Dreamscapes – Expressing my Creativity through Photography

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Sheryl Checkman

Riverscape

I received a new Olympus OM-D EM5 Mark II mirrorless camera for my birthday this year. Up until now, I’ve been using a Canon G11, higher end point and shoot camera. I liked that camera but felt limited creatively. My new Olympus however, is allowing me to tap into my creativity, while I am learning to use it! I am hoping to grow, not only as an artist and designer, but as a photographer as well.

I’ve started a series of photographs that are impressionistic in nature. I am calling this series my dreamscapes, because they are landscape photos with a very dream-like, painterly look. For the most part I am making these photos within the camera, only relying on the computer to enhance colors more to my liking and mood. The photo above, Riverscape, was taken looking at the East River in NYC from Carl Shurz Park on the Upper East Side. The photos below, Park Bench Dream and Park View were also taken from Carl Shurz Park, but the vantage points and subject matter produce much different photos.

This series is all about looking at things differently in order to create a unique work of art. The photos below are available for purchase at my Etsy Shop. You can click on each to go right to the listing. I welcome your thoughts and comments!

Park Bench Dream

Park View

Challenges in Yoga mirror challenges in life

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Sheryl Checkman

Firefly pose side view

Yoga is a never-ending practice of self-exploration. Each practice is different. What I can do one day, I may not be able to to the next. On the other hand, what was once difficult can also become obtainable. The same is true in life. My yoga practice allows me to check-in with my body and mind for 75-90 minutes and explore the possibilities and boundaries for the day. Being a somewhat “type-A” personality, I like to challenge myself, working on guiding my body into new, often difficult poses – preferably without hurting myself. The key here is to listen to my body’s signals, and know when to stop. I may not be ready to get there today, but maybe next time.

Headstand is one of those yoga poses that I thought I would never be able to do. It just looked too scary to me to even try. But I did try it and thanks to my wonderful yoga instructor Suzanne and the intention that I set for myself to overcome my fears, I now can do it with very little effort, and no fear. I don’t even need the wall (most of the time!).

Next, I challenged myself to learn Firefly, or Tittibhasana, as it is known in sanskrit. This is an arm balance pose that requires a lot of core strength. My instructor told me how to start out using blocks to get into the pose at first I then looked at some pictures and videos online showing the full pose and little by little I have been able to accomplish it. No longer using the blocks, I can now hold the pose longer and get my legs out straighter at each new attempt. If I fall out of the pose, I just try again. No judgement. I found this video online that gives a good explanation of the pose. Next up: Side Crow!

Firefly pose front view

What I have learned through challenging myself in yoga is that whether or not I am able to do the full pose is irrelevant, it is that I keep trying, accepting each days’ accomplishments for what they are, without judging myself. I may never achieve the full pose, and that’s ok. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. Now the biggest challenge is to take this into my life off the mat.

What challenges are you working on?

A $250K Grant for Life is Balance – wishful thinking? Maybe not!

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Sheryl Checkman

Life is Balance wants to win the $250K Mission Small Business Grant

Vote for Life is Balance for the Mission Small Business $250K Grant

Sometimes you just got to go for it. What would you do if you had the chance to get a $250,000 Small Business Grant? I asked myself that very question the other day and my answer was simple… go for it. Never mind that every small business in the United States is after that very same prize. You have to believe that your business is worth it and just put it out there. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say.

So, I have until June 30th to get 250 votes in order to be considered for this life and business-changing Grant sponsored by Chase and LivingSocial. As many of you know, I recently launched Life is Balance®, an inspirational line of apparel that celebrates the various sports and activities that balance our lives. Getting this Grant will enable me to grow this business in ways that I’m not able to do on my own. And, if that happens, it will enable me to really make a difference and give back to society.

But I need at least 250 votes at missionsmallbusiness.com to be considered for this $250,000 Grant! Here’s where you can come in. Please support Life is Balance and help me reach 250 votes before the June 30 cut-off.

1. Go to missionsmallbusiness.com

2. On the Right-hand side of the home page, click on Log-in & Support

3. On the next page type in “Life is Balance” where it asks for business name. The city and state is New York, NY and click Search

4. When you see Life is Balance in New York, NY come up, click Vote!

That’s it. You’ve now helped me get that much closer to qualifying for this incredible $250,00 Grant!

Below are some screen shots showing you what to do: