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”