Still sick and getting worse -

"The Secret"
digital collage by Mick Mather

This darned cold is moving into places that I wish it wouldn't and I feel lousy. So poorly do I feel that, tomorrow and the next day, I'm staying in bed, not going to work, no post, just sleep, fluids and more sleep. I should be back in commission by Wednesday. Did I mention that I hate being sick like this? I thought so.

Al fresco -

"Girl Talk"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I can't believe that I'm coming down with my second summer cold in just over a month. I hate being sick. I'm going to bed...forgive the whining. I want my mommy!

Illustration Friday: Clean -

"Playin' That Saxophone"
erasercut (block-relief print) by Mick Mather

I don't suppose it would hurt any to let some of you know (or to remind those of you who know me) that my more serious artistic endeavors began as a very bad watercolor painter. Following that was a decade-long pursuit of graphic design and graphic arts where I often worked as a paste-up artist, typesetter, layout & advert designer and a little bit of illustration work. Eventually I was bitten by that little bug we call "printmaking" and spent the last 25 years on a mission to master the block-relief medium. Having succeeded at that, the last ten years of effort has conspired to pull me into the digital realm where I continue to struggle to build a large body of quality work. As regards that effort? Well, I think I'm getting there - still a long way to go. Anyway, this week's theme over at Illustration Friday took me back into the printmaking archives for a look see and I'm pleased that it did. Here's an old erasercut that I've always loved but have never editioned. I can almost hear those sweet, sweet saxophones blowing clean and cool...let it bop!

Thursday Challenge: Sports -

"The Basketball Player"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

This week's submission to Thursday Challenge is a little tongue-in-cheek comment on the theme, sports. It's doubtfull that this little cutie will make all the way to the WNBA, but, who knows? :D

When you get weary -

"From A Passing Train"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Not a lot to say...perhaps nothing at all. Do I let the introduction, the title and the piece speak for itself? I don't suppose that approach is entirely suitable either and all of a sudden I seem to be overtaken with memories of the year I took the California Zephyr to San Francisco. The view beyond the figure here reminds me so much of certain parts of that cross-continental trip that the title actually presented itself and I rather wish I was hurtling 'cross the plains right now.

Submitted to Espresso Stories: "The Lonesome Uncertainty" -

"Flash of Recognition"
digital collage by Mick Mather

"We gazed at each other from across the room, but pretended not to. Tentative, expectantly hopeful glances employed to erase the years lost between us."

Moody Monday: Exotic -

"Exotic"
digital collage by Mick Mather

With some people, some photographs, there's an exotic nebulousness that is sometimes hard to define. That's surely the case with tonight's post to the Moody Monday theme. I've attempted to make this particular piece intriguingly unusual or different by offering it up with a 40-year old doo, a pair of very post-hippie, dangly earrings and a posterized look from some of the advertising that was considered hip as the 60's slipped quietly into the 70's.

Happy Hour, Again!

"The Cocktail Dress"
digital collage by Mick Mather

In less than an hour I'll be off to do the duty at this year's New York State Blues Festival. We've reached the 15th year of this annual event that is held in the Heart of Downtown Syracuse in Clinton Square. I've been listening to one of the acts, Kelly Hunt, who's duet with Delbert McClinton - "Deal With It" - is nothing short of fabulous. Follow this link and listen for yourself. Since today and tomorrow will equal a pair of 14-hour days, it isn't likely that I'll be posting on Sunday. Neither is it very likely that I'll see any gorgeous women decked out as is tonight's post. So, a bit of a dichotomy here...but, oh! That dress! :D

Illustration Friday: Opposites -

A Square Peg and A Round Hole Series
monotypes by Mick Mather

I don't suppose you can have better opposites than these basic, differing shapes. They seem to coexist peacefully, sometimes complimentary and at other times violently...witness the child with the plastic toy hammer attempting to force them through corresponding holes in a little bench. Anyway, something quick and easy (forgive me) for this week's Illustration Friday theme.

Thursday Challenge: Stuff -

"Stuff"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

This week's them at Thursday Challenge is stuff. I figured, what could qualify better than the accumulation of treasures on my drawing table. What I like about the concept of "stuff" is what George Carlin had to say in one of his comic monologues. I paraphrase him here, but you'll get the idea: "how come the junk that belongs to you is 'good stuff', but if it belongs to someone else it's just 'crap'?" I don't suppose it can be said any better...thanks, George. :D

In a far off corner of the field -

"Hay Wagon"

digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

Something a bit different in this hit & run post from the image archives. This is digitally manipulated photograph where the original color was altered, creating a rather stark black & white graphic. This was meant to be a block-relief print initially...perhaps that will still happen one of these days. Enjoy.

Imagination running wild -

"Like A Harlequin's Shirt"

digital collage by Mick Mather

Just having a bit of fun this evening. Since one more major outdoor festival is imminent this weekend, I expect to be mining the old image files again and posting with a minimum of verbiage. I also have an evening meeting regarding a public art project (photo's due later in the summer) and a gallery opening to attend...therefore, perhaps I'll actually be missing a post or two this week. We'll see. In the meantime, tonight's image can speak for itself.

Moody Monday: Hot -

"Hot, Hot, Hot"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

Excerpt from The Inventor's Diary: "Hot Town - Summer In The City" -

"...I stood across the small, circular plaza, studying the shifting and melting colors manipulated by rays of heat rising from the sidewalk. Quietly I watched you, shuffling between bites of a sandwich, a file of papers and glimpses of this perfect, sunny afternoon. A single tear rolled down my cheek, remembering better days, when the heat of our passions easily overshadowed this idyllic scene..."

Meanwhile...I was still thinking -

"Moment of Pause"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I survived the weekend festival (insert applause here)!!! Today I got to do something that I truly enjoy - sit quietly in a chair, looking out at the world, lost in thought - enjoying a moment of pause. That said, don't feel bad about interrupting, I can easily drift right back to where I was...and, so I shall!

I've got blisters on me fingers! -

"Festival Girl"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Well, truth be told, the blisters are on my toes! Yesterdays long day of festival work is followed by an even longer day today. Soon enough my blisters will have blisters. Anyway, I thought that this image would be appropriate for summer fun, music and art in an outdoor setting.

Illustration Friday: Sacrifice -

"Selfportrait of the Artist Making a Sacrifice"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Well, not quite the supreme sacrifice, but we do what we can! :D Please forgive the hit & run post again as I'm off to work a 2-day festival. Oh my tired feet already!

Thursday Challenge: Animals -

"Draco - Contemplating Rembrandt"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

This is a manipulated photograph of our eldest daughter's cat, named after the troublemaking, slightly evil, wizard-in-training and nemesis of Harry Potter. The association fit his character perfectly as a kitten...now that he's in his early mature years his devilment has been subdued a bit and he's a very comical guy who adores our 2-year old granddaughter. Since she busies herself dragging him around, pummeling and wrestling with him, I suppose the old adage that "no good deed goes unpunished" has certainly come full circle for this rough 'n tumble Tom. Be that as it may, this pose reminds of nothing quite so much as one of Rembrandt's masterfully drawn selfportraits.

NEW from the At The Beach Series -

"The Little Blue Bikini"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I've been out to a political fundraiser for the 121st Assembly District in New York State. It was the best campaign contirbution ever - I donated $15 and drank $30 worth of wine. I suspect tnat the accountants will have a field day sorting this one out once I get to deduct the original $15 from next years taxes. Jeepers! I need to do this a LOT more often!

NEW from the At The Beach Series -

"Sunny, Sunny Day"
digital collage by Mick Mather

What else to say? Today was one of those stunning summer days where you want to tell your co-workers that you're going to a long, long lunch, that you won't be back, then head for the beach! Be certain that a luscious, bikini-clad beauty will be there before you...and I thought it was the "day" that was stunning! :D

Moody Monday: Infectious -

"Infectious"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Excerpt from The Inventor's Diary: "She, So Peculiar" -

"...on the day we met my mind was elsewhere. We traded pleasant conversation, I gave you my card, 'call if there's anything I can help you with'. You did call, months later, and I couldn't put a face with your name. When we met for the second time I was struck dumb and choked out a greeting. It all came back in a flash except that, this time, your look was slightly different, exotically attractive, magnetic and oozing sexuality...I still wonder if you understand just how much. Since that time I've become addicted to the infectious way that you remake yourself three or four times a year and, therefor, remake me!..."

Rethinking an old series of work -

"As I Sometimes See You"
digital collage by Mick Mather

As it sometimes happens, I get into a groove - some might say stuck in one - with certain, favorite images used in my digital collage...not that any of you would notice since most of them never see the light of day. I have two bodies of such work comprising the She's Not There Series and the Everywhere Your Are Series. Recent work, easily a fast and furious two dozen pieces, has left me with some pause for thought. As always, the work is deeply personal and I don't know why it continues to hold my interest and command my time. Well, again as always, and as I've said more than once before, perhaps I do know. With tonight's image my visitation goes an extra step with a work that is particularly ghostly. The title of it has also struck me as a good name for a new series that may, eventually, take in appropriate work from the other two. Sigh...there's always so much to do.

Illustration Friday: Skyline -

"Skyline"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

Here's a quick workout for this week's theme at Illustration Friday. If any of you have been looking for me at my syracuseblog.com site, my apologies. The annoying problems of access over there aren't ecxatly worse, but the site is down almost as much as it's up. I recommend that you BOOKMARK this site while you're here and once I'm able to get back in over there I'll be adding thumbnails only with a link right back here. Eventually, that site will be relegated to the status of archive. So, again, please bookmark - I'll be returning here full time before the summer is out.

Thursday Challenge: Outdoors -

"Outdoors"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

Sorry folks, a hit & run post this evening...for this weeks's theme, outdoors, over at Thursday Challenge. Hey! It's Summertime, get outta the house!

The Plot Thickens -

"The Little Troublemaker"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Another old image here, rooted in a style of heavy, blocky pixelization that I use less and less these days. In this case I chose to add another face to the layered series of effects, adding a bit more definition to the proceedings. As often occurs as I was resizing, repainting and fiddling with opacity, the face began to assume a life of its own. By the time I'd finished with the last filtered layer I began to recognize that look of mischief that little boys dressed up in their Sunday Best tend to have just before shaving the cat!

Born on the 4th of July -

"Wrecker One Star Beer"
collage (digitally manipulated) by Mick Mather

H A P P Y 4th of J U L Y ! ! !

Moody Monday: Indifferent -

"Indifferent"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Excerpt from The Inventor's Diary: "Ahead of the Curve" -

"...it was common for you to leave me hanging whenever your nerves reached that zone of uncertainty and discomfort. Knowing your fragility in maintaining relationships I was always accomodating of your method of eluding them - running. The allegorical implications never escaped me, though I'm certain they have yet to occur to you; and, while my heart sinks each time I watch you disappear over the horizon, I suffer in silence. Your emotional state is a tornado built from the wind, a whirling dervish, a swirl of indifferent activity that succeeds only in creating a path of destruction for innocent bystanders, especially those who love you..."

Waiting On A Friend -

"Waiting On A Friend"

digital collage by Mick Mather

Here's another old image that deserved a bit more work...as mentioned the other day, mining the backlog of image files is necessary for a few reasons. Most of that centers around that part of my day job that deals with outdoor festivals. One down, two more to go in the next 3 weeks. So, do forgive any short shrift in these introductions during this hectic and busy time for me.

Playing Catch-Up & Double Posting -

Things couldn't have been worse lately, what with my syracuseblog.com account being down for the entire week! Posts disappeared into the ether, uploads would'nt and didn't, and I've spent a lot more time than I really wanted to reopening this mirror site. To make matters worse, I can't have my own name the way I want it to appear over here. Anyway, my plan is to switch back here for good if things continue to be buggy at syracuseblog. For the moment, you'll be able to find posts here as well as at Mick Mather's ARTblog while I sort through a final decision that works for me. That said, below is an old image I've popped in while I test the waters. I may be doing a good bit of "mining" the digital archives here at HQ this month and I'll do my best to cross reference and link to alternate versions. F'rinstance, if you click here you'll find the original image that was posted at Illustration Friday almost a year ago.