New Year's Eve 2006 -

"Map To A Cold, Cold Heart"
digital collage by Mick Mather

It's New Year's Eve. An early dinner was enjoyed - yum, lobster tails! - and now the annual attempt to stay up til the clock ticks over. As a road musician for most of my young adult life, playing the clubs until 3 or 4am on this night every year has made me appreciate staying in. No curmudgeonly view this, rest assured...don't mind me, you kids go have fun! You have a designated driver, yes? Good, I knew that you would.

Brand new toys -

"Losing Her Step"
digital collage by Mick Mather

As luck would have it, a pair of plugin packages that went awry during the download process were finally recovered and installed. I've spent the best part of the week learning how to use them and am pleased to show one of the first images that worked well for me. So, no time to prattle on as I might otherwise do...gotta get back to the drawing table!

Illustration Friday: Phoenix -

"Phoenix"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Just at that point in time where my conceptualizations of new works include maps, data and diagrams, here comes a terrific opportunity to jump head first in that direction. Illustration Friday has chosen phoenix as its theme this week and the possibilities are endless. I got so caught up in the research that, finally, I had to knuckle down with a handful of elements and just get started! In the end I was torn between what you see here and another where the colors are inverted. I prefer the other, but it didn't quite seem to fit with the deep space theme. Here's the result, perhaps I'll post the alternate one of these days when time is short.

NEW from The Selfportrait Series -

"Selfportrait of the Artist As A Tourist"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I've had this in the files for a few weeks...with the hit 'n run posting during my holiday vacation, now is the right time to put it up.

The view from here -

"Bird Watching"
digital collage by Mick Mather

This, I suppose, is a question of who's watching what? Anyway, a little double entendre for me to have a chuckle over on this most relaxing winter vacation ... :)

Counting blessings, again -

"The Lost Gift"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Nothing to say...nothing to add...I've been working away in the studio...hopefully with something to show by the New Year...til then? Hit & run posts as I accomplish a piece here and there.

Moody Monday: Re-Gifting -

"Ellie Re-gifts A Lump of Coal to Mick"
(photograph of Ellie by Ellie Harrison)
digital collage by Mick Mather

I've been spending a little bit of time over at Ellie Harrison's web site lately. Not since the heyday of the Dadaists has the concept of "my life is art" hit me over the head quite this hard. Without giving anything more away - we all need to do our own work, don't we? - this image, for the theme of re-gifting at Moody Monday, was suggested by one of Ellie's photographs. So, I sent an email to the very clever Ms. Harrison to discuss this post. Part of Ellie's affirmative response was, "the image that you have selected is actually a picture of me holding up the 'HI GEAR SCANNER MARK II PEDOMETER', which I used for my 'Daily Quantification Records' project." Jeepers, who couldn't love a gal who can make a tech gadget sound so cuddly, fetching and provocative? Ellie? Thanks a great big ol' bunch for the permission to use...as for the rest of you? Find your way over to ELLIEHARRISON.COM and see for yourself!

Merry Christmas -

"Christmas 2006"
digital collage by Mick Mather

"...Peace On Earth...Good Will Toward Men..."

NEW from The Selfportrait Series -

"Selfportrait of the Artist in Front of a Tall Building"
digital collage by Mick Mather

While snooping about the files amid the flurry of Holiday activity, a bit of nog (okay, okay...I'm sipping the brandy straight!) and fighting sleepy eyes, I found this. Enjoy.

Illustration Friday: Peace -

"Tree of Peace"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

No surprise at the theme, peace, at Illustration Friday this week. This photo was taken at night with the tree decorations as the only source of light. It was quite a bit of fun to play around with the very, very dark original to come up with what is seen here. That said, I take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy Holiday and New Year...I hope to spend the next 10 days relatively undisturbed in my studio experimenting with some small acrylic sketches. It is quite likely that my posting here will be sporadic during this time so, just in case you don't see me, not to worry! I'll be back after the 1st of the New Year. Peace, Love and Soul!

Thursday Challenge: Toys -

"Crayon, Outside In August"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

I've been waiting quite a while to be able to use this photograph. It was a hot, summer day and one of the neighbors, a beautiful 3-year old named Michaela, dropped a few crayons in the parking lot. No big deal...after all, she did have a bucket full. Anyway, the Thurdsay Challenge theme of toys finally allowed me an opportunity to work on this and put it up. Enjoy.

Turn, turn, turn -

"A Pair of Pliers"
digital collage by Mick Mather

One of the reasons that I take the time to look at so much art, is for that inspirational, light bulb moment when I see the diverging path in the hedgerows just ahead of me. I've been thinking, for quite some time, to revisit a series of tools and other common things begun a few years ago as works-on-paper. I've always had a shredded bin of memory filled with maps, topographic diagrams and hastily scrawled directions with visual scribbles in the centers, margins and along ragged edges. Here, for the first time, I see an unclear beginning and fully intend to follow this path in the coming year. Oh boy!

A different view of it -

"In A Fun House Mirror"
digital collage by Mick Mather

When the gaps fire, only to reveal the most disconnected thing, one can release it or follow along. I have no clue why I was transported back in time to the Fun House Mirrors at an old, local amusement park that isn't even there anymore. As I went back through this month's file backlog I stopped at this one and "bam"! It hit me...that said, the silly gap has fired again. What is it this time? That new recipe of mine with shaved carrots, caramelized onions and bacon bits. Time to eat folks, see you tomorrow.

Moody Monday: Foul -

"Foul"
digital collage by Mick Mather

My first take on this week's theme at Moody Monday was a fisherman with a snagged, or foul if you prefer, line. As I began gathering elements together I found myself drawn to the forces of thrust, refraction, angles of incidence, trajectories and the foul ball instead. Sigh! So much physics - so little edge-uh-muh-kay-shun!

A week before Christmas -

"Waiting For A Bus"
digital collage by Mick Mather

The weather remains warm, more like Spring than Winter, and it seems like the coming week at the office will finally be less than a mad dash. Finally, a bit of down time with an opportunity to straighten up the work area, catch up on some reading and perhaps a little research that will actually be fun. After that, a week's vacation between the holidays - I haven't yet decided what my post schedule here will be like. I suppose it will be a take-it-as-it-comes sort of a decision; but, I'm way ahead of myself...enjoy tonight's post.

Gallery Night -

"Out For An Evening Stroll"
digital collage by Mick Mather

It was an interesting week, an even more interesting day at the end of it all...the icing on the cake being the Grand Opening of The Lucas Gallery. It all began, oddly enough, with a misdirected email that lead to a phone call, which turned into a lunch meeting, that became equal parts conversation and consultation where the end result was an appointment to show my own work. Happily, some of it is now included in the first group exhibition. The Lucas Gallery is located at 33 Jordan Street in beautiful Skaneateles, New York - in case you happen to be traveling that way for the holidays. Eventually, you'll be able to see the work online as things progress and develop. Stop in won't you? Tell Kevin and Molly that I sent you.

Illustration Friday: Help -

"Helping A Young Lady Through Community College"
digital collage by Mick Mather

The theme at Illustration Friday this week is help. As I recall, it hasn't been more than a week or two that I was watching some old movie where the plotline featured a somewhat lecherous pair of older gentlemen. Each was trying to outdo the other by way of painting the town with younger women. Somewhere along the way, one or the other, perhaps both, were called to question over their escorts. Their shocked replies were always one and the same, "s'quite obvious, don't you see? I'm helping this fine young lady through community college."

Thursday Challenge: Cold -

"Cold"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

It's been a very long day. This weeks theme at Thursday Challenge, cold, is a photograph of some icicles hanging from a house I used to live in. This ice sheet formed after a blizzard that dumped over 4 feet of snow in less than 48 hours and almost completely obstructed the view from the living room picture window. I rather prefer the near-60 degree temperature we enjoyed today - magnificent for the middle of December in this part of the country. Since I have one more very L-O-N-G day tomorrow, I believe I'll hold that thought all the way to my pillow!

NEW from The Memory Series -

"Memory of Rose"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Since the end of the year is always an appropriate time for reflection, I did a little bit of that this morning. The exercise has revealed itself in two parts. First, I've been combing the files for old images that either haven't been used, might make the cut with a little touching up or deserving of a total make-over. Second, after finding tonight's post, I decided to add it to the The Memory Series since it reminds me of a favorite aunt - who I just happened to run into this past week while out shopping for the holidays! It's a small world after all - sorry for dropping a quarter into the ol' music player.

A simple, pleasant Tuesday -

"In The Way"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Not a lot going on, the peace and quiet is sweet, let me tell you. The calm before the storm of activity leading up to the holidays I suspect. Tonight's post is, kind of, an irksome exercise in irksomeness. This time of year in particular, people tend to get right into your path - just like a cat dontcha know? - and then park there. Humming, pointing, thinking, who-knows-what? Do yourself a favor this year, let it go. Take a deep breath and wait til the coast is clear. :)

Moody Monday: Cheeky -

"Cheeky"
digital collage by Mick Mather
- original photograph by Mary Stebbins -

The theme at Moody Monday this week was a tough one for me. Not so much from the standpoint of thinking of something to do - rather, the other way 'round, as in what not to do! Anyway, I stumbled across an old photo taken by my good friend, Mary Stebbins, and liked the fist-in-the-air attitude of impudence exhibited by the young girl here...and the wall came tumbling down. Tumbling, tumbling!

A sunny Sunday -

"Portrait of Diana"

digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

I was lazy today - the temperature shot back up to 50 degrees accompanied by sunshine and blue skies. So, out I went for some air, some breakfast and then, home again, home again - for a nice long nap. After that I started going back through the 2006 files...to critique, revisit, retouch, re-do and reminisce. I found this one, fell back in love with it again and, voila, here's to you "D". I trust that things are going well out on The Cape.

Green, green grass of home -

"In A Field On A Summer Day"
digital collage by Mick Mather

We've recently had our first appreciable snow along with a few very cold days - teens for the most part - bracketed on either side by temperatures in the 60's and soon back to 50's for most of next week. At times like these I tend to drift back over memories of summer days. Tonight's post reflects a dream of just such a day.

Illustration Friday: Mask -

"Selfportrait of the Artist Wearing A Mask"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Here we have a NEW addition to The Selfportrait Series doing double duty as the weekly post to Illustration Friday. It's interesting for me to note, after the fact, that I've created two pieces over there, a week apart, that are tied to memories of our past and what it takes to maintain freedom from oppression. Tonight I was recalling my own service during the mid-1960's, the Navy Seals and my father who helped set the precedent for being one tough son-of-a-bitch - Pop was a member of a UDT Team during WW II, the predecessors of that elite force we know so well today..."fiat iustitia et pereat mundus".

Thursday Challenge: Car -

"Car 54, Where Are You?"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

One more day at the office this week and there's likely to be some blood loss! Anyway, I had a nice, relaxing evening putting this one together for Thursday Challenge. That, said and done, is that! I'm off for some mindless entertainment...yup, mine and whoever thunks up these TV Shows that're likely to lull me to sleep. Later.

Blinking sleep from my eyes -

"The Hardest Part"
digital collage by Mick Mather

It's only Wednesday and the work week is still, seemingly, all uphill! I'm tired and sleepy and have one foot in bed...but, before I drift away, tonight's image. There, done, we'll chat later.

I can't stay but a moment -

"Her Engaging Smile"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Once again, this began in one place and ended up in quite another. About three-quarters of the way through this piece the smile won me over and warmed my heart. I got an email from one of my best friends today that said, "your smile will make others feel good, even those people who don't like you." Hmmmmm...pause for thought. Yup! A smile is mighty powerful stuff.

Moody Monday: Fruity -

"The Wild Strawberry Farmer"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Tonight's post, created for the Moody Monday theme of "fruity", started out one way but ended up kitty korner and upside down. There are some wild strawberries in here someplace, but as I began to take the theme along that road traveled by those who are just a tad off balance, I began to feel that old excitement. A good thing too! It's made me feel better.

Preparing for an exhibition: Part I, The Entry -

"The Tango Judges"

digital collage by Mick Mather

I had hoped to see this piece, if accepted, exhibited digitally only. After hearing back from Elisa, at The Elisa Pritzker Studio & Gallery, regarding this request for the upcoming exhibition in 2007 called "Tango" I got right to work - even though the answer was no. Anyway, I thought I'd post it here this evening while I contemplate the piece - a few areas still bother me some. With a December 10th deadline, I don't suppose I can let it sit too long...back to the drawing board? Perhaps.

NEW from The Selfportrait Series -

"Selfportrait of the Artist as A Portrait"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Just having a little bit of fun while this cold (yes! my 4th one this year!) goes into my chest and knocks me for another loop! While working on it, I took a little time to surf the web for other artists selfportraits - this one and this one are two of my own favorites. That said, forgive this short 'n sweet post, but I need to get back into bed.

Illustration Friday: Might -

"Might"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Don't be confused, this is not a political statement nor does it hold any contemporary reference to recent shifts in political power driven by anti-war sentiment over The Iraq War. This week's theme at Illustration Friday, might, brought to mind a time in our History when the dangers of a world in flux were much better understood and easier to define as a global menace. With Pearl Harbor Day right 'round the corner, this has everything to do with the Spirit of American Freedom - for all, not just for us - at a time when we may have been closer to losing it all than we realize or want to remember.