A perfect summer day -

"Cage Dancer"
digital collage by Mick Mather

The air is cool, almost chill, the sun is out and this is already a perfect day. So, what could be better for me than to post this image, get on out there and enjoy it? Short, sweet, see ya later!

Illustration Friday: Twist -

"Selfportrait of the Artist on a Thrill Ride"
digital collage by Mick Mather

As I was researching ideas for twist, this week's theme at Illustration Friday, there were too many all at once worth fiddling with. Since I'm off to work at a small fireworks festival this evening, I had to choose quickly and decided on this 1960's era amusement park ride. Invented by a team of English designers around 1959, it went almost immediately into productive use on both sides of the Atlantic and I remember it well.

Thursday Challenge: Weather -

"Lemon Sky Over Strawberry Fields"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

Weather is this week's theme at Thursday Challenge and this post is a manipulation of one of my favorite photographs - the subject is an old, red barn enveloped in a fog bank. I don't suppose that appears to be the case here and I'm using this heavily manipulated version in deference to the collector who eventually buys the matted and framed photograph titled "Mystery of the Red Barn". You can see it here if you're curious.

Having fun -

"Condos at the Yacht Basin"
montage by Mick Mather

I took my own good advice from yesterday and spent a good deal of time just having fun with another old image that wasn't really going anywhere. After applying an overlay of grids, spirals, lines and a stock graphic I got lucky again and was gaining enthusiasm for what was developing. Not long after dumping the works into another editor - running it through a few more filters and adding another layer - up popped the tiny little yacht basin at Cannes, France. Okay, that's a bit of a stretch given the background grid reminiscent of a seaside, post-modern condominium complex. Now that I think about it, I suppose it could be the pizza I had for dinner that triggered this memory. The best slice I had in all of Europe was in Cannes, overlooking that little harbor. Anyway, it's what I've been thinking about for the past twenty minutes.

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"Abstract Girl and Her Contemporary Chair"
montage by Mick Mather

While playing around with a throw away image a few weeks ago, things began to click. It was one of those times when I was just playing and surprise, surprise! Progress with one of the new photo editors that was employed here has gone backwards more than a few steps recently. I consider myself fortunate to have this image. So, perhaps I should be playing more? Actually I am, but I might be well advised to play harder this week. Anyway, here it is with some alternate versions and at least one spin-off to show for the effort. All properly hidden away here at the Secret Visual Laboratory! :)

Moody Monday: Horny -

"Fire Down Below"
montage by Mick Mather

The weekly theme at Moody Monday is horny. It's quite amazing to me that this topic would come up at a time when my work has taken a slight turn into, shall we say, a blue room. Following along with that concept, the subject of tonight's post seems to be right there with me, a burning fire more than evident and reflecting off the walls. Hot diggity!

NEW from The Nightmare Series -

"Violet Ray"
montage by Mick Mather

Excerpt from The Vignettes - "Fountain of Youth"

"At the edge of an indigo wood lies a swampy moor. A pale, orange moon is reflected there, an eerie glow upon duck grass, swallowed whole into the treachery of quick mud. Urban myths and secret maps freely reveal the fountain of youth. Nothing is said 'bout the maze of death nor the flesh-eating Violet Ray."

Still pushing the envelope -

"Fields of Magnetic Dreams"
montage by Mick Mather

This image is one that I've been wrestling with for about two weeks. Yesterday, I alluded to the fact that I've been working to assimilate a new photo editor into the mix. The process has been both fun and challenging. As one might imagine, lots of failures up front and lots of half-baked images have been secreted away in the files here at The Secret Visual Laboratory. That said, I'm quite satisfied with the way this finally turned out and, truly, I must fly...back to the drawing board. You guessed it! More wrasslin' in store today!

Illustration Friday: Camouflage -

"Camouflage"
montage by Mick Mather

Excerpt from The Vignettes - "Light Show"

"The withdrawing rays of eventide mottle the skin. Playing tricks on the eye the spears shimmer and shine, rolling out the velvet shadows of night. Within their dim recesses she sits and waits. In a moment the street lamps, a willing partner, are set to work their magic, covering crows feet, blemishes and the harshness of her daily life."

Thursday Challenge: Blue -

"Break Time at the Blueprint Shop"
montage by Mick Mather

The weekly Thursday Challenge theme this time around is "blue". As I was working on various layers of tonight's post, the blue versions quickly became the most dramatic in my mind's eye. I should warn those of you who haven't already recognized the fact, I've been exploring a few dark alleys recently. I also have to admit that no one is likely to be quite as surprised as I happen to be myself. From time to time I wander off in fits of experimentalist overreach where I find myself taking reckless chances, pressing my luck and coloring way outside the lines. I was just talking about this not so many weeks back and some of the work recently posted is the fruit of that labor. Is this a permanent direction? That remains to be seen. In the meantime I continue with my efforts to better control a new software program and some rather difficult plug-in filters.

NEW from The She's Not There Series -

"They Say It's Your Birthday"
montage by Mick Mather

This piece is quite old and, until now, there haven't been additions to this series since 2005. As a body of work the pieces were always very personal for me, one might even say cathartic. In any case, there's really nothing further for me to say here except that, in spite of the distance between that time and this, some thoughts cannot be controlled, tamed or suppressed. "They", as referenced in the title, happen to be said thoughts. Personally? As already stated, I have nothing further to say. (Sigh).

Passing in and out of fashion -

"At the Tattoo Parlor"
montage by Mick Mather

Tattoos, piercing, scarification and branding...each a form of body art that, with each generation, is either in or out of fashion. Right now, it appears to be quite in fashion to have a tattoo or multiple piercings. Generally speaking, the more extreme body arts of branding and flesh cutting are much less acceptable but on the rise. Since I'm part of a team putting together an exhibition of "body art" where each of these forms may actually appear on living models, I suppose it was a natural thing for my subconscious to offer up an artwork that's abstractly associated with the project. It should be great fun and, if possible, I'll post some of those images here come late summer or early fall.

Moody Monday: Active -

"Selfportrait of the Artist as an Active Ingredient at an Irish Bar"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

A little bit of thinking went into the Moody Monday weekly theme, active. My first idea was to illustrate the results of an over risen dough raising the roof on a house while oozing out the doors and windows. Unfortunately, images of an old horror movie poster brought me back to reality and, oh me, what a reality it is! Here I am within arms reach of as much Irish Whiskey as any good, or bad, Irishman might hope for! The occasion calls for a short pour by the clan Cooley, wouldn't you say?

Drawing With Leighlund Series -

"Happy Father's Day Poppa"
collage and drawing by Leighlund Ruth Vincett

Today was a day off for Poppa, sorta, kinda, maybe. Anyway, my 3-year old granddaughter loves to draw, color, paste papers and sculpt with Play Doh - tonight's post is my precious gift from her tiny, creative hands. Oops! Must dash, she has me by the hand and we're going for a walk, over to the swampy pond to catch some froggies! Bye, bye! :)

Way out there -

"The Wild Ride With Liquid Colors"
montage by Mick Mather

I've been messing about with this piece for weeks, taking it way outside my usual boundaries and leaving it there to simmer. After a few days, further still and simmer. This morning I kept going and going and going, almost to that point where it would need to simmer again. As happens more often than not, the last few layers began to reveal what I was after. I gave it another handful of tweaks, inversions, dithering and colorization, but now I can comfortably say that I have it. This piece lives beyond that far edge that I'm so fond of taking excursions to and, therefore, a bit different than what you may be used to. I hope you like it.

Illustration Friday: Rejected -

"Selfportrait of the Artist Getting Rejected"
montage by Mick Mather

The weekly theme, rejected, at Illustration Friday gives me an opportunity to add another NEW piece to The Selfportrait Series. Even though the situation, when it happens to you, can be painful, over time all wounds are healed. There may often be a scar left behind, especially if it happens with one or another variation of the "Dear John Letter". Hopefully, we are stronger for the experience. Though my heart is heavy over loves lost, I have a smile upon my face.

Thursday Challenge: People -

"The Dissatisfied Smoker"
montage by Mick Mather

Hmmm, is it that much trouble to come up with different themes? This week at Thursday Challenge we get people again. The last time was only this past February and, while it's of no consequence to me in the big scheme of things - especially since my subject matter is people most of the time - I'm thinking that a repeat ought to have at least a few years in between.

NEW from The Vignettes -

"Pea Soup"
montage by Mick Mather

Excerpt from The Vignettes: "A Chance Meeting"

I was feeling my way along the foggy street, when suggestions of council rows painted in the green and gray mist gave way to a face! Looming up suddenly, out of the vagueness, there you were. Both of us felt the weight, half terror and half relief, at apparitions transformed by the miracle of recognition.

In the heat of the moment -

"House of Blue Lights I"
montage by Mick Mather

As we prepare to pass from spring into summer, the exercise in tonight's post was a contrast in cool and warm using these soft, pastel hues. Admittedly, the subject herself suggests a bit of inward heat in no particular hurry to beguile or seduce. In addition, even the title has something to say about the spice of life - being an old rhythm & blues song about a juke joint. Hot diggity! Fryers 'n broilers 'n bar-b-qued ribs!

Moody Monday: Loved Up -

"Loved Up"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

Hmmmm, Loved Up? It's the weekly theme at Moody Monday and, I suppose, just a new, hip way to say "give up all your love". As I studied this photograph of my 3-year old granddaughter, Leighlund, my thinking was, "is there any other way?" Funny this, because love seems to be a common topic for me these days. In fact, giving up all the love I have to give, to my family, friends, crushes, fantasies, even a few strangers (you know who you are) is the way I've lived my whole life. Lately, a few more people I've come to care very much for have told me that this way of living so emotionally shows up in my work. Well now, that's purty darned good then, innit? :D

Hot days, cold water -

"Cool Summer Day at the Beach"
montage by Mick Mather

The last few weeks of Spring have brought those warm days needed to take the icy cool from the water in our hundreds of rivers, ponds and lakes. In a few weeks, even those parks that didn't open 'officially' on Memorial Day, will be teeming with kids, mums and dads. Tonight's post is a portent of those first walks down a sandy beach, testing the wavelets with timid toes, splashing the air with cupped hands and doing that little ducking dance common to those anxious souls thinking they were ready to brave the chill. Ahhhhh, Summer! Can you feel it?

A strange week at The Secret Visual Laboratory

"Two Very Different Hats"
montage by Mick Mather

A series of experimental works are scattered all over the lab...a week's worth of trial and, mostly, error. As has been discussed here on numerous occasions, when stretching into something a bit different or, when striving for a new look that isn't really definable, nutty things happen. I'm not happy with the output and must be careful about muttering under my breath as regards 'wasting my time'. Anyway, this piece has been run through the secret array more times than I can count and even though what I wanted didn't materialize, I'm quite happy with this version of it.

Illustration Friday: Suit -

"Selfportrait of the Artist As A Suit"

montage by Mick Mather

Sometimes I wish that Illustration Friday would provide the theme for the next week as well as for the current one. I've been working on a series of playing cards and this week suit is - ahem! - tailor made for that work. Oh well, considering this old Irish saying that I like so much, "If wishes were horses, beggars could ride", I suppose I should just give it up and move forward. I've done exactly that in the end with this new addition to The Selfportrait Series. That said, it's way after "Happy Hour" and it's high time for a nice glass of Sangiovese. :)

Thursday Challenge: Texture -

"Texture"
photograph by Mick Mather

The theme is texture at Thursday Challenge this week. I'm thinking that I have the territory covered fairly well here - brick, stone, iron, light and shadow - where each element adds it's own unique diffuseness to the surfaces. The photograph is also submitted as is, none of the usual manipulation, filtering or layering. For a moment (scroll back over the last few days of posts in this blog), I thought I had also succeeded in stepping away from what some of my blogging pals have been referring to as creepy, horror movie imagery. Well, as I look at the old wrought iron gate, I can almost hear the creaking and screeching of dry hinges swinging ominously to and fro by an unseen hand! Careful with that axe, Eugene!

NEW from The Making Faces Series -

"Casual Blue Stripes"
montage by Mick Mather

An early start here, a late start at the office and a L-O-N-G day for me. So, something short and sweet before heading out to greet the day. While looking through the work file for this image I found a very different treatment that will fit perfectly in The Nightmare Series. It's so creepy and gruesome that I can't believe I didn't think of it for Monday Monday! Oh well, next time! :D

Messing around again -

"Deck of Cards"
montage by Mick Mather

Bear with me for a moment, for the end of the story comes first. The title is a nod to an old series of very short stories, The Chronicles of a Lonesome Princess, that has been mentioned before in this blog. In one of those little vignettes, the Lonesome Princess posed for the Court Photographer. The object of this exercise was a deck of, let's just say risque, playing cards that were passed out in ration packets to the troops on a distant field of battle. Here then, in tonight's post, we have the box that said deck of cards would have been packaged in. The other thing that happened was that almost every other layer, as this work progressed, was fine and at least two more versions of this would stand easily on their own. Since our Lonesome Princess exists as one of the characters over at my Outer Dust Rings sci-fi blog - The Princess of Derby - perhaps one of those alternate versions will see the light of day over there at some point.

Moody Monday: Hellish -

"Six Six Six"
montage by Mick Mather

I don't suppose the theme at Moody Monday this week, hellish, is for the weak of heart. Be that as it may, the dealer's out of cards and it's time to ante up. I have more than one image to choose from but the artwork originally intended is lost and, as luck would have it, I stumbled into this one while looking for it. Losing files isn't a regular occurrence 'round these parts but, since I like this one much better than the other, well, here you have it. Anyway, the sky has grown unnaturally dark, the wind is beginning to howl, the thunder rolls, hail beats upon the roof, otherworldly footsteps can be heard in the hall, the lights have flickered thrice and are certain to go out! Bwaaa haaa haaa haa haa!

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"Chairs At A Small Round Table"
montage by Mick Mather

The effect is called 'clustering' - where a number of related or similar things begin to happen at the same time, in the same place. This is a common measure in community and economic development that occurs because people want to be where other people are. Soon, that equates to events being scheduled, business openings or expansions, etc. where people are congregating. It's one of those 'chicken or the egg' questions as regards how the phenomenon gets started, nurtured and grown...but, I digress. Here (we may need to stretch a little bit to include inanimate objects as artwork posted to a blog) is another entry in that part of my ongoing work known as The Chairs Series. While Friday's post wasn't labeled as part of that particular body, it surely belongs there. I don't know that I have any other chairs in the files ready to post, but that's what seems to be so amazing about the clustering phenomena. One could appear out of the blue!

Found chalk drawing -

"The Writing on the Wall"
montage by Mick Mather

While doing some aimless surfing last week I came across an extremely charming piece of street art. This expressive drawing was spotted on the side of an old building and more than likely is the work of a child. While I'm not 100% positive, I do believe that the medium is plain, white chalk. Graffiti? Yes, but not exactly. If I could go back in time, I'd sure love to be able to lift this off the wall and bring it home with me. The manipulation here suggests that I do indeed have a magic process where a piece of paper could be laid over the drawing and a simple transfer taken. Something along that line surely does exist, leaving the issue of building that time machine!

Where's the illustration for IF? -

"Three Broken Chairs"
montage by Mick Mather

Yes, I know, I usually have an image for Illustration Friday posted in this space. However, the piece that I worked on for IF this morning kept whispering Outer Dust Rings ... so, you'll find it here, instead. When you get right down to it, I feel lucky to have posted anything at all today, let alone two! I was at the 40 Below Summit, a very good conference I might add, for most of the day and, all of a sudden, I'm beat right down to my socks.