Moody Monday: Light -

"Tripping the Light Fantastic"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I didn't specifically set out to capture a photograph for this week's Moody Monday - the theme is light - but that's what happened. Straight from the Kodak Z740 to the array of filters and plug-ins here at the Secret Visual Laboratory and, with a little musical inspiration from Bill Laswell and Pete Namlook via Outland 1, a little bit of mystery, romance and adventure was added. This just in!...scores of motorists at a local intersection found themselves out of gas in the middle of a traffic jam. Early reports claim that a mysterious "lost time event" occurred when stranded drivers began to realize that 24 hours had passed in what seemed like a normal 24 second passage of time for the traffic light at that intersection. Details and film at eleven!

Something minimal, an ambient visual? -

"The Over Sized Raincoat"
digital collage by Mick Mather

On my mind this evening is the image that took me back to an old way of working. For a time, I'd begin very small, often less than 100 pixels - give or take some as regards vertical or horizontal formatting. Next, the image is biggered into a 400 X 270 pixel frame. Very blocky looking this, so blurs and other softening filters are employed to remove the ragged edges, creating a rather misty look to the proceedings. Often, as can be seen in this particular piece, important features would blend into the background or disappear completely. Here, suffering from that very crisis of lost definition, the figure appears to have a very tiny head atop a very big body. Even with that, the image speaks to me in a way that none of that matters in the end. So, I offer it up as today's documentation of my ongoing work here at the Secret Visual Laboratory.

For Gentlemen only, Ladies Invited -

"I Love You"
digital collage by Mick Mather

As I turned over the anniversary poem that is the basis for tonight's post, I sat stunned and amazed as the idea began to form. The torn scrap of newsprint was scanned, both sides, then the fun began. In essence, this is all about telling the ones you love that you love them - every day. Me? I've been in love enough times to know that this makes perfect sense. So, to you whom I love dearly and tell everyday, your reward comes each 24 hours. For a few, I tell you as often as I'm able. To the unfortunate, who never heard these words spoken between us, this piece is a dedication. Finally, for you who had nothing to say at all in the face of my sleeve borne heart? A quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: "IF I LOVE YOU, WHAT BUSINESS IS IT OF YOURS?"

Illustration Friday: Remember -

"Selfportrait of the Artist Ogling the Object of His Affection"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I'm on a roll this week with new images for The Selfportrait Series. At least, they're new to you folks. Most of them have been languishing in the files for some time now, waiting for just the right moment to make an appearance. It's a little amazing that I've found so many images for this series within the same week that fit my favorite meme sites - remember for instance, this week's theme at Illustration Friday. After dusting off and cranking up the Wayback Machine, I revisited my middle school days and one of my first loves, an all consuming crush that, I believe, went totally unspoken at the time. Ut oh, if this keeps up I'll be back in my therapists office before the cock crows!

Thursday Challenge: Fun -

"Selfportrait of the Artist as the Fifth Beatle"
digital collage by Mick Mather

This week's theme at Thursday Challenge is fun. I remember well those heady days of the British Invasion and especially recall The Beatles saying during more than one of their interviews that it was a rare day on tour when they could simply relax and have fun. Also, at the time, there were lots of people who wanted to be as closely associated with the group as possible - i.e. disk jockey Murray The K - to the point of referencing themselves as "The Fifth Beatle". Well, sorry, Charlie! That honor, then as now, went to me and me alone! :D

NEW from The Selfportrait Series -

"Selfportrait of the Artist In His Underpants"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I've been chuckling over tonight's post for close to 36 hours now. When it comes to satire, I get to poke fun in way too many places with this one, starting with myself and ending with the ever more flavorful advertising design common in Europe! Other than an apology after the fact to Itkupilli, I don't suppose there's much to say about this really...besides, I'm chuckling again and people are beginning to give me a little more space than they really need to! :D

NEW from The Making Faces Series -

"An Idea Forming"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I was just having some fun, again, with this piece from the Making Faces Series. By the time it was finished there were a near-dozen working proofs and finished images. I was too close to it and had to put it away for a while. Last week, afforded an opportunity to look at it with fresh eyes, I began to see something in the upper left hand corner. A pattern, a hazy beginning or, perhaps, a washed out ending. For those of us who believe that ideas float free in the ether, waiting for someone, anyone, more then one, to wrestle them into the real world, this piece is as close as I can come to illustrating the process. Hence, the title of tonight's image...and I wonder, ought I to snag that little triangle and fiddle a bit more with it? And so, as the sun sinks slowly in the west, our hero can be seen chasing the fog and a dream.

Moody Monday: Dirty -

"Dirty"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

Dirty is the theme at Moody Monday this week and it seems to fit perfectly with this photograph of an outflow pipe - quite likely connected to a grate that funnels rain off of the street. Since even this relatively benign runoff goes directly into Onondaga Creek, it gets quite dirty and messy down there most of the year. Come to that, an overflow abatement project is about to get underway that will pass the runoff through a treatment plant and...well, jeepers, I feel dirty now just thinking about it all! Enjoy the photograph.

Lazing On A Sunny Afternoon -

"Part of the Equation"
digital collage by Mick Mather

A gorgeous day, temps hitting 80...that's what I'm talking about! Just the sort of a day to laze around doing what comes naturally. The work in the studio f'rinstance, kept simple, consisted of sorting through some old mailart files and the Eraser Carvers Quarterly Archive. Lots of scanning and organizing and planning - all easy, restful and enjoyable tasks, believe it or not. This evening I worked on a number of older files that had been sitting idle for a week or more. Tonight's post settles on an image that almost made it into the Selfportrait Series. Key word there is "almost" because it didn't start out being me, but ends up bearing some little bit of resemblance....funny, too! Itkupilli and I were just talking about that this afternoon. Go figure!

NEW from The Making Faces Series -

"Blue Girl"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Whenever I seem to hit a wall, I'll jump into this rather simple series of images. As I've said a few times before when posting from this series, they're thrown together fast with little attention paid to blocking out, repainting, etc. before moving to the super, secret array of plug-ins and filters. I spent much of the day working on new pieces - tonight's post, however, is an older one that I like for personal reasons. Anyway, now it's time for an evening of mindless entertainment. You guessed it! TV!!!

I'm Late! I'm Late! -

"Blind Side"
block-relief print (state proof) by Mick Mather

The end of one long work week hasn't quite arrived. I have the duty at a local art gallery this evening, so my day won't end until 8:00pm. This is not a complaint, mind you, but surely a handy excuse for another hit & run post tonight. I haven't shown much of my old school, block-relief printmaking in quite a while so have a peek at one of my own personal favorite pieces. For those of you who are used to seeing an Illustration Friday image at this point in the week, I uploaded that image at my other blog: Outer Dust Rings. If I'm not right here when you get back, I'll be at The Westcott Community Center Art Gallery and then to OHM for a cocktail or two. Ta!

Thursday Challenge: Wildlife -

"Wildlife"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

This weeks theme at Thursday Challenge, wildlife, took me to the archives looking for a series of images that contained flowers and bugs. While wandering through, I was totally amazed at my good fortune to have capture this honey bee, hard at work on a summers day. Just look at those saddlebags loaded with pollen. Hmmmm, which way did that varmint go again?

The new software has me scratching my head -

"Everything Was Wrong"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Yeah, so I downloaded a new graphics program last night and started tinkering around. I always tinker blindly before consulting the tutorials or help files - lots more fun that way, sometimes. I wanted to add text to a freehand line but was never able to make it actually happen. Worse, almost every time I attempted to do that the program generated errors, locked up and caused general havoc around HQ. I was able to get text into a shape, as you can see, so I'll give things a bit more time before I run, screaming, for the uninstall hammer. That said and with second thoughts creeping in, there are plenty of handy little features that work just fine...I guess I better keep it!

Excerpt from The Inventor's Diary: "I Saw Her Standing There" -

"Weeping Willow"

digital collage by Mick Mather

"...the strings of my heart began to sing at the sight of her. She was standing there on a lovely rise of old stone steps. Framed by a shadowed alcove tinged in chocolate and black cherry, I was hard pressed to look away when caught staring. She looked away instead so I persisted, the scrutiny of a fool I was to learn soon enough. Tall she was, long and lanky, hair to the shoulders playing hide 'n seek with a delicious neck. Her outfit was draped perfectly, suggestive of the flesh beneath, while telling a tale of the willows of which she reminded me so much. Limber, flowing, easy with the wind, every movement a gentle rushing, rustling and murmuring. I turned away, finally, to go about my business. When I looked back to see if her shrouded gaze followed me, she was gone..."

Moody Monday: Disorganized -

"Disorganized Drawing Table"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

It's funny, disorganized is exactly the way I've been feeling for quite a while now. 'Tis the theme at Moody Monday this week too. So, since spring cleaning has yet to begin in the studio, I snapped a photograph of the mishmash and started to run it through the super, secret array of plug-ins and filters. Hmmm, quite a disorganized mess I've made of that as well, and...ut oh! Must dash, the hot dogs are done.

Walk, Don't Walk -

"The Black Skirt"
digital collage by Mick Mather

There's always something interesting to me about street scenes and tonight's post is a testament to that. Working with ordinary images of people going about their humdrum, daily routine is always a challenge and always interesting to me. In the case of tonight's post I headed for a total obstruction of the original image before passing them through a wide variety of plug-ins and filters. As I began to build layers, further manipulating each of them, things went from bad to worse and back again. Anyway, here we have it, a woman in a crosswalk wearing a basic, black skirt.

NEW from The Making Faces Series -

"Not A Natural Red"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Another hit & run post I'm afraid. This past week has taken more out of me than I realized. Be that as it may, here's something new from The Making Faces Series. Now, I really need to get away from this monitor and do something mindlessly vegetative. Oh yes! As you've heard me say a time or two before...TV!!!

Illustration Friday: Fortune -

"The Fortune Hunter"
digital collage by Mick Mather

One more day this week with a hit and run post and the weekly theme at Illustration Friday sent me searching my archives of unfinished work. This image has always had my imagination jumping from one possibility to the next and I'm delighted that this week's theme, fortune, gave me the opportunity to settle on this concept. In ritual fashion for me, there's always a question, "which one is The Fortune Hunter?"

Thursday Challenge: Circle -

"Traffic Circle"
digital collage by Mick Mather

A long, long week appears to be coming to a close with everything that needed attention getting its fair share. I suppose the theme at Thursday Challenge this week, circle, is more than appropriate since I feel like I've been going 'round and 'round in them. Anyway, I'm dog tired, believe that...I'm on a hunt for my favorite pillow, then to the couch!

Hurry, hurry, turn the corner, (lean to the right and left) -

"The Locket"
digital collage by Mick Mather

The post for today has the lyrics of a children's song (The Fire Truck) as its title because, once again, I have a rather full schedule to keep! Meetings and other duties at The Council seem to be keeping me quite busy all week. So sorry, must dash!

Al Fresco -

"A Red Haired Girl"
digital collage by Mick Mather

A simple hit & run post I hate to say - I'm off to do a fistful of gallery work today, including the hanging for an upcoming exhibition. All week is loaded with meetings and this and that. Must dash!

Moody Monday: Masculine -

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

This week's post for Moody Monday does double duty since it's also a NEW addition to The Selfportrait Series. This time out the theme is masculine, and I had an especially good time with this one. My first choice was going to be a heavy graphic treatment, with topography, using the grammatical context where quite a few foreign words pertain to, indeed specify, gender. As you can see, I went instead with the concept of the strongman and his conspicuous feats of derring do meant to impress the fairer sex.

He Is Risen -

"Selfportrait of the Artist Dreaming of the Easter Bunny"
digital collage by Mick Mather

The way I figure it - and no one I know has ever been able to answer this one for me - we ought to be celebrating Easter Monday. It does say something about our saviour being on the cross for 3 days and 3 nights...Friday, Saturday, Sunday...yes? Risen on Monday then, no? Oh well, it seems painfully obvious that I am but a weak sinner seeking grace wherever I can find it. Hope, for certain, even my own, springs eternal.

Something simple -

"Take Me To The River"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Something fast and easy for the Easter Weekend that's named after the classic song by Al Green. I have a story for this image too, but couldn't quite get to it, and had hopes of posting it at my Outer Dust Rings blog. Participation there is requested if you want to have a peek...oh, feel free to write me something for tonight's post after doing just that.

Illustration Friday: Green -

"Sailors Confront The Green Sea"
digital collage by Mick Mather

To my brothers who have sailed across any large body of water, a dedication with tonight's theme, green, at Illustration Friday. Having spent my fair share of time upon rough and treacherous waters, a darkening sky and a pea green sea can test the metal of the best of men, especially when their waves and stinging spray hurdle the gunwales. Believe me when I tell you that there are few frights as powerful as being tossed by an angry, uncaring and unforgiving sea. To the captain brave and every adventuresome tar, a pint of rum for passing the test and Davy Jones keeps the rest!

Thursday Challenge: Colorful -

"Colorful"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

This title of this evenings post is the theme at Thursday Challenge this week. I knew that I had a handful of photographs that would quite likely be usable, and yet, I began messing about with a failed photo that was almost totally black save for the red spot. Primary red at that - so, I went about tweaking and lightening and brightening and layering and filtering and...phew! This is what happened by the end of the process. As the piece developed, a number of other versions, equally satisfying but less colorful, were created. One of these alternate images can be seen at my newest blog, a collaborative, sci-fi creation of an imaginary world known as the Outer Dust Rings.

Something about her -

"Driven To Abstraction"
digital collage by Mick Mather

It's always a blast to work on something ordinary, an unremarkable, candid snapshot for instance. You know the sort, taken at a dinner, an office party or some function that only merits a casual documentation. Even the most boring of these contains something, or someone, with a sparkle and shine worth elevating, like the subject in tonight's post, obviously. After running this one through the usual array of super secret filters, as well as some of the new ones, an abstract quality began to assert itself. So, a bit of minimalism wrestling its way out of an almost ambient color field toward the realism of the figure. Do pardon the professorial hoo-haw explanation that translates, in my own mind, to: I like her smile!

Delivery by Tuesday -

"The Oversize Coffee Table Book"
digital collage by Mick Mather

In a moment of weakness and need, I began this piece in photoshop. Little by little I'm working things out and I have to admit there are some very useful filters there. I s'pose a few of my past rants have been about certain plug-ins that have a weird look to them. Recently, I've been using some of those plug-ins (hopefully not over-using any of them) and have softened my view somewhat. As mentioned before, they can be very seductive and, for me, require very careful handling. That said, there's something that attracts me to those furniture ads and circulars one gets in the Sunday papers, or the mail. So, here we have one...a dark and moody piece that I find mysterious, suspenseful and, in some strange way, comforting.

Moody Monday: Indecent -

"Collect The Entire Set"

digital collage by Mick Mather

This week's theme at Moody Monday has more than its share of twists and turns on the road to conceptualization. My first thought for indecent was to illustrate these two choices for the top dis-honor. While the naughty matchbook cover might lead to a weakening of the soul and spirit, is it truly any worse than the cigarette that fouls the body, the temple? The other idea, arrived at well after completing the piece, is that of the typical, pubescent male who, stealing a smoke behind the shed, was additionally stimulated by particular contents of dad's secret drawer. A swig of cheap, blended scotch mixed with a little grape Nehi and the world could be as perfect as it knows how to be for that fleeting 12 or 15 minutes of forbidden fruit.

Play time -

"Miss Dreamy Eyes"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Today is one of those lazy Sundays where I sat down, surfed around some, checked the mail, read through a few blogs and then let myself wander through a slough of images. It was play time to be sure and I've had a good time. Tonight's post is the result of the most insistent components that emerged through various layers that included car parts, an industrial catwalk & stairwell, the dreamy eyed girl and lots of different filters every step along the way. Now it's time to get something to eat, pop in a DVD and enjoy a relaxing evening.