Priorities

"Opportunist"
Oil on Wood (40x48)

This has been going through various stages and was actually prepped before my move way back in May. All I can say is I didn't know what direction it would go until I got there. It's a larger scale which is much much better for me and the first painting that really ties in with some of the pastel work I've done.

Twilight Notes

Oil on Wood (16x20)

Here's the first painting I've done in quite some time. I've been running about so much since my move that I've found it difficult to get in the right head space to paint. I also think it has taken some effort to get my focus in the new work space at my apartment.  The original drawing of this was of a local DJ who does a great chill urban funk sound.  I love them...love their energy.  A few tweaks here and there may still occur, but for the most part, it is finished.

I started another painting after finishing this one and hope to finish it before I leave for NYC later this month, which will be my first ever visit in the summer months.  I'm going to devote some of my tourist time to Brooklyn this year and was also lucky to coordinate my trip with Michelle Krusiec's "Made in Taiwan" show.  VERY excited about that. I've been wanting to see this show for a few years now and this is the first time I was able to coordinate everything to make it possible.  My friend is likely moving in a few months which means this may be my last free accommodations visit.  Happy I could make it all work.  

Some energy of late has also been spent towards production of some lower price point items. The hope there is to generate revenue and interest.  I'll post some of these efforts in the next few days.  I'm also trying my hand at some block printing.  I find it fun, physical, challenging and look forward to improving my skill level which involves a combination of carving the image and controlling the inking/printing process.  I need practice at all levels.   

The job/business fronts look pretty bleak and I'm facing an action that I don't relish, but looks to be necessary.  More on that another time. ©2010 Cindy K. Shaw All rights reserved

Illumination 4

©2009 Cindy K. Shaw All rights reserved.

Illumination 3

 I originally planned to post two photographs, but they didn't work well together so it will come as a separate post.  I like this photograph. Nothing new or original, but I like it none the less.

©2009 Cindy K. Shaw All rights reserved.

Illumination 2

 

©2009 Cindy K. Shaw All rights reserved.

Illumination Part 1

Wandering about the Met was a day filled with art and light.

Neither could be ignored.

Metropolitan Lovers

While I was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art I saw this couple who kept working on photos of themselves. I was able to snap this photo without disturbing them. I'm not usually so covert, but I didn't want to disrupt their playful energy. 

Central Park Band

Joys of Central Park on a Sunshiny Day!

Chinatown - NYC

I spent a lot of time in Museums while I was in New York City... Metropolitan Museum of Art...Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Chinese in America.  Saturday was the only day that I spent exploring an area.  I could not have picked a better day.  The sun was out (which meant I carried my jacket most of the day) and the streets were full of people...local and tourists. 

I arrived in the city at around lunchtime each day since my mornings were spent with JuWanda and the kids.  I came armed with my Jennifer 8. Lee list of Cheap Chinatown Meals in hand and set off for the Lunch Box Buffet.  I made a point to get things I've never eaten or couldn't recognize as something familiar .  I'll admit that the boiled fish head was my favorite thing.  For some stupid reason I didn't get a picture inside or outside.  For $4.25 you get rice and four dishes and grab a seat where you can find it, which will likely mean sharing a table with a stranger.  I think that just adds to the charm. Lucky for me I was able to use my right hand to eat, which eliminated the struggle of using chopsticks with my left hand.  I can do it, but it is a slow process.

Now happily stuffed, I made my way to MoCA, which recently opened in their new location.  This was a beautiful space and a wonderful interactive experience. There were a lot of intimate spaces where you felt in close contact with the stories that lead you through the museum.  I highly recommend this destination!

From MoCA it was time to have a little snack and made my way to the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.  What I really wanted to do there was try everyone of their interesting flavors, like black sesame and lychee.  I went for the ginger ice cream thinking I would return later in the day.

I walked around a bit and enjoyed the afternoon sun as it danced around on the face of the buildings.  This was another frustrating photography experience where I didn't get the images I wanted.  I did a little shopping but not much.  Though my arm in a sling acted much like a force field where people kindly gave me a wide berth, it also kept me from going in some of the small shops too.  I also felt a spending frenzy creeping up and was trying to control the urges by staying out of the dozens of places where my Amex card would fly out of my wallet.

I relaxed for a bit at a nearby park and watched kids and adults alike enjoy the beautiful day.  My favorite scene was watching a grandfather playing with his grand daughter who was only about 18 months old.  The sheer delight in his face was one of the best parts of the day.

More food...I made my way to Prosperity Dumplings where you can get 5 dumplings for a $1 and  I LOVE fried pork dumplings.  Love them!  I made my way back to the park and ate until I couldn't stand it.  More ice cream was out of the question at this point.  The sun was going down and I walked around a bit more and came across Aji Ichiban, a sweets and snack store.  They sell a lot of the things you find in the regular  Chinatown markets, but the bonus here is that you can sample everything.  What little space I had for more food was filled here with sampling half the store.  Yes, they are community dishes which can  be a bit scary, but I figure that's why I have an immune system.  My favorite was the shrimp covered peanuts and the Thai fish wafer, which made for great snacks on my flight home.

A great day in Chinatown. 

Accordian Man

As I let go of the idea of doing any photography from a left-handed perspective, I attempted to do what would be my more typical photographic work.  I recognize that I'm out of practice, which includes the courage to be audacious, but I grew frustrated with my high end point and shoot.  Even with the "controls" that I have on my camera, I got irritated as I waited for my camera to do what I wanted it to do.  I know how to trick a point and shoot to create depth of field, but this also became a battle with the auto focus and slow response time.

Most of my photography is people oriented and done at a conversation distance.  That's what I mean about being audacious.  You have to be willing to approach someone and ask to take their picture.  You have to be willing to enter a conversation with a complete stranger in order to get a relaxed photograph.  This is not a bad photograph, but it could be so much better.  I had to stand at a distance and zoom in to get a more shallow depth of field, which made him more like a display in a zoo.  I don't like that when I'm going for a more intimate photo.  I would rather have a more intimate interaction with him. 

...anyway, I recognize it's time for me to suck it up and buy a real DSLR if I intend to truly revive my photography. 

Day 32 Thumbnails

A few little thumbnail sketches I did on Sunday after my time at the Met.  Another stop that I had not been able to do in previous trips.  I got to see the things that I most wanted, but definitely just scratched the surface of this amazing museum.  I generally like this, but do find such a small format (3x5) a little challenging and limiting.  I guess I like to flail my arms a bit with the pastel work.  

Day 30 - MoMA

Friday was my first full day in New York City.  I got up and ate breakfast with JuWanda and adjusted to the chaos of two toddlers first thing in the morning.  The kids were great fun and I miss their noise today. 

I took the subway into the city to go to the Museum of Modern Art.  It is always exciting for me to actually see so much of the art work I "know", and I've not bee able to make this stop on previous NYC trips.  It starts to be a bit like a drug for me. seeing all this work that has clearly shaped my own art.  I don't really emulate any particular artist, but I can see the roots of how I can be doing the work that I do because of what came before me.

I attempted to utilize my camera as part of my Left-Handed Series, and found it completely frustrating.  I cannot let go in the way that I am able to with the pastels.   My photography is not abstract...never has been. I couldn't get a single in focus shot all day and abandoned the idea by mid-day on Saturday.

These are the only things I have and I am still debating what my thoughts are about them.  (The rest of the Left-Handed Photography just sucks.) This lovely pregnant woman was wearing a fitted grid dress which was quite interesting with her shape. I tried to let go of the focus/steady issue and see what happened.  Though these may hold some interest, I think the in focus view of her was much better, much more interesting. The top image might be better rotated 90 degrees.

I did take some pictures with my Holga camera that day and will see what has happened once the film is developed.  I also may post some photos from my trip, but they will not be part of the Left-Handed Series.