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This portfolio includes those pieces I've created while wandering "off the road."
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Rarities:
Photography and Paint
2004—2010
- C. Shoup
“For sure—there is a highway on which I travel into the future, but my
mind is questioning and restless. Sometimes, a thing comes along that
encourages me to get off the road. I chase one seemingly random idea
to one more idea and another...until I reach an end point, and the
inspiration evaporates, and I’m done with the exploration, and I walk
back to the highway.
“There are times when I return carrying gold. There are other times
when in my hands is coal. Gold is shiny and pretty; coal is useful in a
fire. Either way I win.
“Rarities is a portfolio of gold and coal—it’s a presentation of some
things I’ve returned with in the past 6 years of traveling off road.
“The pieces that follow don’t necessary “fit” into any developed series,
so rather than let these misfits wander about on their own, I’ve
corralled them into this single place. Enjoy!”
“An alphabet written with the full moon...
“How it happened: I was experimenting with lunar images. Once,
during one full moon, I drug the camera lens across the sky while the
shutter was open, and the developed photograph showed a smeared
line of white moon that (when viewed under the right frame of mind)
could have been interpreted as a letter of the alphabet...
“The insight led to a purposeful exploration. When the next full moon
appeared, I went out with the intention of dragging the camera in the
shape of letters. It took five months and a lot of rolls of film, but I
eventually created an entire alphabet! I framed it, and the first full
moon alphabet sold immediately.
“This is my second alphabet. “A” through “F” are solely the moon. The
“G” and “h” and “M” and “N” have traffic stoplights smeared in the
frame. And some other environmental factors appear. Awesome!”
Full Moon Alphabet #2 2004
Twenty seven 35mm photographs; mounted on painted canvas; framed in solid oak
24” x 48”
“Amanda was hard at work on her masterpiece Au Revoir Monsieur Jinx,
which took six months to complete. During that same period I worked
like a madman on a large photographic series. The calm of her process
seemed particularly inviting, and during a night of personal chaos I
asked if I could sit down and paint next to her.
“So there I was, quieted in the shadow of her work, trying to think of
something cool to paint, and into my mind popped a memory from my
childhood: those Saturday afternoons spent watching really fantastic
ninja movies.
“I thought, How can I manifest that memory in the present? Eventually I
realized I could create a painting depicting me performing the most
courageous act any husband could do for his wife: the act of protecting
her from ninjas! This composition has a masterful, circular reading.”
Wife—I will protect you from ninjas 2008
Oil on solid oak; recycled countertop samples; framed in walnut
24” x 36”
“Ah—here is a piece that is more about the beauty of the process than
the completed product...
“A relaxing day spent outdoors in the autumn air...an environment of
water and stones...and an overwhelming desire to put down the
camera and work with my hands….
“Perchance a passing crow—who for surely would not be allowed in the
Accademia di Belle Arti Firenzeto—had his day to perch atop this well-
wrought reproduction of its more famous counterpart.”
Reproduction of the Statue of David at Rock Creek 2007
Hand-stacked limestone, various mosses
20” x 60”
“These paintings
represent a big leap
from my habitual
work.
“The snapping turtle
and red-tailed hawk
were characters that
populated the world
of my youth.
“I expect to add a
third piece—a
coyote—to complete
this series.”
Snapping Turtle 2009
Oil on solid oak; gold-painted aluminum; framed in walnut
24” x 24”
Red-Tailed Hawk 2009
Oil on solid oak; gold-painted aluminum; framed in walnut
24” x 48”
“The State of Indecision. I once wanted to tear it down—then the State
hired me, effectively suppressing my rebellion by making me a paid part
of its ranks. At first I maintained the dream that Oh No! The State
won’t distract me with spoonfuls of its money!
“But the life support offered by the State lifted me out of poverty, and
my cushy new lifestyle caused me to realize that no—I couldn’t bite the
hand that fed me...
“I am now an official photographer for the State of Indecision. I may
not agree with all of its archaic philosophies, but I am paid well.”
(Top) Flag for the State of Indecision; 24” x 48”
(Lower Left) Logo for the State of Indecision; 18” x 8”
(Lower Right) Official Portrait of the Logo for the State of Indecision 12” x 18”
2005 — 2007
35mm photographs
“I was drawing trees in my sketchbook, and I finished mounting a series
of tiled photographs on oak panels and had three pieces of “leftover”
wood, along with enough walnut to frame the panels.
“I decided I would paint each panel a solid color and then use black oil
paint for each tree.
“They turned out great. I hoped to sell them as a triptych to a single
buyer, but I was in a position to sell the “green” piece alone and did so.
“In the future, I plan to construct similar trees on 8 foot by 4 foot solid
oak panels. They will absolutely define a large public or private space.”
Oak Trees 2008
Oil on painted oak panels
18” x 24”
“This is the only piece in any of my portfolios consisting of a solitary
black and white photograph.
“The story? There was a brutal, drenching afternoon thunderstorm. By
four o’clock it cleared up. I was leaving to capture a few images of the
aftermath and Amanda said, “You should go to the river. I bet you can
get good reflections of the sky on the water.”
“I drove to the Perry Farm in Bradley. I planned to walk the trail to the
river. The parking lot was empty. Everywhere were large puddles. I got
out and saw in the puddles monochromatic colors and reflections. So I
laid on the damp asphalt, rested the camera body directly on top of the
parking lot, and captured this image without ever getting to the river.”
She Wanted a River 2006
35mm photograph
12” x 18”
“The librarian at the
school where I work
threw out an old book
of maps—they were
thick, beautiful plates.
I rescued the book. It
sat in my workshop for
3 years. Then I had the
idea to mount and
paint over them,
leaving the map
beneath as the image.
I sold both of these (for
real cheap!) at local
markets. I’m currently
finishing new pieces.”
Sun; Bike 2010
Recycled world maps; paint
10” x 16” 16” x 20”
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