before, my art practice is enter twined with my spiritual practice. Much of the time spent actually making becomes very meditative. It gives me a chance to explore my inner world. Especially while making the "Memories in Blue" book. I wept after completing it and reading the text I wrote. It brought a bit of closure to some of the things I mentioned in the book. I love how art can do that.<br />
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Thank you for taking the time to see into my creative process. I hope only the best for all of you. Peace.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-32120031018633832192018-07-29T13:31:00.001-04:002018-07-29T13:31:53.654-04:00It's been a long long time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello my friends out there in cyberland. Yes, I am back to post finally. It's been such a long long time. I will only say that I needed to step back and really focus on life and what that means to me. My spiritual practice is so deeply connected to my creative process and art that I needed some time and space to figure a few things out. One of these things was what did I want this blog to be about. Obviously it will chronicle my art making journey. But, I want to offer more to you out there a glimpse into my deeper side. So, I have decided to share with and through my art my philosophical and spiritual discoveries. First let me state quite plainly here. These are my truths, not yours. You are certainly welcome to take what resonates with you and apply it in your own daily life. But, I am not trying to preach or push any particular belief system. This journey is mine and I am just wanting to share my observations and discoveries as I journey home. Some of my discoveries may be controversial to a few of you. But, sometimes it's good to get a taste of another viewpoint. So, with that being said, please observe kindness and consideration. We all need that these days.<br />
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I have been creating lots of digital image collage/paintings in the last few years. I use these as vehicles to express how I am feeling about life and my personal spiritual journey at any given moment. There are so many energies swirling around the planet and we humans right now. Most are not aware of the spiritual revolution that is taking place on this planet. Humanity is beginning to wake up to see how much we have been lied to and manipulated to believe. But, that is a discussion for another post.<br />
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The above image symbolizes my life in a very simple way. I am on a long journey back to my heart and soul. Roads and paths have always fascinated me. I love walking in the woods over a foot path or going down a dirt covered country road. Very representative of my life's travels.<br />
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This next image illustrates that sometimes we are faced with the obvious fact that there is no reality or we can't continue unless we see beyond the veil. These images are going to be a part of a book project reflecting on my spiritual journey back to my heart and soul. It is this place within us that is ultimately our true home. When we know who we are in all of our totality we are then complete. This allows us to be truly happy and free. A concept taught by many ancient mystic ideologies. I can say that I am very close to this, almost home. Again, I hope to expound on this further in another post. Before I close this post, I wanted to give you a teaser of a pet project I am planning. It involves random acts of art kindness. Not a new idea, but, I wanted a way to give back to the world at large. Let random people find some little package of light and love filled art to brighten their day or bring a bit of light into a dark corner of their life. It involves bookmaking and found treasures with a bit of spiritual magic thrown in. So, stay tuned for the announcement. Have a beautiful light and love filled day. Peace.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-15275911485761135402017-01-28T16:21:00.001-05:002017-01-28T16:21:32.150-05:00New Year and finally posting againWell, It's been a crazy few months here in Codyland. After the presidential election here I was very depressed and didn't really feel up to being chatty on the blogs. I have even cut back on my other social media sites, except for Instagram. But, now that I am back to creating in earnest, I wanted to share some of what I am up to. I am still creating digital collages using my own photos. But, I am also really digging the hand made book path. I have been in several shows this past year and am looking to be in several more this year if all goes well.<br />
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Most of the books I have been making tend to be more sculptural in nature. Currently I am just finishing up a three book series on trees and nature. One of the last pieces is a project born out of trying to create a flag style book. My idea came from the prayer flags at Buddhist temples. But, as time went on it morphed.<br />
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I began by taking some silk leaves and did an acrylic wash on them to tone them down a bit. This also served to make them a bit stronger and more durable.<br />
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In the above two photos it shows the frame upon which I will build the book structure. I wanted it to be round. The wood is made of grapevine and basswood. Later on I put cross braces made out of willow.<br />
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Here I am sewing the leaf pages onto a ribbon binding strip. This will then be attached to the wooden frame. The leaf pages by the way, were stamped with symbols and also words of power were written on some of them. The concept was to alternate symbols and words. The book is to be a kind of nature's Grimoire.<br />
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This is the actual book form finished after the bindings were attached using waxed linen thread. I have a stand that the book will be placed on to hold it up. It turned out just as I had envisioned it would. That usually never happens.<br />
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This is the first in the leaf book series. I created pages made out of decorative papers. The pages have quotes about nature from a variety of famous people in history.<br />
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The book is a tag style binding with a central post that is mounted on a piece of bark. An acorn cap is used to top the post binding.<br />
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The next three images show the second book in the leaf series. I created the covers from a three layer laminated paper and card stock. The pages are made from silk. I painted a wash of acrylic on the leaves to give them some strength and durability.<br />
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The binding is a technique using bamboo skewers and ribbon. It gives the book a nice natural look and feel.<br />
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I love how this book feels. The title is "Dear Universe" and is a series of letters to the universe, time, love, spirit and death. It was inspired in part from the movie collateral beauty. The main character in that movie writes letters to love, time and death as a means to cope with a tragedy. I thought it was a great way to express some of my feelings at the time.<br />
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There you have it. Some of what I have been working in the past four months or so. I hope that your year is going good so far. I am just keeping myself focused on creating to take my mind off of the political state of the world. Peace and love to you all and thank you for being so kind and supportive over the years. I have a really big book series planned that should keep me very busy. I hope to be posting about them here from time to time. Peace out y'all/Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-51931538120333182972016-09-01T11:21:00.000-04:002016-09-01T11:21:04.908-04:00September the month of Nines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is September 1st and I felt compelled to post on my often ignored blog. Life seems to be running by faster and faster as the days pass. So much going on, work, art making, socializing, taking classes and so on. But, I have been finding myself taking more time out for spiritual reflection and renewal these days. It seems in some cases the world is going mad. But, is that a reflection of the crazy monkey mind I have these days? Perhaps so, as science is beginning to prove that we do indeed create our own reality. The above image was created as a reaction to that important observation and the articles I have been reading about quantum physics and the nature of our universe and reality. This fascinates me greatly as it supports my spiritual views of existence.<br />
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Another favorite topic is spiritual energies, numerology and astrology which makes my non believing friends think I have lost it all. But, I find these topics help me understand my place in the universe and that is just fine with me. September is the month of nines. This tells me many things and helps me to pay attention to this energy. Following ones soul path, earth mission or whatever you want to call it. I like the thought of following my hearts desire for my life. Nine also calls into focus karma and all that we need to clear in that regard. A great spiritual teacher of mine once said that this time we are living in currently is the end of karma. It is our opportunity to transcend the karmic dance of life so we can move on in our souls journey. I believe that to the core of my being. So, much I have experienced in this life and know it was cashing in the karmic debt. perhaps there is a bit more to go. Karma fortunately can be both positive and negative. I think I have given back all the negative so now I am ready for the positive to finish out that account. Signs are everywhere from the universe. The last day of August, I bought some food items and my total came to $9.99. I found that to be very auspicious for the month ahead. Then I got little bits of magical happenings all throughout the day.<br />
So, the above image speaks to that magical energy of nine. See if it appears in your life this month. Pay attention to the signs and signals the universe is sending you.<br />
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Lastly, I have been wondering how to really hone in on my creative life and create the life I truly wish to live. For many months I have felt so tired and exhausted not knowing why. My health is okay so, what is the issue. As I looked at my life I realized I have fallen into a big rut and have been very complacent about my life and where I am going. I am not trying to worry about the future as much as wanting to bring my life more into alignment with my souls yearnings of the kind of life I wish to live. Now is the time to take steps no matter how small to accomplish just that. It can be really hard to push myself into action. Yet, I know this is a must for me to be truly happy. Happiness is one of the best states of being we can be at in this life. It requires purposefully putting ourselves in a happy state of mind even when we don't feel it. Find your happy place no matter how small, is the guidance my soul gives me everyday. Yes, I get distracted and need to be gently reminded often. But, that is okay. I love myself enough to be kind and patient when I feel grumpy or out of sorts. One thing I do know is being in the flow of creative energy is bliss for me. That is the place I belong and so have to find ways to keep me there for as long as possible. I hope you all can find your place of bliss. Have a great month ahead and keep a look out for those magical nines/Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-37504612070644659812016-08-05T10:09:00.000-04:002016-08-05T10:09:59.586-04:00Beginnings of an art projectHello my lovely friends. I hope that you are doing well traveling down the road of life. My path seems to beckon me to explore a variety of side streets. That is what I like to call the beginnings of art projects. I get an idea and play with it a bit to see if it is big enough to expand into a project. Taking a class such as the Creative Photo Assignment class are beautiful diversions that spark all kinds of possible project ideas. So, I thought I'd share two of them with you all today. I am really trying to make a point of posting on my blog more often. One of the projects I am considering exploring involves a daily practice. What I love about this type of project is that it helps to focus my creative energy and motivates even when I don't feel like it, to keep working. I need that now more than ever as I am seduced into just being lazy.<br />
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The second project is more of a series I would like to explore. So, I will talk about that one first. In this weeks assignment for my photo class we were asked to look at the images created by the artist Duane Michaels. Then we were asked to create our own series based on what Duane had done. Not copying him but use his process as inspiration. Well, it is hard to do that when you don't personally connect with that artist. I found his ideas and images interesting but, I didn't really like many of them. What I took away from this exercise was the idea of pursuing and idea through a series.<br />
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My little idea weaver decided on masks as my creative theme for this series. Masks have always fascinated me. The idea of hiding or covering up our true selves of course is something I have been contemplating a lot of late. So, it seemed a fitting point of departure. In this first image I started the exploration off by simply photographing a mask and creating a dramatic and very theatrical feel to it. I love this image for it's painterly qualities.<br />
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In this second image I began to ask what if's. What or whom would come after humans. Would we create artificial life forms that would eventually replace us? Would we make them to look like us? A very heady internal discussion for sure.<br />
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Next I began exploring the masks that we wear ourselves. Both our physical ones that we are born with and those we create for the world to see. Even clothing becomes our costume to compliment the mask we wear.<br />
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The idea progressed into exploring the role of masks and how they define who we are to others. How we often don't let people see the real us.</div>
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Thirdly I was interested in the darker aspects of creating masks. How can we hide our darker selves our ids/ It makes you wonder for example in this last image, what is the watcher doing? Is he observing or is there a darker thought process happening.<br />
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The next series of images are examples of the daily ritual idea I have been contemplating. A few years back I did a photo of the day kind of thing. This was just a random photo taken and posted everyday for a year. It was a great exercise in pretty much forcing me to produce some kind of image each day for a year. Admittedly there were times when I really didn't want to do it. But, I am glad I went through with the project. It helped to focus my creative energies. Presently, I am thinking of doing another daily exercise kind of project. Except this time, I want to really challenge myself to keep to an overall idea. I love the idea of daily rituals or practices. Meditation, making art or putting together a meal. So I have been trying to figure out what would be something that would hold my interest enough to make it a long term commitment. </div>
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I have in the last few weeks been photographing something in the morning. Usually on my days off as that is when I have more time to observe. I love mornings and how quiet and full of promise they are for me. All of these images here to the end of this post are morning images. The one above the first one I took, is of my morning coffee sitting on the arm of my couch and the little bit of clutter that consumes the corner. I loved how the light fell on the little vignette.</div>
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The second image is one I took while eating my breakfast one Friday morning. Again, I loved the play of the light and shadows.</div>
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This was taken as I was getting ready to put some eye drops in that I need for my eyes. These are daily medications. I thought the view of the watch through my glasses was interesting.<br />
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This is an image of a hibiscus flower that is growing in a little garden patch at the end of my neighborhood or should I say beginning of as it is right when you enter it. I wait for my morning bus there and always love looking at these beautiful flowers and the others that bloom there. I simply marvel at how amazing nature is in all it's diversity.<br />
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Lastly is an image I took this morning. I saw how the morning light created shadows on the window blind that covers the window on my front door. The light is passing through the maple tree that is growing in my front yard. A rather simple image but, I love it.<br />
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There you have it. Some of the creative ideas I am contemplating to make my life a little more interesting. I am leaning towards the daily ritual thing but, I think I will give it a few more days of thought. I want to create a separate blog to chronicle the progress and also to write about what I am thinking during the process.<br />
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Have a great weekend one and all. Thank you for stopping by to visit. It is always a pleasure to hear from you. Peace.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-47956405144663733472016-07-31T12:03:00.000-04:002016-07-31T12:03:25.753-04:00The Ever Spiraling Path of Creativity and the ArtistHello again my friends. I am trying to be mindful about posting to my blog as I find it a great vehicle to share and communicate what is important or relevant to my creative life and life in general.<br />
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I have been really delving deep into my inner world of spirit and exploring more of who I am. It has become important to me of late to seek to be more authentic. You know, share the real me. Much of who I am settles gently into much of my art. But, most are not aware of the physical Cody. Many of you may not have encountered me in person yet. So, it is with this idea in mind I have been unveiling more of who I am.<br />
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One thing that many did not know is that I am legally blind due to Albinism. This is because I have changed my appearance so as not to stand out too much in the world. It was my personal mask I created to make me feel safe. I adopted this once I left school and knew I would be out in the cold cruel world. I had enough of being bullied and tormented for how I looked, the way I couldn't physically see and then the last straw, ,my sexual orientation. It was like a triple whammy and I decided that I would be going under cover so to speak. Many years have come and gone since I made that decision. Little did I know how much that would affect my life in both positive and negative ways. Initially it was okay. But, I found myself desperately trying to keep up appearances no matter the cost. Relationships certainly suffered but, I just couldn't face the world as my true self.<br />
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Why now you may ask? I am trying to really figure out who I am and how I truly see the world. My physical visual limitations have made me focus differently on how I see. I did learn how to see intuitively instead of what was really there. This in turn helped me to see the soul or spirit of things. Energy and light became very important to me and I strove to explore these things in my artwork. But, now I want to tell my story in a more authentic way. To hopefully inspire someone else and give them hope that all is not lost. We as humans can sometimes be very resourceful in terms of dealing with difficult situations. I am grateful that I now have the courage and insight to open up to the world. Kind of ironic considering the hateful climate that is percolating in this country. But, I choose to focus on the light of hope, love and wisdom to guide me to the answers I seek about myself and the world around me. I truly love my life in all it's ups and downs light and dark times. It made me who I am today and I am so grateful for the people that I call family and friends, and the many opportunities that flow into my life to keep me learning and ever thirsty for knowledge and truth.<br />
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If you are curious about how I see the world, I would highly recommend you watch this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrqdFKs2Hzw">video</a>.<br />
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On to some of my creative endeavors. I am really loving the photography class I am currently taking. I challenges me to think differently about telling stories. This weeks lesson deals with using the images of photographer Duane Michaels as inspiration. He often wrote about his images and the ideas behind them. He did a lot of contemplation about life and the universe. I am interested in the idea of masks. The masks we wear in a figurative sense and the ones we create for ourselves.<br />
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These are two of the initial images I was playing around with for my assignment. I love the idea of challenging our notion of self and who we are or think we are. This one I titled "Who Will replace Us?' as a question about the lifespan of the human race and what will come after. Will it be machines?<br />
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This image was the first to trigger the whole idea of masks. I love this mask made back in college for a theater production. It has sentimental value in addition to symbolic meaning.<br />
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Thank you for letting me share more about myself. I hope that you will find a way in your own time to be authentic. Let your light shine and inspire others in some way. I love you all for being a part of my life. It makes for a rich tapestry indeed.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-47996844866487846402016-07-03T14:10:00.000-04:002016-07-03T14:10:46.306-04:00A very long abscenceIt seems like forever since I posted here. I almost forgot about this and didn't renew my domain name. I have been really pulling back in the last few years and especially in the last six months from blogging. I have been busy with book making, work at the art store and of course my photography. Trying to find my voice and really thinking about how I want to live in the art world. There are so many artists trying to stake a claim in the big art world. I have struggled with the idea of what this means to me. Yes, I do have the big dream as do many other artists to be working at my art full time. But, as I get older and less able to physically do many of the things I once did, I begin to question the whole art world thing and if it really is that important to seek fame and recognition. I think being validated by ones peers is something aspiring professional artists desire. Yes, I too like validation that what I do matters or can communicate what exists in my universe to those outside of it.<br />
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It seems that I go through this philosophical struggle whenever I totally reinvent who I am as an artist. The never ending spiral of self discovery is what moves me forward in life. I love learning, relish my solitude, seek not to be like others, find the spiritual in everyday things, that's how I roll.<br />
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So I would like to share a few images that I have taken in the last few months. It is a random assortment of images that reflect a variety of subjects that interest me.<br />
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This first two images were experiments inspired by the work of my friend David Walker. He used mirror images to create beautiful images of trees. I wanted to see what I could do with this technique. I used images of flowers for mine.<br />
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I also added some ethereal elements to my images to give it more of a spiritual meaning to me. As with most of what I do, I make the images for myself and then I share what I discover. But, they are for me initially.<br />
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I love taking photographs of flowers growing in the garden Or in the case of this particular flower in the neighborhood. They make me smile and cheer me up.<br />
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This is a very recent image of a room that I found while walking home and took a short cut through an alley that passes by a local high school. It seems there is a part of the building which hasn't been used in years. Kind of creepy but, cool too.<br />
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Another coneflower this time a close up.<br />
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Even more coneflower love, caught in the early morning sun just a few weeks ago.<br />
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This is the second of the two abandoned rooms that I was able to capture on my walk home.<br />
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Finally, an image of the evening sun as it shines on a local campus lawn. I love how the trees have created so many intersecting shadows. I did do a little bit of saturation enhancement to warm up the shot. I love how mysterious and warm it feels at the same time.<br />
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Well, there you have it. Another long overdue update. I will make no promises of how frequent I am posting. But, at least I still can share when the urge arises. Have a great time, enjoy each day. Mine always brings me some surprises. Try and be kind to one another. The world is full of unkindness, I choose to not be like all the others.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-83175519482359956732016-01-01T14:16:00.000-05:002016-01-01T14:16:09.293-05:00New Year, new beginningsWow! I can't believe it's been six months since I have posted on my site. Time really does get away with me. I have been busy taking lots of photographs. Partly due to a class I took in the fall and of course I love the art form. But, I have also been making lots of handmade journals. Started out making one for a pass around project with two of my coworkers. We wanted to do a journal trade around as a fun six month project. This got me back to doing book binding and I learned how to do the Coptic stitch.<br />
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This journal is made with Fabriano drawing paper, a hand marbled paper cover and Coptic stitching. I put little gears on the cover also. It is my steampunk themed journal.</div>
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These are some fun little journals also with the Coptic style binding.</div>
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Finally these are some fabric covered journals I made in a larger size. Also with the Coptic style binding. I decided to start selling some of them and also I made some for gifts to artist friends this year.<br />
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As for the photography, I took a class that focused on black and white assignments. The idea for me was to explore that art of black and white photography. My final portfolio class was dedicated to toys as the subject. I have included three of my favorite ones here.</div>
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This is one of a six inch Batman figure. I went to a local park that overlooks the west side of the city. I thought this image was particularly successful in fooling the eye and making it appear that the real Batman is standing looking out over the city.<br />
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In this series I found two little model cars that I wanted to use and see if I could give the impression of a real automobile. This first is of a Chevy Nomad wagon from the fifties. I imagine the people driving this car and they have stopped along the way to sight see.</div>
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I am not sure what model this car is, but it reminded me of a car used during the prohibition era and the so called rum runners. I really enjoyed this assignment a lot and learned so much about black and white in the class itself. Hats off to my teacher Lisa Britton for her guidance and encouragement.<br />
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My up coming year will certainly be one of new things and inspirations. Each year I plan a few goals for myself and dream big. That is just a part of my spiritual practice. I release some old stuff that isn't relevant or serving me any longer so as to make room for new things. It's a great practice. I am learning to savor each moment I have to make art, be with friends and family and simply enjoying, yes choosing to enjoy life. One thing I am really making an effort to do this time is pay attention to that negative voice in my head that keeps putting bad thoughts out there. I immediately call him out on it and just say. Instead of thinking up bad things to happen, why not think of good this. I am going to be relentless. It may make me sound crazy as I tend to say stop it out loud sometimes. That's okay we artists are just eccentric artists right?<br />
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Happy new year one and all. Hopefully, I can be a little better about chronicling my creative life/Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-75543991676319391332015-06-18T13:47:00.001-04:002015-06-18T13:47:34.042-04:00A Brief Interlude - StorytimeI interrupt my regularly scheduled blog post to bring you a bit of a flight of fancy. Story time as I need to get some of these little stories out of my head. So, here is the first of more to come I hope.<br />
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There are people who say there is no such thing as magic. Going about their busy lives blissfully thinking that what they see is what they get in life. What a pity, for they may not realize how wondrous and grand the world truly is in all it's various realities. Some say life is an illusion. Others that it is just a routine of matter.<br />
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But what if there were those among the human race for whom the natural laws didn't seem to apply. By some queer twist of evolution in some distant past event that created the slightest mutation in their DNA. Poppy cock you say? Well let us entertain that notion for just a bit. In recent years science has been busy with this notion of proving how things came into existence with the field of quantum physics and string theory. An interesting result is that many notions of the supernatural have been shown to have a real possibility of being true.<br />
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It is thought that there could be some way in which our brains can some how manipulate these tiny sub atomic particles. That we may somehow have influence over matter. But, how is this possible or is it? Perhaps a slight variation in ones DNA would allow one to easily manipulate matter without much thought or effort. That would be most curious would it not?<br />
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On a beautiful sunlit day Cory looked back at his little home in the hollow. It was nestled among the Twist Alders and was kept safe and secure by all the appropriate laws of his land. A curious bit of sadness came over him as he looked at all the decorations for the upcoming Alchemy days. However, he was determined to go out in search of the world at large. A place where no one knew him and a great deal of excitement was to be had. But the great walk about wasn't supposed to be exciting. It was supposed to prepare you for your purpose in life. Each young adolescent male and female in the sixteenth year of their life had to go out into the vast unknown. Lead only by their inner wisdom to guide them to the answer of their life's purpose, they set out alone. How will they serve their communities in life? This was one of the answers they were to discover. What would be their greatest power> That wasn't truly the reason. But, many could not wait to find out.<br />
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Cory knew he wanted to go to the school of alchemy. But, did he have the necessary abilities required? Only time and experiences would truly tell. Little did he know that the world out there away from his own kind would be vastly different and dangerous.<br />
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Two days have come and gone since Cory left his home in the hollow. Every child is told the stories of the path and the great walk about that they would embark upon. The paths were well documented in the stories. But, no one was ever shown where to go or what to do. That was the scary part about this adventure. Yet, if you listened to the inner voice it would guide each one to a special place.<br />
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In front of Cory was a strange looking set of doors. One marked with the glowing image of the sun and the other with the glowing moon. The doorway seemed to glow with it's own energy and little spheres of light seemed to float around with their own intelligence. Cory stood there for the longest time examining both doors and their surroundings. "What am I supposed to do? Which one do I pick?" he thought to himself. Almost immediately he heard a small voice say, "It depends on the path you wish to travel." This seemed to confuse Cory even more at first. Paths, choices but, then he understood the meaning of the two doors. They were powerful symbols in the alchemy world and in his own world of magic. Each one represented a different type of power and destiny.<br />
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As Cory stood for a few moments longer which seemed like an eternity, he decided to choose. He slowly reached for the door ...<br />
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Ok, my friends, that is the end of part one. You are welcome to create your own ideas of what happened. Which door did Cory choose? How will it affect his life to come? Can you change your mind once you choose? All good questions.<br />
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I hope you liked my little flight of fancy. Until next time. Find that bit of magic in your own life.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-58702230050463872282015-06-11T09:52:00.000-04:002015-06-11T09:52:17.209-04:00Alternate RealitiesTrying to make a big effort to at least post once a week on ye ole blog. I feel that it is an important part of my process to share what I am working on, my thought process and my overall view of my world. I love how art can be used to express more abstract ideas and also be used to tell a story. Photography has become one of the best ways for me to do this. Partly because it is so immediate and I can go back and manipulate the image in so many ways in a shorter amount of time than traditional drawing and painting. Don't get me wrong, I love the traditional methods just fine. But, I have found that the photographic process really lends itself to my thought process much better. When your ideas come fast and furious, the best thing is to try and get them out as quickly as I can. Then I have to be mindful too of the quality of the finished image.<br />
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The finished image comes in stages and that is just fine by me. I can work on a number of images at one time and continually refine them until I am happy with the end result. On that note let me share some of the recent images I have been creating and perhaps the story behind them or at least give you enough to create your own stories.<br />
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This first image I called "Distortions". Mainly because I was thinking about what it would feel like to live on another planet or moon of a planet elsewhere in the cosmos. Would the atmosphere distort the way the inhabitants saw their world? You know, the density of the air, the gravity and such things can affect our perceptions. Thus, this image came about because of those ponderings.<br />
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Nest we have one of my circular images that I have been playing around with. There are so many ways you can manipulate the image. I immediately thought of Alice falling into the rabbit hole and then this image also made me think of Wonderland in the Peter Pan stories. So, I call this one "Falling Towards Neverland". It is warm but also kind of dark and mysterious. That is what a lot of my dreams seem to feel like these days.<br />
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The third image is another science fiction themed idea. I love the idea of cosmic creations and perhaps a little bit of extraterrestrial activities. "The Birth of a Sky Flower" is born. It is a cosmic event that tends to create a great deal of energy and distortions in our reality. Maybe it is also the transcendence of our planet into a higher plane of existence.<br />
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Last but, certainly not least we have one I call "In Another Place and Time", which gives me a feeling of a tranquil rural scene on some other earth like planet somewhere out there in the universe. I love creating these illustrative style photos. I have been following a few photographers who have been going this route with their photography and it makes me feel happy and like I am with kindred spirits. I hope you enjoy my little vignettes into the worlds I imagine.<br />
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Have a great rest of your week and a beautiful weekend. Thank you for stopping by.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-46912395945330855682015-06-04T15:39:00.000-04:002015-06-04T15:39:43.396-04:00Home At LastI have to say that this week has been a magical one for me in so many ways. After a good amount of rough and tumble years trying to sort things out with my life. It feels like I am finally finding myself at a good place. It feels like coming home after a very long trip and a deep breath of gratitude taken as I sit down in my space. Can you just sense the peace and calm that seems to permeate the atmosphere?<br />
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All of this is thanks to a purposeful journey to find my authentic self as a Creator being. You know, an artist type? Yes, it feels good to know who I am and who I am hoping to be. It was a long time in birthing but, it was well worth it. I have been practicing a daily gratitude process. To simply declare that I am thankful for all I have, for every moment in my life that has lead me to this present time. Here I sit or stand and I am who I am and that is awesome. Now I can share my inner vision with the world if the world wants to see it. That is the freedom I think most of us really hope for at some point in our lives. No matter where I am or what I am experiencing, I am who I am and nothing more or less. I know who that person is and no one can tell me different. So, on that note. I would love to share some more of my art with you.<br />
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This first image was taken while I was eating dinner at a local eatery. The flowers were sitting on our table. Most people look at them and don't pay much attention to them. But, I just thought they were so sweet and really gave me a feeling of connection to my environment. I love the painterly treatment.<br />
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Here is a fun photo manipulation that I have been experimenting with lately. I do a mirror image type reflection and then add a few elements in addition to some textures and post processing. I call this one the "Tree of Life". This image just felt so magical. I can just image coming up upon this tree on some long walk up a mountain trail.<br />
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The next image was taken after my last photography class of the semester. It was just beginning to rain. I thought how fun it would be to take some photos through the windows as the rain made little splashes and drops. It created a very impressionistic kind of feel. I then decided to enhance that by the post processing I chose.<br />
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This one was taken as I waited to pick up my guy after work. We were on our way to a final Friday art hop at a local studio building. There are lots of artists who open their studios one night a month to show off their latest works. I have some friends there and also a few of the customers who buy art supplies at the store were I work, also have studios there. It is an alley that connects two major streets in downtown Cincinnati. I wanted to give it an old world feeling.<br />
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Well, that's it for the art part. I hope you have enjoyed your stop here. I love comments and feedback as long as they aren't mean. So, feel free to do that if you are so inclined.Have a great week and weekend upcoming.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-69806576430737800742015-05-28T11:55:00.000-04:002015-05-28T11:59:17.422-04:00A long Break from PostingHello out there in cyberland. It has been well over two months since I have posted anything on my old blog. I am currently gearing up to launch my photography career in a big way and have been busy taking classes, printing images and clearing out the old art to make way for my new venture.<br />
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I am so excited about this new direction in my artistic life. Redsicovering photography after a several decades break is quite refreshing. I have always loved the idea and potential of photography as an artistic medium. But, due to my vision limitations never really thought about pursuing it as a fulltime art. Well, as I began to delve deeper into the medium, I realized that I have never let my vision limitations stop me before. So, why would I think this was any different.<br />
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I am finding a lot of encouragement, support and good advice along the way. So, I would like to share a few images with you. Recently I have been exploring mobile photography using the Iphone 6s and have taken a course to get me aquainted with many of the options available for both taking the image and processing it afterwards. It has opened up a whole new creative avenue for me. This process gives me the chance to bridge my earlier painting and drawing days with my current photography skills. This is beyond exciting to me. So, without further adeu.<br />
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I have begun several series during this great artistic revival. This is one that deals with my notion of a world after the poles have melted and a great deal of the earth is under water. My Apocalypse series usually involves water or ice invading everyday places. Here it has flooded a local grocery store.<br />
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Here I was playing around with the same theme but putting obsticles in the road.<br />
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This image was a fun experiment with an app that creates circular morphs of objects.<br />
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Here I am showing a few of my second series of images I call Urban Mandalas. They are all created from images of local landmarks, buildings or scenes. I love the geometry and fantasy of these. This one is called The Great Hall of Akashic Records.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxwofRRLc-e5vQsy8fuKlWyCA8jTKOcgK4koAZB20eLOt3YL24_cDwSdRXl7eHHl2Fxm-bejZKk503qs5Oxc0-xE4mtNqbtUuX448PfpGdwP4I6aX0eGOgnXOWy94EVIj5Wa9Fg/s1600/caution1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxwofRRLc-e5vQsy8fuKlWyCA8jTKOcgK4koAZB20eLOt3YL24_cDwSdRXl7eHHl2Fxm-bejZKk503qs5Oxc0-xE4mtNqbtUuX448PfpGdwP4I6aX0eGOgnXOWy94EVIj5Wa9Fg/s320/caution1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another in the Urban Mandala series called Cautionary Tale.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-whTnVNPn7_4/VWc2sddeNpI/AAAAAAAADLI/capuGXh2FOc/s1600/darksky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-whTnVNPn7_4/VWc2sddeNpI/AAAAAAAADLI/capuGXh2FOc/s320/darksky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A mobile shot of a hillside that I see every morning when I catch my second bus to work.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JSqQU2mWWdw/VWc2s7IJveI/AAAAAAAADLQ/DL6JS1V3RP4/s1600/deaconeess1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JSqQU2mWWdw/VWc2s7IJveI/AAAAAAAADLQ/DL6JS1V3RP4/s320/deaconeess1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is an example of my merging my painterly past with my photographic present thanks to some amazing post processing apps.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sjJF0onR_mQ/VWc2t2u9gxI/AAAAAAAADLg/HkTMgwo671M/s1600/escher1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sjJF0onR_mQ/VWc2t2u9gxI/AAAAAAAADLg/HkTMgwo671M/s320/escher1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, another Urban Mandala image that gave me the impression of M.C. Escher's world. So, I call this one Dreaming of Escher.<br />
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Well, I hope I have made up for not posting for a bit. I am working on getting a website up and running too. Just bought a domain name through Google and if I can figure things out, you will actually see this post. Thank you for being patient.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-73979242975738308682015-03-08T12:53:00.000-04:002015-03-08T12:53:22.005-04:00Urban Runes: Sigil the dance of light and shadow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL8YhmjU-3ERHH3686wZWO6iIz42XsBXkHhLPHXpk3W-wecgQs3BvUr9-cvKNMwUlzU7OFJL2vSJA5dkdLWQ21TR2bvffAsmU1HDRkS9cdZNBC9fMo2KBcyQtnjD5m1XNfWotTg/s1600/danceshadowlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL8YhmjU-3ERHH3686wZWO6iIz42XsBXkHhLPHXpk3W-wecgQs3BvUr9-cvKNMwUlzU7OFJL2vSJA5dkdLWQ21TR2bvffAsmU1HDRkS9cdZNBC9fMo2KBcyQtnjD5m1XNfWotTg/s1600/danceshadowlight.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hello and happy Sunday March 8, 2015 to all of you out there. I wanted to dedicate this post to the idea of light and shadow. Today and actually this weekend, we are commemorating the 50 year anniversary of the march across the bridge in Selma Alabama. This march symbolized the struggles of minorities getting equal rights in our country. It was to me a struggle between the forces of good and evil or shadow and light.<br />
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So, the rune that symbolizes that the most for me is Sigil. It is seen as a zigzag and remids us of a lightning bolt. The scar on the forehead of Harry Potter was that of a sigil or lightning bolt. It represents to me the ability to face ones fears. To overpower the darkness by shining our great inner light. To let truth shine forth from the darkness of deceit and lies.<br />
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A friend had posed an interesting question. "<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 12.8800001144409px;">Ever feel left out on life?May sound like a strange question but I'm just wondering.thoughts anyone?" </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 12.8800001144409px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This was the question posed and it got me to thinking what causes one to feel this way. For me, it is the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness in the struggle for what is right and fair in the world. The shadow of destruction looming over our planet and how helpless one person can feel. I realized that the darkness is a feeling of isolation. Me against a cruel world. But, it is the power of we that takes us out of that dark corner. As an artist, I draw upon the power of we to help me define my place in the world and that even my small voice matters when it is combined with other voices. I am the little rain drop that falls into a river and then has the power to cut through mountains. Art is the greatest non violent form of protest. We as artists can illustrate how negative events and actions are affecting our lives. We can often illuminate those dark corners in peoples lives to shine a light of truth. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jXJFevmK3Ak/VPx9N0s3-yI/AAAAAAAADFk/dQrot0FJCog/s1600/church1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jXJFevmK3Ak/VPx9N0s3-yI/AAAAAAAADFk/dQrot0FJCog/s1600/church1a.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 12.8800001144409px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This image I shot over two years ago, always reminds me of the power of light. Though we may be surrounded by darkness there is always light somewhere to guide us to a safe place.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 12.8800001144409px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for stopping by today and may you find your light and let it shine. The world really needs that right now.</span></span>Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-21170108021474914902015-02-20T16:52:00.002-05:002015-02-20T16:52:36.784-05:00Happiness is a new doll.One of my big obsrssions of late is that of collecting fashion dolls and action figures. It all started as a means to create some fun scenes to photograph. Funny though, I have yet to actually create any of those scenes. But, that's another story. So, I have been collectiong these little plastic and rubber people now for several years. I am hooked. I love creating stories for them and it is a bit of a childhood I never had and desperately wanted. Now as an older adult, I can choose to play with dolls.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7kMgHqvXM7w/VOepDDvkHHI/AAAAAAAADEE/koYsmudzbgk/s1600/claudette2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7kMgHqvXM7w/VOepDDvkHHI/AAAAAAAADEE/koYsmudzbgk/s1600/claudette2.jpg" height="175" width="320" /></a></div>
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The above pictured is one of my recent and prized gifts to myself. I call her Claudette and she is a Phicen Super Seamless doll. She has a nicely articulated internal stainless steel skeleton. This allows for more realistic posing and movement. Her skin is a silicone rubber which gives it a flesh like feel. The possibilities for dressing her are endless. Her proportions are more human like too than those of Barbie. She came dressed in the skimpiest of bikinis/ <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GYaQEuvwU8/VOeqCcYuDwI/AAAAAAAADEM/JrjSe_H6NpQ/s1600/harleyguy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GYaQEuvwU8/VOeqCcYuDwI/AAAAAAAADEM/JrjSe_H6NpQ/s1600/harleyguy1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is a rather artsy picture of my Harley Davidson guy. He is a Ken doll and there are several versions of him. I currently have two. Not as posable as a Phicen but, I still love them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4oOWwHNmlzuTgXWET0k5d-tcCNSQBP4-ZOAv6qjqw12atSnILJnVBelXXAqQMK4aaDUcMPXEL58QrUYUg8U1Q-3Ih5yO0HNEVpyTC6et1bvAum-McYR_EWx_1qrrQMfe_K6jIA/s1600/condole1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4oOWwHNmlzuTgXWET0k5d-tcCNSQBP4-ZOAv6qjqw12atSnILJnVBelXXAqQMK4aaDUcMPXEL58QrUYUg8U1Q-3Ih5yO0HNEVpyTC6et1bvAum-McYR_EWx_1qrrQMfe_K6jIA/s1600/condole1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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My superhero collection has begun. I am trying to create fun situations and stories for our beloved heros too.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z6bt6Ppz6kY/VOerby4VHEI/AAAAAAAADEc/Lpz3Xav_1SQ/s1600/kryptonite2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z6bt6Ppz6kY/VOerby4VHEI/AAAAAAAADEc/Lpz3Xav_1SQ/s1600/kryptonite2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yes, I even have a Wonder Woman figure. So, my new collecting mania has begun. It is supposed to provide me with endless possibilitie and hours of fun. Finding different figures to collect is also a great deal of fun.</div>
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Have a great week out there one and all. Keep safe from the foul weather. Peace.</div>
Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-19431716526633089772015-02-15T12:36:00.002-05:002015-02-15T12:36:33.087-05:00Angular Obsessions<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
"Imaginary time is a new dimension, at right angles to ordinary, real time."</div>
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<a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/stephen_hawking.html" style="color: #0000aa; text-decoration: none;">Stephen Hawking</a></div>
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Hello my friendly followers out there. I thought I'd post a little tid bit about my love of photography. One of the things that many photography teachers will tell you is that it is always a good idea to look closely at your surroundings. You learn to develope your artistic eye. One thing in particular is to look up.</div>
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That is what I do a lot of is look up at the buildings in the downtown of the city where I work. I love seeing the layers of buildings placed one in front of the other. But, what I am truly obsessed with is angles. I enjoy seeing the interplay of the different angles and values of light. It is like a symphony of shapes and colors to me.</div>
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The above shot is one taken while I was waiting for my ride home one day not long ago. It was late in the day about 5:40 pm. As I stood there I looked up across the street and noticed the striking angles and values that the late day sun created. That is one of the things I love about photography, the little discoveries one makes. Even better is now it is immortalized as an image on my computer and here on the blog. </div>
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Next time you are out and about look up and see what you can see that you hadn't noticed before. You just might discover something amazing. Until next time my friends. Peace.</div>
Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-61243260139569020402015-02-08T12:19:00.000-05:002015-02-08T12:19:22.998-05:00Urban Runes: Tiwaz the Sky God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Urban Rune I would like to discuss this time is Tiwaz, the Sky God. It is usually symbolized as an arrow which can also sometimes be seen as a spear or literal arrow. I find this rune to be one that doesn't appear very often. In my earlier explorations of the Runes I always looked at this Rune as embodying the essence of strength and courage. Though I suppose it can still be taken in that context, I have since realized a deeper connection with Tiwaz. In the element of the sky it is the domain of intelligence, escoteric knowledge and the like. So, I began to really think about what this magical symbol means in my own life when it shows up.<br />
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I borrowed this defenition from sunnyway.com as a great jumping off point to the meanings I subscribe too. "<span style="background-color: white; color: #000066; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Honor, justice, leadership and authority. Analysis, rationality. Knowing where one's true strengths lie. Willingness to self-sacrifice. Victory and success in any competition or in legal matters.." The knowing where one's true strength lies is the really important attribute for me. Often times Tiwaz will show up when I start doubting myself, my abilities or my truth. Even the willingness to self sacrifice is an interesting concept for me as well. As a member of the artistic community I know all too well the sacrifices we make for our art and the ability to create and share it with the world. Of course there are numerous examples of artists suffering for their art. But, I don't think that is necessary. What resonates with me is that in order to quinch this passoinate desire to create we sacrifice parts of our lives that non artists don't understand. Many times we are alone in our studios existing in our own little worlds in order to coax something, anything out of our creative consciousness. The hope is that this will lead to some form of success. Tiwaz offers that as a reward for our sacrifices and hard work.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #000066; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In it's negative or reversed aspect it can make "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #000066; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"> One's energy and creative flow are blocked. Mental paralysis, over-analysis, over-sacrifice, injustice, imbalance. Strife, war, conflict, failure in competition. Dwindling passion, difficulties in communication, and possibly separation." Yes, most of these attributes in this position are ususally accurate for me except and a big eception and that is war. Thankfully I am bleassed with not having to experience that in my daily life. The reverse of Tiwaz is usually symbolized as an upside down arrow.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #000066; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">So, when you begin to see arrows appear in your life, think of the attributes of Tiwaz and see how that desribes what is happening in your life now. It gives us pause to reflect on this energy flowing around us and maybe how we can direct it to our best benefit.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #000066; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Hope you have a great week ahead one and all. Thank you as always for taking the time to share my little inspirations with you. Peace.</span>Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-36814017814114100012015-01-29T09:41:00.001-05:002015-01-29T09:41:44.693-05:00Urban Runes: Ehwaz the Horse.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In this issue of Urban Runes we will look at Ehwaz (M) or the horse as it is symbolized. The simple version is it is a rune of movement or moving. So, for my image I chose the leading lines of tail lights from cars to emphasize the idea of movement. In my interpretation of this energy it means taking action or moving towards something. That something can be a goal, or even a physical place.<br />
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When Ehwaz shows up it is usually a very angular M shape. It means get moving or act now towards a goal or whatever you have been hum hauling about. The time is right to move along. The universe needs us to be moving in order to direct our energy towards our desires. That is a simple law of physics. An object at rest remains at rest unless acted upon by an outside force. But, an object in motion can be guided by gentle nudges in the direction we need to go. This allows the universe to put coincidences in our path to help us achieve that which we desire.<br />
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So, remember if Ehwaz shows up in your life, move. Lest you be broadsided by something you don't want. Move so that the universe can direct you towards what you are trying to bring into your life. Go with the flow. Just move.<br />
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Have a great week everyone. Hope you have some fun along the way. Peace.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-49587750548466703512015-01-24T10:44:00.000-05:002015-01-24T10:44:02.613-05:00Urban Runes: Hagalaz or Hagal Loss and Destruction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hagalaz or Hagal is a rune that many fear to see appear in their journey. It is translated to mean hail. We all know how destructive natural events like hail storms can truly be on our environment. That is the essence of what this energy represents. A destructive force in our lives. Of course this can come in many ways. But, I look at this particular rune as a cousin to the tower card on the Tarot. It does represent destruction but, from the clearing away we can have a new start. When I see Hagal appear in my spiritual journey, I pause to reflect on what needs to be destroyed in a spiritual sense or even literal one in my life. What do I need to let go of in order to move forward or grow as a person.<br />
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As with any destructive force it is initially upsetting. But, once the dust clears we just move on. This particular energy encourages us to leave the rubble behind and start fresh. That way you are not taking any baggage or damaged parts with you.<br />
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My challenge to you out there is to see if you need to clear away anything in your lives that may be holding you back or that you feel buried under. Once you can walk away from the destruction, you will feel free and liberated.<br />
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Have a great weekend out there and thank you as always for stopping by. I hope you find my humble words inspiring in some way.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-51006101305297287752015-01-17T09:00:00.001-05:002015-01-17T09:00:13.212-05:00Urban Runes: IS Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is the second installment in the urban runes series. I wanted to say a few more things about the rune IS. Winter still has a strong grip on my part of the country. So, the influence of IS prevails. One aspect of this powerful symbol is that of caution or waiting and listening. It is a time when we need to be patient for the seeds we have planted earlier in our lives to have a chance to build their roots into the earth. It is a time of rest and reflection.<br />
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The image I have shared here also cautions to stop and smell the roses. When you feel stuck or anxious, go within and listen to your inner voice, your heart. What are you not doing? What do you need to do? How can you bring more love, light and peace into your life?<br />
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I used to hate getting this rune in a reading or when I do my daily pick. But, now it reminds me to stop and listen. Why do I feel stuck or frustrated? Ice is a great teacher. We often times can find great beauty in winter and the ice. IS is no different. We can often times find great beauty in the silence.<br />
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My hope for you all is that you can take time to listen to your inner voice. Spend some quality alone time with yourself and love yourself. Let your light shine and feel the peace that emanates from within. Until next time. Thank you for visiting. Peace.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-8383711502047338602015-01-15T10:30:00.000-05:002015-01-15T11:29:11.368-05:00Transformation In Progress<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
"Transformation literally means going beyond your form." - <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/wayne_dyer.html" style="color: #0000aa; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;">Wayne Dyer</a></div>
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Transformation is a process. Sometimes it is a slow and all consuming process. Other times it can be quick and relatively painless. We are all under a state of transformation in one form or another. Most times we are not consciously aware of the process. However if one is in a personal spiritual practice, our attention can be gently guided to experience our trans formative process. It is this later state that I have been in for quite a few years. I have noted the spiral like cycles that my life and spirit evolves and changes. This is many times reflected in my art. </div>
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I have found myself at an interesting fork in the road. I am making big changes to how I create art and what is important to me. My spiritual practice or process has been a silent partner for most of the time. Not always evident in my work. But, I have decided to make a more concerted effort to change that. I would like to choose projects that will help me evolve as a spiritual, creator and human being. Maybe as an added bonus, inspire others to seek their own truth. Hey, that's what a spiritual journey and practice is designed to do. Help us seek our own truth. That which is self evident to ourselves. My truth is not your truth. How I travel in my spiritual journey may not work for you. That is the cool part about this whole thing.</div>
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After long and careful consideration, I have decided to dedicate this blog platform to expressing my journey a bit more fully. To share my insights, observations and the occasional poetic license in addition to my images. To those coming here expecting dolls, sorry. That is in the past for me now. I am moving forward with different interests. You are welcome to continue to follow along. I would love that more than anything. But, if not that's OK too. I have lost a few followers along the way. That is what happens.</div>
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The above image is my first idea. I am in the process of creating a series of images based on the Runes. Runes are an ancient Celtic alphabet used for divination. Many use them to aid in spiritual journeys as well. I first discovered and fell in love with Runes back in the 1980's. I find their energies very comforting and usually right on as to what sorts of energies are surrounding me at any given time. So, this first image is of the Rune IS or translated into ice. It represents a few different ideas. One of my favorites is of preservation. Preserving something for the future. In a more negative context it can mean stuck or frozen. </div>
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IS has also been paired with the idea of waiting out or the time that the earth remains fallow between harvest and spring regrowth. It is the symbol of winter. So the three long shadows across my path are a triple IS. I am acutely aware of three things. I can often times be frozen by fear to move forward. I can feel stuck where I am and not motivated to move. But, the best one is preserving all that is good. Taking with me only that which will serve me in the future. Stashing the good stuff and using it as needed.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">There you have it. My first offering. I may see this symbol more frequently. It is usually represented as a vertical line </span><span style="font-size: large;">I</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> but many shamans allowed a variety of positions for all the symbols and it was a matter of diving the meaning.</span></div>
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My wish for you is a great year ahead of spiritual discovery whatever your truth may be. Feel free to share your experiences. I love hearing about other peoples journeys. Thank you for being a part of my life and for your friendships. I truly treasure them all. Until next time. Peace.</div>
<br />Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-83902342599976722172014-12-30T12:40:00.000-05:002014-12-30T12:40:08.372-05:00A New Year is Upon Us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Noe that we are poised to transition into a new year, I am once again lining up my goals. Photography will figure prominently on that list. New classes, to continue to advance my knowledge and also some new topics. Also, to enter more shows. I would hope to actually get into some this year. But, even getting denied is a learning tool.<br />
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I am exploring ways to actually present my images. It is easy to just send off a Jpeg of an image to a show. But, one thing I have learned is that perhaps they want to see how the image will be presented in addition to the actual image itself. So, that will be my greatest focus this year as I collect images to show. I am giving myself latitudes to present several collections according to my current interests. I am excited about the process of printing and finishing the presentations.<br />
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One process is that of printing on silk fabric for some of my images. I love the idea and look of this and how it can be presented as a wall hanging rather than a framed piece of art. Experiments look promising so far. I will keep you all informed.<br />
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I can honestly say I am looking forward to what this new year will bring. Things seem to be coming together and I have a real focus and intention in my work and life. More so than I ever have and that will keep me motivated during the hard times. A good friend and spiritual mentor said this year would be a real roller coaster, 2014 that is, and it was that and more.<br />
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May your new year be bright and full of promise. That is my wish for you and a blessing of sorts. We all need blessings each and every day. Thank you for following along on my journey. I am honored and humbled by the kind words of encouragement and friendship expressed by many friends who pass by from time to time. Thank you. I love you all.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-50021263250414340322014-12-24T14:07:00.000-05:002014-12-24T14:07:02.011-05:00Happy Holidays and it's years end<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wanted to wish everyone out there a happy and creative set of holidays. May your new year ahead bring new adventures. If you are into the creative arts may you find your muse and work him or her to the bone this upcoming year. If you are stuck, may your creative tow truck show up in the nick of time to pull you out of the mire.<br />
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I for one have a renewed sense of direction and plan on hitting the creative road with both feet running. It is time for me to get my goals in a row and line them up for inspection. That helps me see what worked in the past and try something new for the future. Goals really seem to work for me so that is what I have adopted as my new years ritual.<br />
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The above image suggests all the colorful options we have. It is up to us to choose the ones that will serve us well in the moment. Good thing is if you don't like the color you chose, just put it back and pick another.<br />
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Thank you each and everyone who has followed along here and on Facebook. It is much appreciated and I am honored and humbled by your kindness and interest in my creative journey. Here's to you all and the new year ahead.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-12499905316452791912014-11-16T10:06:00.000-05:002014-11-16T10:06:45.251-05:00Long Absence <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, it seems I can't get myself to post as often as I would like. I lost another follower. But, as my friend Buddha says, change is inevitable. One must embrace change. The world changes every moment whether we acknowledge it or not. I see that reflected in my life through my art, my body, my likes and dislikes. We all evolve which is a form of change.<br />
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The images included in this post come from one of my photography class in which we were to create a magical feeling with our set of images/ I chose to do still life's from some of my collection of objects.<br />
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I am really in love with the process of photography. The way in which an image is revealed through the action of taking and then processing the images. It is not unlike that of painting which I also love. I was remarking to my partner about how I missed painting because I love the whole process of discovery in bringing an image to life. So, I think there will be some painting in my future. A great winter creative activity.<br />
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Many times I think I know which direction my creative energies will take me. Could it be painting today or photography or doll making? Maybe another altogether new adventure, who knows? I am learning that being an artist is just as much about observing our environment as it is our own inner selves. I am coming to terms and finding peace in how I live as a creative being. I am no longer worrying about whether it is proper to focus on one medium or many. I do what I do, because I love to do it. End of story/ There will be no apologies for doing or not doing, making or not making posting or not posting. Just that I am that, I am.<br />
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Thank you for sharing my journey as always and hope you get some joy and amusement out of my musings.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-47343212712554577842014-10-31T10:03:00.000-04:002014-10-31T10:03:23.478-04:00Happy Halloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A happy Halloween out there to all of you who follow and or visit my humble blog. I have been a bit neglectful of late. It seems that life and lack of energy after a full day at the art supply store can really take it out of you. So, for this festive season I offer two recent photos taken for one of my photography class assignments. in the above is a dance of skeletons in a tree. It was hanging in a yard I came across during a neighborhood stroll. I decided on this vintage treatment to make it extra spooky.<br />
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Lastly, is a fun little decked out yard filled with ghosts and jack-o-lanterns. A little girl lives there so it wasn't meant to be too scary. It was a fun walk through the old neighborhood. I haven't had the time to do that in a few years actually. I used to walk my dog around all the streets. But, now that he is quite elderly and barely able to walk, we don't go far.<br />
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Hope you have a safe and ghoulishly fun Halloween. Mine will be a quiet night at home watching Art 21 or Constantine.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9780524.post-33444330893901310492014-10-18T13:04:00.001-04:002014-10-18T13:04:28.616-04:00A Long PauseHello to all of my followers and visitors out there in blog land. I have been absent due to several things. My daytime job has been a bit hectic the past two weeks which gas kept me away. In addition to this, I had a computer melt down which resulted in getting a new one. This time I decided to leave pc's out of the mix. I am now in the Apple cart. So, far I am loving the switch. We will see as time goes on how much I still love the new computer. I do love the touch response of the new keyboard a lot.<br />
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Now that all of that is behind me I can focus on my art again. So, I thought I'd show you a few images from a recent photo class assignment. Yes, I am taking the class again. This particular assignment was called Shadow Portraits. The premise was to use our interpretation of the theme to create unique images. Here are a few of what I came up with.<br />
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This image is a stretch for shadow. It is actually the chemical residue from a decaying leaf. So, in essence it is a shadow. Just not the typical idea of one.<br />
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Here in the next two images my boss was gracious enough to lend me a hand. I had her pose in front of our front door at work. The sun shone from the back which created some awesome shadows on the floor.<br />
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Here is the second version with a different pose. I really like this one the best. My teacher was really impressed with my assignment this week. That was a great affirmation that I am doing something right. Still have tons to learn. But, that is what this journey called art is all about. To enrich my life and enhance the knowledge I already possess. Thank you for being patient and having a look at my work.Cody Goodinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17219966339569296617noreply@blogger.com5