Cody Goodin - The artistic and spiritual journey of Cody Goodin

I decided to play around with some lighting fun tonight. So, I got out one of the dolls I have in my collection and posed her on my computer station. I have a nice direct light from an LED desk lamp that shines down upon my desk. So, I posed Cyndy Lou on a jar of Golden brand Pumice gel to give her something to sit on. The above image was processed into black and white after uploading it to Adobe Lightroom. Once I cropped and tweaked I sent the picture to On One Perfect B&W to create the image you see here. I love playing with available light as it challenges me to work with what I have on hand. My little pocket Nikon did a pretty good job. For me it's all about the feel of the image and I tend to be very intuitive when I do shoot a picture. Sure I pay attention to the exposure and such. But, I like the unexpected results. Sometimes it's great and sometimes it's a bust. Also, the type of camera is not as important as being free to just let go and have fun. I have l...

You just never know what will happen on your work table when you are not at home.  Sundays around here can be hit or miss for action.  But, I found this scene taking place in the studio.  Mail order cousins have arrived for the two artist models.  They have been unpacked and given some clothing since they arrive a natural.  In the meantime there is a bit of catching up to do and they were also joined by a neighbor living in the next toy box over.  Her name is Girtty.  She is the one with the wild pink beehive.  She's one of those throw backs to the 1970's and loves her Daisy Dukes. Never mind she is in her 60's. But, no one can figure out who the creepy little girl is that just appeared out of nowhere.  Can you say children of the damned?  I mean what the heck.  There is a bit of discussion going on about her and the little girl seems oblivious to it all. Well, I had better get back to see what's going on.  You never kno...

The above picture was snapped while on a layover waiting for the next bus to take me to work.  The temperature at the time was 8 F and all I can say is it was cold.  I loved how the rising sun lit the smoke coming from the power plant at the University Hospital.  Got to love that early morning light. Today it's lunch with two very dear friends and also hopefully a parcel carrying the mail order cousins of the artist models.  I ordered a back up pair.  Yes, I am getting obsessed with collecting all these dolls and models.  Can't help myself.  I look at it as my acquiring the tools I need for my artistic vision.  Several friends in the doll making world came through last year with lots of Barbie and Kens and they are waiting in the wings for their roles in my upcoming artistic endeavors.  Many of them are destined to become altered  in some fashion. One bit of observation I have realized, that all this photography play and daily sho...

Well, technically I am off from my job today.  So, it really isn't a snow day but, it is a great excuse to be in the studio.  I have been playing around with some ideas.  Rethinking some directions a bit and looking at some of my started projects with a critical eye.  The problem for me is I have several running story lines or ideas in my head.  I constantly bounce back and forth between them.  Hence a lack of real focus.  But, the point for today was to take a good look at what I have started and decide upon a plan of action.  I did want to get some work done in the studio today.  I have some help sort of. Two of my models were eager to help me clean up the work table today.  However an argument quickly ensued.  I am not sure if these two are meant to be together.  I snapped this picture of Mister model wielding one of my clay shaping tools. But, quick as a whip Miss model turned the tables and snatched the tool f...

A very happy new year of 2014 to all of you out there in the land of blogs.  I hope your holidays were good.  Now that the season has come to a soft close for me, it is time for renewed focus and goal setting for the year ahead.  Most of the art I am hoping to make involves photographing dolls and figures in a variety of scenes and situations.  I have decided that using dolls, toys and such helps me to detach any direct human likeness to the subject.  I have been loving how I can use dolls, or other figures of that nature create a sense of dialogue without making it too personal for any one person.  Plus, dolls don't require contracts and payment.  So, to me this is a great match for my evolution in creating.  Last year saw some major decisions in regards to my art making.  I know I face more challenges in the year ahead.  But, with usual "I don't give a damn," fortitude I will move on.  One challenge is the snobbery of photography ...

Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, joyful Yule, whatever form you celebrate the holidays I hope it is beautiful.  To those of you having a more difficult time at this point in the year my heart is with you and know that you are loved not only by me but, by the Universe.  I for one am truly grateful for your friendship and love you have shown me through out this year and years past.  If you are new to Codyland, welcome and hope you come back often.  My hope is that you have found a tiny bit of inspiration and joy here.  Many find this holiday season bitter sweet.  We are faced with the lose of ones we have loved, or any number of other issues.  But, please know that you are never truly alone.  It took me many years to realize this.  I share my heart and soul felt gratitude for you being a part of my life. This has been a very quickly lived year for me.  Many changes and opportunities to grow and learn.  My hope is that 2014 will c...

So, I am on a mission to try and bring as much play into my life as I can.  The best scenario would be everyday but, I will try and do it as often as I can. What has prompted me on to this mode of thought today was an article I read on the Digital Photography School web site.  One of the things that make great artists is their sense of play and adventure.  Being fearless and just giving something a try.  Not being afraid to fail and fail until you happen on to something cool and inspiring. That is part of what keeps my photo of the day going on Facebook. How does one become better at something?  By doing it over and over is one way or by playing and discovering is another.  Sure practice makes perfect for some things.  But, you have to be willing to pick up that camera, paint brush, needle or violin to start to become better.  Play encourages that process better than any other I know. Thus brings me to my point of this post.  In the images be...

Now that November is coming to a soft and gentle close, I thought I would give my thoughts on something.  In the past few years November has been made the month of men"s health awareness marketed as Movember.  I find it rather curious how we as a society latch onto something like growing facial hair to prove we are supportive of making men aware of something as important as prostate cancer. I know we have October for breast cancer awareness and so on. Nothing wrong in the idea of making those potentially at risk to be aware and observant of potential issues.  My reason for even writing about this is due to a few inquiries I have had over the course of the month.  The most frequent question of course is, Are you growing your beard for Movember? Most of the time I responded with, not exactly.  I have had this beard for quite some time.  They just smile and say, oh that's nice.  It was the last person who asked me that I had decided on a reply that I ...

Well, it has been a bit long since my last post.  But, I have been playing around with some new photo editing software.  I have purchased two different software alternatives to Photoshop.  Not wishing to keep upgrading to infinity and paying such great cost, I opted for some highly recommended pro programs.  OnONe Perfect Photo Suite collection and NIK Photo collection.  Both of thes software packages offer some great versatility. SO, I am going to post a few of my fun little redoux's for your viewing pleasure.  My subjects are some heads awaiting bodies and partially completed doll projects from the past. This series of images was created by processing them in the High Dynamic Range module from the NIK collection.  This first picture is entitled Judging from behind. This picture I have titled "In Search of Peace". This one is called "Oh?" Here we have" Eunice trying to say something meaningful." "Gossip." I hope ...

Hello out there kiddos.  I am sorry for such a long absence from my ole blog here.  It has been a rather exhausting few months here in Codyland.  I have been dealing with homestead issues and also the migration to a different mode of creativity.  I was recently diagnosed with Osteoarthritis and that made it official.  I have been experiencing severe pain and soreness in my left hand which puts a big damper on sculpting.  So, now that I have some meds to help I can do limited amounts of sculpting.  However, I have been busy trying to make a transition to a different medium or mediums. So the abouve picture is an experiment with High Dynamic Range photography.  I just have scratched the surface of this particular form of photography.  But, I like the potential of it.  It exaggerates the colors and tonal range of an image.  This is typically achieved through taking several exposures of the same scene at varying exposure levels. ...

So, to end this weekend and begin the next I wish to share some pictures that I have been working on for an upcoming photo book.  The book will be called Toy Box Confidential.  It will be stories of the sorted lives of toys and the lives they live behind our backs. In this first picture the Cat In the Hat is discussing toy box politics with the man in the moon.  The cat doesn't like some of the toys all that much.  Especially those arrogant soldiers. In this quaint picture a tiny transformer is trying to woo the artist model of toy box.  She is having any of it.  For she has her eyes set on someone else. The artist model female has finally been approached by the man she has been admiring for some time.  Artist model male is utilizing some liquid courage to gain some much needed confidence.  Too bad he doesn't really need it.  Only if he really knew how artist model female really felt. I hope you enjoy the beginni...