Something exotic...I think -

"The Dark Haired Girl"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Not a lot to say again this evening except that I finally seem to be in full recovery mode. From the shrouded veil of a week's worth of constant pain comes...this! You enjoy looking while I enjoy laying down with the heating pad one more night.

The neo-modern, contemporary impressionist...huh? -

"Looking for Seurat"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Some preset filters will give a work that marvelous, pointillist look that, I'm certain, took Georges Seurat many months to accomplish. While this piece has a number of layers and other effects that I worked very hard to apply in some satisfying way, in the end it has that preset sort of a look to it. In this particular case, since this is exactly what I was after, I can breathe easy.

The president's plane is missing -

"Violet Vision #4"
digital collage by Mick Mather

The missing plane is actually a metaphor - blogger has been down a LOT lately and the few times when I was able to actually post something? No access...i.e.: blogger (or the plane if you will) was missing! Anyways, here's a new addition to The Violet Vision Series while I play a little bit of catch up.

Oh! My aching back! -

"A Heated Discussion"

digital collage by Mick Mather

First of all, one of my busiest weeks has come to a close with 1 more to go. Add the fact that my back is still out and giving me fits, I've taken more days off from this blog than I wanted to. Even tonight is going to be hit and run since the pain of sitting in my studio chair for long is more of challenge than I'm able to endure. That said, I've been working with a few new filters and experimenting further with layers. With that in mind, here's tonight's post while sneak off to the sofa and a nap.

Here one moment, gone the next -

"The Etching"
digital collage by Mick Mather

A hit and run post today in spite of yesterday's warning that it might be a dry week. This one fell together relatively quickly and I loved the small artwork on the wall in the background. Enjoy.

An empty heart means an empty life -

"Blue Jacket"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Another one of those headaches again today, not that I'm complaining about it 'cause my back is bad and hurts even worse, in two places. As I chalk this minor misery up to the change of weather and season and as if to kick me while I'm down, an old Rolling Stones song kept me ragged company while I worked on tonight's post. Finally, a bit of good news - working on the jacket took me away to another place for a while. Go figure. Anyway, the rest of this week is filled with late meetings, a fund raising dinner and who knows all what else? If I'm not here for a few days, be assured that I'll be back by the weekend.

At a loss for words -

"The Dinner Guest"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I really do seem to be in a black hole as regards where my thinking lies this evening. All of the thoughts that occupy me are about Fall, darker and warmer colors, shorter days and the beginning of my annual migraines from lack of sunlight. I need to lie down.

NEW from The Violet Vision Series -

"Violet Vision #3"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Two images that I never expected to come together in any effective way comprise tonight's post. One photo was old, black & white and in major need of cutting and repainting once the much newer, color image was layered in. To make a long story short, sometimes the benefit and reward of choosing a project that may be a step beyond ones grasp is large.

Illustration Friday: Ghost -

"Ghost"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Today I came this close to creating a new monotype - including taking a second impression from the plate without repainting, resulting in what we call a "ghost" - for this week's theme at Illustration Friday. While that would've been quite a bit of fun as well as satisfying (assuming the pair of impressions came out well of course), I also had the secondary idea of using a Television set. Since I don't have cable and must rely on a practically useless set of rabbit ears to drag the signal out of the ether, well, documenting my daily life won the coin toss. Have fun with it, I sure did!

Thursday Challenge: Dark -

"Still Screaming"
digital collage by Mick Mather

NEW from The Nightmare Series - "...in the darkness, deep depressions stir and roil, belied is the outward countenance of calm, for inside, she is still screaming..."

Pretty as a picture -

"Flower Girl"
digital collage by Mick Mather

It was the drape of a simple, cotton dress over the form of her body that mesmerized me this evening. I don't suppose there's anything quite as bewitching as pure animal magnetism which, I believe, is a chemical reaction of the brain triggered by such things as...pheromones? Simple sight, sound, smell? Oh the demystified demise of a good performance rife with the sort of suggestive trickery of Mssr. Mesmer in his day.

Time's a looking glass -

"Looking Good At Any Age"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I picked up the Jim Lauderdale CD, "Bluegrass", for a song (no pun intended) a few weeks ago. Tonight's post intro is the title of track two and the line, "time's a looking glass" has been haunting me for the weeks that I've been listening to this particular collection. It's always great fun for me to work with old photographs and tonight's image is no exception. As I was running it through a few final layers, the concept of the timeless look that some faces retain in spite of period costume or dress, never ceases to amaze me.

Moody Monday: Party -

"Party"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather
(original photo by Mary Stebbins)

The theme over at Moody Monday this week is party, so, I chose an unidentified caller, or would that be callee? Either way, something short and sweet while I recuperate from a hectic day at the office. Ring me up again later...ta!

Inspiration-photochallenge: Solitude Standing -

"Selfportrait of the Artist as a Solitary Man"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Tonight's post serves double duty. First, it was created for Odilia Liuzzi's NEW version of Inspiration Challenge, now known as "Inspiration-photochallenge"; second, it's the latest addition to my own Selfportrait Series. Now the fun begins as I attempt to upload this over at Odilia's place. Sad to say, the new site is less than user friendly and I've already inadvertently changed my password by attempting to log in. Oh well, don't let my technical incompetence stop you from having a peek over there. Even if I'm unable to get this posted there's plenty of other terrific work to see.

Just because you can -

"Making A Case For Breaking Hearts"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Not a lot to say that carries any particular weight when it comes to relationships. We've all had a particular moment in time - perhaps two, sometimes three - where we've been broken badly. Hopes and dreams are meant to be shared but, sometimes, the object of your affection doesn't see it all the way through or exactly the same as you. In the end, those of us who remain in control of enough of our faculties to be able to take an honest assessment of the other side are not necessarily better off with the information. So, this is a tongue-in-cheek fantasy of just such an imagined conversation.

Illustration Friday: Smitten -

"Smitten"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Submitted to Espresso Stories: "Friday Night Just Died" -
"...her shape, her perfume, her distinctive walk - ghosts haunting streets where I walk alone. Each vision a question, what do you with Friday night?.."

Thursday Challenge: Glass -

"The Etager"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

I wanted to take this somewhere else entirely but, had I done so, it simply wouldn't have been recognizeable for this week's theme of "glass" at Thursday Challenge. This photograph is of a collection of waterford cut crystal in the dining room housed in a brass 'n glass etager...that just about covers it I think. :)

...but I like it! -

"Violet Vision #2"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Some weeks ago one of my regular meme sites offered the theme of purple or violet or something. At the time, I followed that road for a few more images before getting on with my usual work. Side roads are, for the most part, well worth the exploration, only dangerous in the movies. Anyway, this is another image from the road less travelled and I have a new series for my trouble. I s'pose Jagger said it right, "it's only rock 'n roll...but I like it!"

"She spreads her wings and she's free" -

"Quicksilver Girl"
digital collage by Mick Mather

By the time I reached this point with tonight's image all I could think of was the old Steve Miller Band song of the same name. Ensconced somewhere in the middle of their second LP, "Sailor", it was one of those dreamy, yet bluesy, songs that could float you down a sweetwater stream. Dude! Pass the...never mind. Got any snacks?

Moody Monday: Camouflage -

"Concealed in Graphic Tricks and Ben Day Dots"
digital collage by Mick Mather

This week's theme over at Moody Monday was a bit of a challenge. The original idea was this paper-thin model and an old schoolyard taunt: "Minnie, Minnie, she's so skinny, she's got no rear, she can disappear, by turning sideways". Kids can be so cruel, yes? Speaking of which, I'm off to babysit the granddaughter so, no time to chat further t'day. See you tomorrow - same time, same station.

Diffuse patterns of obstructed light -

"Uphill Climb"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I think that most artists will tell you that "happy accidents" often define the completion of a work. Yes, at the Cedar Bar, it was always told that, "I put things where I want them, (insert the name of your favorite abstract expressionist here), not where they end up!" In reality, the sub-conscious can be an assertive force, always willing and able to lead you astray. Here, for example, the abstract background assumes colorfully foggy building shapes looming up beyond a hill that our walker struggles to crest. The appearance was a happy accident that put me in the home stretch...wait a minute! No! I meant to do that! :D

Crisp, clean, simple lines -

"A Minimalist Student of Modern Architecture"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I'm afraid this is going to have to be another hit & run post today. I'm STILL under the weather and I have an art exhibition to hang this afternoon. Not a lot of work involved once the tally is made, but, I'd rather be in bed. We'll chat later as I attempt to recover sufficiently to get away to the mountains (bumps in the ground to any of you living near real mountains) this weekend. You're correct, sir! No posts on Friday and straight through to Monday. Ahhhh, I feel almost relaxed as I utter the words. :)

Paint, painted, painterly -

"The Red Stripe"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I've always been a fan of titles. Song titles, album titles, book titles, titles of the Titled, village and town titles, you name it. While surfing through my artchives, seeking something to put up swiftly so's I can crawl back into bed, I discovered this piece. Done during that middle period of, perhaps zealotry, as regards seeking a painterly feel in my digital manipulations, a title for the piece hit me right between the eyes....and so, I'm off to bed!

Donation requested -

"Standing in the Shadows"
digital collage by Mick Mather

The third cold of the year still has a grip on me and I won't be long here tonight. This image is finally finished - a donation for a fundraising dinner later this month to benefit the The Westcott Community Center in Syracuse, New York. This print measure 6" X 6" and, if it weren't for my pitiful runny nose and the beginnings of a hacking cough, I'd be at Community Darkrooms dropping this off for reproduction. Oh well.