Cody Shultz
His engagement with photography started as a need to express himself, as a way to help heal his wounded mental health. Over the years, it has become a way in which to find meaning in his life and the world around him. Photography provides him with an open invitation to explore and engage with nature in ways he had not previously thought possible. While he initially went out into the woods to make photographs, he now goes out into the wild to enjoy the peace and quiet, the stillness; the photographs resulting from these treks are simply by-products, rather than goals.
The vast majority of his work has been created within his home state of Pennsylvania, a state with no mountains, few vast sceneries, but plenty of trees. Though these forests are difficult to compose - their chaos often confusing the eye and offering little separation of subject matter - his simply being in the woodlands has had a great impact on him both as an artist and as an individual. Most of his travels to other parts of the United States have been led by his search for the juxtaposing sense of wildness and solitude which is so typically found in the woods.
Since 2017, he has chosen to work exclusively in tones of black and white. The medium's expressive opportunities are far beyond that of colour, allowing the viewer to lose their perception of reality and get lost in the timelessness.
His anxiety and depression take a heavy toll on his relationships like family, partners and friendships.
The role of emotion in Art
Cody talks about how the role of emotion effects art in a few of his articles within his journal. "Think back to a time when you were, perhaps, wandering the streets of a city and a random musician began playing his guitar, playing a song, and that song resonated strongly within you. For one reason or another, it brought back memories of your childhood, of your lover, of your family pet. Emotions swept up and swirled throughout you as you walked past, your pace slowed now, your mind somewhere far off, away from the traumas of the every day. Unconsciously, you drop spare change into his guitar case and continue on your way. Though the music dissipates into the background noise of the city, your mind cannot escape the emotions which it had brought flooding in. The rest of your day is colored by this music.
That is the power of emotion in art.
There is something to be said about art which, at its core, is brought to life by the emotions of the artist. Whether it is a guitarist whose playing strikes you, or a painter whose painting brings you great joy, the emotions you feel are not accidental. Though the artist may not have complete control over the audience reception of the piece they create, they certainly may imbue their own emotions, which likely translate to you.
Take, for example, the famous artist Pablo Picasso. While his pieces entitled "The Old Guitarist" and "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" are perhaps his most well-known, it was his way of painting with emotion which he is most famous for. His Blue Period (1901 to 1904) and his Red Period (1904 to 1906) are, perhaps, his most famous and what people recall when they are asked about him. During his Blue Period, Picasso's paintings were entrenched by a sombre feeling, exacerbated by his use of shades of blue and blue-green, only occasionally warmed by other colors. It was during this period of time that Picasso's works were clearly influenced by the depressed mood he held within him. As he traveled through Spain, he laid witness to the prostitutes and beggars, which often became his subjects. Further, the suicide of his friend, Carles Casagemas brought upon him great sorrow. By the end of 1904, however, his mood seemed to lighten just as he met Fernande Olivier, who quickly became his mistress and his muse. The paintings made during his Red Period were said to have been influenced by his warm relationship with Olivier. This era was characterized by a lighter tone and style whereas he utilized primarily orange and pink colors in his paintings. To add to his lightened mood - and further excel it - was his gaining the attention of American art collectors Leo and Gertrude Stein, who helped him gain notoriety in the art world."
"Regardless, for those crafting subjective, emotion-led art, there is little way to avoid revealing at least a miniscule amount of emotion into your piece. Just the simple act of photographing whatever it was which caught your eye, displays a piece of emotion to the viewer. Questions then arise regarding why you had chosen to capture that scene versus another, etc. Emotion finds place within art - specifically that of photographic art - when the artist brings the piece into the editing software of their choosing. There are times whereas the artist will desire to create a more moody, dramatic piece versus something lighter, perhaps high-key. This, too, reveals the emotional intent of the artist."
