There she goes! -

"Riding"
digital collage by Mick Mather

It was only a few weeks back that I began working on a bicycle image as a submission to a curated art show. It's funny how, once you move in a certain direction, a serendipitous series of imagery seems to appear at your feet. That aside, there's something about the figure riding off the frame that reminds of carefree summer days as a boy. It wasn't unusual to be sitting idly beneath a big old shade tree and have a pal wheel in and say, "let's go bike riding". Hey! Fellas, wait for me! :D

Further on down the road -

"Sisters"
digital collage by Mick Mather

As a short romp back through this blog will show, I'm still investigating the new direction discovered in December thanks to a few new filters. Hence the title of tonight's post as I drive deeper and further along this shaded lane of rough, loose and sketch-like work. "The sisters?", you may be asking, are me mum and Aunt Thelma...in my own mind that is.

Moody Monday: Sporty -

"Sporty"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Tonight's post is a fairly simple piece for sporty, this week's theme at Moody Monday. This is a typical Spring day where a sunny afternoon with mid-60's temperatures get folks out and about to test drive their summer wardrobe. Unless Mother Nature throws us a curve we ought to be able to see a day or two like this in 6 to 8 weeks. Cross your fingers, cross your toes, take a deep breath and...hold it!

NEW from The Memory Series -

"Memory of Barbara"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I'm back from The Big Apple and from a week of being disconnected from the net for 99% of the time. The last six days spent at Incentra Village House was a step away from the tools of technology, and an opportunity to empty my mind of project work and the process that accompanies it. While weekdays were structured and filled with art - studying, contemplating, evaluating, discussing - the cocktail hour and beyond was a time for thinking and looking and living in a way that was cumulatively relaxing for no specific purpose beyond enjoying the good life. I'm certain that this mental cataloging and documentation will find it's way into my work as the weeks go by. For now? A sigh of relief, satisfaction and a well rested turn into the home stretch towards Spring.

Unplugged -

"Clearing A Small Table"
digital collage by Mick Mather

In the morning I'll be taking the 9:30 train to New York City. It's partially a business trip and partially a vacation. It also means that I won't be making any posts for a while. The short version - since I still have a few things to pack - is that for the next 8 days I'll be totally off-the-net. That's right, unplugged. See you here again on January 30th.

Illustration Friday: Super Hero -

"The Adventures of Super Shoe!"
digital cartoon by Mick mather

TGIF - Thank Goodness! It's Illustration Friday! The theme this week is super hero and I immediately thought of this old cartoon I used to draw just for the giggles. The concept for our comic strip Super Hero was that of a noble, yet hapless, flying shoe that was ever watchful for folks in a tight spot. Unfortunately, our inept saver-of-the-day was never able to accomplish his task and always ends up in need of a rescue himself. So, here's to would-be super heroes everywhere who never quite made the grade. :D

Thursday Challenge: Wealth -

"Wealth"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

Very strange, this. Yesterday, I had no idea that I would be posting another image in that same vein. Once again, this image reminds me of wallpaper or an upholstery covering, drapes perhaps. Anyway, it's a simple photograph of some purple flowers taken last summer on Brighton Hill and pressed into service for this week's theme of "wealth" at Thursday Challenge. As I was trolling through the files the idea of ancient princes and kings came to mind. Rich enough to have their royal robes dyed purple, perhaps edged in gold thread or other expensive embellishments. So, tonight's post is a regal field of flowers, every leaf, stalk and stem the ladies-in-waiting for royalty, garbed in purple.

Staring at the walls -

"Cotton"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Toward the end of 2006 I was playing around with some less figurative imagery. This piece wasn't much - maybe it still isn't - but somehow, all of a sudden, it speaks to me. The fact that it seems to be saying "wallpaper" and "upholstery covers" shouldn't really enter into it. Should it? Well, it hit me just like that and is very soothing in a way.

Bike-Power Exhibition at 621 -

"Chalk Line"
digital collage by Mick Mather

It was a pleasant surprise to receive notification that my submission to the "Bike-Power Exhibition" was accepted. The artists reception and "First Friday" wing ding will be held in Tallahassee, Florida on March 2nd. If you live in the area, stop in and make an offer...the work is for sale. While you're there? Take a few photo's and email me the jpeg's, yes? Oh, and do have some cheap, red wine while you're marching back and forth between your faves.

Moody Monday: Cheap -

"Cheap"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

It's the beginning of a new week and time to post another image at Moody Monday. The theme for the week is cheap and who doesn't enjoy a bargain? I don't suppose the subject of this piece looks particularly enthused but, as I recall, she was actually averting her eyes as I released the shutter so as not to have to acknowledge my taking the photograph. The just reward is, I happened to get this shy young lady with her eyes closed. So it goes.

Lost & Found Department -

"The Shadow of Death"

digital collage by Mick Mather

Some time ago I participated in an artists' book project - found: in japan - and posted the block relief print here as it went from idea to drawing to working drawing to final cut, inking and editioning. Not long after completing that limited edition print and sending them off to the marvelous Beth Berst, I was playing around in a collaborative meme site - kollabor8 - where I used the image again. This time as a shadow over previously existing images, most notably, the dead bird carcasses neatly lined in rows. As I was surfing through old files with an eye toward "project back-up and delete" I decided to put it up. Now that I've had time to think things over? I have a really BIG job ahead of me to get out my dozens of floppies to download and transfer to CD. The good news is, the bulk of the work are artistamps that have never seen the light of day in any great number. My head is swimming! Time for bed too!

Where'd the day go? -

"Remote"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Before the New Year, as I began developing new pieces in The Maps Series, it was mentioned here that I had a number of old pieces that fit the category. In fact, while snooping around in the archives I even found on old, old folder title - The Maps Series! It was empty and, as I recall, I never pursued the imagery long enough for it to warrant the series at the time. Anyway, tonight's post is a piece from 2005 that was originally posted at IF but did double duty for my graphic novelette - The Chronicles of a Lonesome Princess. Sadly, most of the writing for the project is inaccessible due to a software crash and the inability of this computer to reinstall it from the CD...dunno why. Anyway, something to enjoy while I go pick out a movie to watch - smell that popcorn do ya? :D

Illustration Friday: 80's -

"Selfportrait of the Artist as a 1980's Graphic"
manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

I always enjoy working on the diff'rent theme posted each week at Illustration Friday. Especially those times when a piece does double duty...in this case, a NEW addition to The Selfportrait Series. Now, must dash! I'm off to the Open Artists' Reception for Visual Arts Showcase #58 and, I believe, I'm the bartender )hic!) tonight. Ta!

Thursday Challenge: White -

"Whitetip Shark"
digital collage by Mick Mather

There's much to do, including tonight's post for Thursday Challenge. So much to do that I won't waste a lot of time yapping away tonight; although, not unlike Capt. Queeg in The caine Mutiny, "if you have specific questions, I'll be happy to answer them 1-by-1." Right hand...salute...to! There ya go!

Exhibited online -

"Mounting Steps"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

I stumbled across a curious, but interesting, online exhibition opportunity. I say curious because I can't seem to find any deadline or information about the actual exhibition part of this project - whereas before, I thought I had seen that stuff. Well, this sort of thing suits me, really, so up went the image that you see here tonight. You might want to have a peek at this on the Bike-Power site too. While you're there have a look at some of the other artwork. A multi-media event, all online...hmmm.

41 and counting -

"Rainy Day Woman"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Tonight's image laid around for quite a while before these new filters that I've been rambling on about lately came into play. As I was fiddling with it, this rain-on-the-window look was achieved and the old Bob Dylan classic, "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35", popped into my head. I was a bit nonplussed to discover that this song is 41 years old! Where's the time gone? I would not feel so all alone indeed...pass that bottle down, son, pass the bottle down.

Moody Monday: Cute -

"Selfportrait of the Very Young, Very Cute Artist"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

Well, I couldn't resist putting this one up for the weekly theme, cute, at Moody Monday. It fits in a couple of other ways I suppose...f'rinstance, it is a brand new year and, a few days ago, I did put up a post featuring me mum. Both images harken back to this time which, the best that I can do for all of you, is admit they're from the last century! :D

NEW from The Maps Series -

"Taxi!"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Over the last few weeks I've talked more than a little bit about stretching into unfamiliar territory with my tools as well as the way I think about, and look at, my work. I've moved, almost totally, into a much more graphic, illustration-like style that I seem to like very much. Seeing the work in this way has given me a lot more impetus toward making good on an old threat - turning some of this work into real, large-size paintings. While what you see here is a finished work, behind the scenes are another dozen image treatments and layers. Many of these are basic, broadly, blocked-in underpaintings (go here to see a 7-step series of one of Bryan Larsen's wonderful paintings to see what I mean) that I need to understand and paint in order to get started. Hmmm, $29.99 will get me that painting table I've been looking for since last summer.

Spy games?

"The Eavesdropper"
digital collage by Mick Mather

It doesn't happen very often, but I was just about to delete the components of this collage and scrap it. The original contrasts of light and dark were harsh, glaring. As I began to tear things up and reassemble them, I discovered that removing the problem areas would be a challenge but, quite likely worth the effort. I was right and loved the buttery, low light ambience of it from the beginning. Somewhere along the home stretch the idea that the figure in this post might be a spy came to mind. It certainly looks, to me anyway, like she's listening to another conversation over her left shoulder...I hope the dis-information team was geared up before the entree arrived!

Illustration Friday: Buzz -

"Tango Robbie Got His Buzz On"
digital collage by Mick Mather

One of the things I like best about the meme sites like Illustration Friday is the framework - the theme if you will - in which one has to work. Long story short? You're working inside a box while trying to think outside of it. Well, that's the way I was looking at it while working on tonight's piece...have at it!

Thursday Challenge: New -

"New Girl In A Small Town"
manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

Hmmm, this is the second time that the theme of new has been put out at Thursday Challenge. I s'pose it goes hand-in-hand with the New Year and I'm not complaining in any case. I took this photograph last fall and as I was combing the files for an appropriate image I began to wonder about the subject of this one. Who is she? Where is she going so early in the morning? Does she work in a small shop nearby? New in town? That's it!

NEW from The Memory Series -

"Memory of Mom at Twenty-One"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I've been working on this image for months in Photoshop - I was forced into it since it was one of only two photo editors on the computers at my other office. This week I dumped it into my usual super secret array of filters & editors and, while layering things together...voila! Hi Mommy!!! I don't really have anything more to tell since, as you've probably guessed, the title says it all.

The Maps Series -

"Waltz Across Texas"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Somehow, I fit seamlessly back into the working world, having returned to the office today for first time in 12 days. As I mentioned briefly (very briefly), while I was away, I investigated some old ideas, some new ideas, some shared ideas and a batch of new filters. That intense week of work has resulted in a slight change of style in my new work. For the time being, it may appear as though I'm offering up a mixed bag of work without direction. This isn't the case, assuredly, and I'm just stretching a little bit as the work flows into a slightly more expressionist vein. At the same time, a NEW series has been born - The Maps Series. Last week, as well as over the years, I've done quite a few pieces that fit into this category as special one-off projects, mostly at the meme sites such as Illustration Friday or the now defunct Danish success, Everchangingart. As I find time to research back through the archives, I'm sure to re-post some of them on the way to a new set at flickr. Onward and upward!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

"A Toast to the New Year - 2007"
digital collage by Mick Mather
"...When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide..."
- The Beatles