Blast from the past -

"Entertaining Jane"
digital collage by Mick Mather

A few years ago I had a body of work called The Memory Series. There were two different pieces of Jane, a girlfriend from my misspent youth, and I suppose I could've added to the series since this piece is fitting; but, that work is finished I think. She's on my mind just a little less often these days and we used to call each other once every 5 years or so, but no longer. Life goes on, love dims, sometimes fades but, dare I say it? The memory, unlike the series, lives on.

NEW from The Toast Series -

"Toast #6"
monotype by Mick Mather

I've been at a conference all day, same as yesterday, and I'm really strapped for time to get a few things done around the house. No time to eat either now that I think about it. My rumbling tummy says otherwise so, perhaps something quick and easy, like this hit 'n run post featuring another monotype from The Toast Series. We'll chat later, gotta run! :)

NEW from The Toys Series -

"Toy Soldiers"
digitally manipulated tempera-on-paper painting by Mick Mather

I've fallen headlong into this body of work. My most recent notion, albeit an improbable one, is to get enough of these completed for my imminent 1-man show at The Weiskotten Gallery at Upstate Medical University here in Syracuse, New York. I don't have a problem with output and I'm certain I can accomplish 2-dozen new works without any problem; getting the digital work printed and all of the work matted and framed is a BIG issue. Anyway, I did mention that there was more to say on these paintings and manipulations, this was part of it. Well, back to work!

Trying again -

"The Girls at the Office"

digital collage by Mick Mather

I've been working on this piece for a few weeks, hitting a dead end each time. Last night I decided to go back a few layers and run it through an old filter that I use sparingly these days. Well, that didn't work very well either, even after posting it, so I've taken that one down and went back to one of the new filters. Better this time, I think. I'll put the other one that sat here much of the late afternoon and evening at No Matter What Shape - The Archive.

Another new series?

"Ghost #1"
digital collage by Mick Mather

It sure seems like this is the year for a diversity of new and related works. This piece is not the first of what is now officially being referred to as The Ghost Series, but it is the first one posted. In many ways, these images are tied to my monotype prints in that they're faint, ghost-like impressions of a more distinct layer. I use these to lighten or darken a piece and to add texture, patterns or shadows. Long story short, I have a number of such layers that can stand alone and, where appropriate, I'll begin to post them.

Illustration Friday: Wrinkle -

"A New Wrinkle for Mrs. Milquetoast"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I've been struggling all night with this week's Illustration Friday theme, wrinkle. What to do with a wrinkle? Is it in the face? Clothes? Newspaper? Something more conceptual? Right! So, here you have it then. Tonight it might be good to be Caspar, yes?

Thursday Challenge: Earth -

"Weeds and Shadows"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

The theme at Thursday Challenge this week is Earth. As I've mentioned before, Dale Hudjik always gives a string of related possibilities and this photograph of the first dandelion spotted this spring seems to fit perfectly. Clinging to a sliver of earth along the foundation of a building where it meets the sidewalk, it seems to be receiving a reassuring hug from the shadows of two adjacent trees ... and the beat goes on.

The Toys Series -

"Sailboat"
digitally manipulated tempera-on-paper painting by Mick Mather

It looks like another series has developed while I wasn't paying attention. Well, I have been, but not so sure about things until just now. It all started with this piece, continued with this piece and now I find myself here with at least another 6 paintings planned or in progress. Anyway I slice it, there just isn't time right now to go into any more detail and, yes, there's a lot more to say. As this series progresses, I'll fill in the gaps.

Contemporizing antiquitous parables -

"Messenger Revoking A Siren's Humanist Reign"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Leave it to that glass of Redbreast Irish Whiskey on the rocks or to the bottle of tempranillo if you will. I must. Twas the perfect Earth Day celebration that, apparently, has begun and ended with spirits of one flavor and another. Cheers!

NEW from The Birdhouse Series -

"Birdhouse II"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather
- original photograph by Lelainia N. Lloyd -

As I mentioned last week, here's the second image from a new group of work now known as The Birdhouse Series. I suppose that spring is a fitting time for such an auspicious beginning and, once again, my many thanks to Lelainia N. Lloyd at Tattered Edge for allowing me to manipulate a beuatiful photograph of one of her own birdhouses. This is a radical treatment come to that and here's a link to the original at No Matter What Shape - The Archive just to give you an idea of what that means. :)

Another manipulated painting -

"Jacks"
digitally manipulated tempera-on-paper painting by Mick Mather

I have to rush off this morning and have no idea how long I'll be away today. So, for the background on these new paintings and subsequent manipulations, have a look here. I do have another version of this that is just fabulous (if I say so myself) and may post it soon with a link to the original painting once I have a few minutes to put it up.

Hit and run -

"Eyes Downcast"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Not a lot to tell, not a lot to say, except that I'm just spent. The last week at work was exhausting and I can barely keep my mind focused long enough to offer an apology with this hit & run post. Enjoy, I need to stretch out and relax.

Illustration Friday: Primitive -

"A Primitive Geometry"
monotype by Mick Mather

I had a lot of great ideas for the theme of primitive, the word-of-the-week at Illustration Friday, but not enough time to develop any of them. In the end I decided to go with this monotype which is an early test while developing that series of prints called "A Square Peg and a Round Hole". No manipulation beyond resizing and a necessary bit of sharpening was applied. That said, I'm off for a well deserved round of cocktails after another long week. It isn't quite over yet since I'm one of the designated welders for a metal sculpture assembly early tomorrow morning. You know what they say, "No good deed goes unpunished!"

Thursday Challenge: Quick -

"Leighlund Has A Piece of Cake"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

Last weekend my granddaughter came to visit Poppa. Having overslept, I jumped out of bed and rushed to the door to let her in, attempting to smooth down a particularly wild section of bed hair along the way! As little ones will often do, there was a quiz about my funny, unkempt appearance to which I replied, "Poppa has a wing in his hair." That seemed to settle things as we hurried to the kitchen to get the promised, last piece of Poppa's Birthday Cake. It was eaten as quick as that brown fox that's always jumping over things in his hurry to get away from the proverbial lazy dog. I suppose I've now satisfied the premise of this week's Thursday Challenge theme which is, quick, but, before I too, rush off, the word has been quickly spread 'round by Li'l Leighlund that, "my Poppa has wings!". :D

Just piddling -

"Airplane"

digitally manipulated tempera-on-paper painting by Mick Mather

I was snooping around over at Candy Pegram's blog last week and really liked one of the things she said in her profile: "I favor images with hefty strokes and bold outlines, new yet familiar, evocative of a powerful collective pop culture memory of childhood toys, cartoons and characters". I especially connected with the pop culture memory of childhood toys and decided it was high time to sling some paint! I believe I'll do a number of this sort of thing where I begin with a down and dirty tempera-on-paper painting of those early memories. As most of you well know by now, nothing seems to elude a sound thrashing at The Secret Visual Laboratory and this piece is no different. You can see the original painting here if you like ... thanks to Candy for the inspiration.

For the birds -

"Birdhouse I"
digitally manipulated fractal flame by Mick Mather

A new series seems to be emerging from The Secret Visual Laboratory. The key word here is emerging, and decidedly so, since the original idea has been quite a long time in development. It started not quite 2 years ago in British Columbia with a marvelous photograph of a birdhouse by Lelainia N. Lloyd who has an equally marvelous blog called Tattered Edge. I fell in love with that image and wasted no time requesting permission to fiddle about with it. Anyway, this birdhouse is not a manipulation of Lelainia's birdhouse, but it's due to follow along in short order I believe. Keep a birds eye open for it, okay?

Purple Rain -

"Far Afield With Storm Approaching"
digital collage by Mick Mather

For the last month my work has taken a slight turn as I continue working with a new filter. The key word here is, for sure, slight. There isn't a lot more to say beyond the mysterious reference to an old children's fable, The Three Little Pigs. Houses made of straw is the operative concept, although this is something in my own head as opposed to anything one should attempt to figure out from tonight's post. Forgive me for rushing off, I think I've just burned the hamburgers! :O

High Tech, Old Skool Style -

"It's A Modern World"

digital collage by Mick Mather

I was having a little fun in the studio today when this piece began to develop and take shape. In the end, the path led to a series of r-g-b separations where each color is offset one from the other. These were then taken to an earlier, posterized layer and dropped in. As for the computers in this image, who among us would ever have had room for these old, refrigerator-size units!

Donovan -

"They Call Me Mellow Yellow"
digital collage by Mick Mather

An old song by Donovan that I haven't heard in at least 35 years was piped over the sound system at some joint where I was sipping a Tom Collins. Well, one thing led to another and up pops this delightfully buttery image that sends me back to one of his even bigger hits, Mellow Yellow. One bit of music trivia regarding that song, you can read the lyrics here, is the fact the whispering gent in each chorus is none other than Sir Paul. If you follow the link and read along, Paul McCartney's part (in parentheses) reads quite rightly - hmm, I always thought he was saying quite right, slick. I'm sure that some Beatles or Donovan expert will verify the truth of one, the other or neither.

Illustration Friday: Fail -

"Portentous Occurrence at the Business School Graduation"

digital collage by Mick Mather

I couldn't make up my mind regarding the two ideas that I had for fail, the weekly theme at Illustration Friday. So, I'm posting the alternative version at No Matter What Shape - The Archive and you can see it here. While the personal tragedy that's part of this piece is not a laughing matter, I couldn't resist going down that dank alley of dark comedy. Given the broadcast media feeding frenzy over the current recession, to the point of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy, the parallels with Black Tuesday in October 1929 seem apropos. As I recall, there were more than a few historians brave enough to say that the hands-off policy of Herbert Hoover was quite likely to have worked, thereby shortening that troublesome recession that, instead, grew out of control to become what we now call The Great Depression that lasted through to the entrance of the United States into World War II. Is history about to repeat itself?

Thursday Challenge: Silly -

"Selfportrait of the Artist Wearing a Silly Grin"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

This week's Thursday Challenge theme, silly, is another one of those twofers that I love so much. I found this photograph of myself and figured, this grin certainly fills the bill. So, up it goes for the weekly post as well as serving as the newest addition to The Selfportrait Series. It's been a long day, we'll chat again tomorrow.

NEW from The Mister Existence Series -

"Sister Existence With Her head in the Clouds"
digital collage by Mick Mather

If you're paying attention, you might well recognize our twisted sister. As this work progressed along the trail to the many trial images that lead to this piece another version was used elsewhere. For now, that's as much of a hint as you're likely to get. One parallel path for this is the fact that it was created at the time that news was received that Arthur C. Clarke had passed away ... then, a line from "2001: A Space Odyssey" came immediately to mind - "My God! It's full of stars!"

Skip to my Lou -

"Dancin' in the Dark"
digital collage by Mick Mather

If you can recall the old children's song, "Skip to My Lou", all you need do is get to singing out loud until the meter hits the groove. At that point, the image in tonight's post will make a bit more sense when viewed as a young girl working through the steps at a Saturday night community sing and dance. Alright then boys 'n girls, clap your hands and tap your feet and repeat after me: "Lost my partner, what'll I do? Lost my partner, what'll I do? I'll find another girl, prettier than you! Skip to my Lou my darlin'".

Cheap thrills -

"Peeking Past the Blinds"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Tonight's post is an innocent, if somewhat prurient, look at one common dilemma for teenage boys. Having that restless desire and longing that seeks to know more about the female mystery, a bit of pubescent peeking at the recently divorced, neighborhood bombshell is par for the course along that difficult journey to manhood. As I recall, the woman that so impressed the old gang on our street, never afforded us a look as scintillating as what you see here ... but, this is how we all remember it and exactly how we told the tale.

The "Career Day" sketch -

"Mick's Glasses II"
digitally manipulated drawing by Mick Mather

As I mention in a little more detail at No Matter What Shape-The Archive, this image is the result of a gestural sketch accomplished at a Career Dar presentation at Henninger High School last week. For those of you out there with something to share in the field of arts & culture, I might suggest that working artists who have the capacity to make a presentation at such an event is one way to stop the bleeding of constant and continuing cuts to the arts in our schools. At the very least, it's a way to insert an awareness to the arts and how they relate to the real world beyond the misinterpreted concept that it's a frill.

Out with the bad air, in with the good -

"Shadows Overtaking Clear Thought"
digital collage by Mick Mather

A recent conversation with an old friend started me thinking about the things that we do, the choices we make and the repercussions of both. On the one hand, it's common, and human, to make mistakes, even a lot of them, as we progress from one station of life to another. It's something else again when the shaded thinking of our subconscious causes the repetition of destructive choices ... and the road to understanding is surely long and winding as well as strewn with fear, doubt and every sort of misstep.

Illustration Friday: Save -

"Save"
digital collage by Mick Mather

It's the end of a rather long week and I have to say that I was less than completely inspired by this week's theme at Illustration Friday, which is save. I thought about doing a scanner-collage of some old receipts and in the process of doing just that discovered that I might be able to trade these in for some FREE ice cream! So, into the mix went something obvious along with a layer here and a plug-in filter tweak there. Now, I'm too pooped to even take that short trip to the fridge to get some of that delicious looking ice cream ... (sigh).

Thursday Challenge: Pets -

"Taffy"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

Pets is this week's theme at Thursday Challenge so I went rummaging through the stacks looking for some of the beautiful animals I had while growing up. Taffy, named for his creamy, copper color was a Cocker Spaniel with one of the most even tempered personalities I can recall of any dog that my maternal grandmother picked for us from a particularly large litter. He was one of her best stud dogs and, for my father, the absolute best bird dog you've ever seen in the field. I recall many an enjoyable weekend walking through boggy woods in waist hight cattail and foxtail with dad and that dog. You could see the waving stalks as Taffy worked right to left and back again, ever outward, flushing out game cocks and hens. Every once in a while you'd see this dog jump straight up in the air, spinning to get his bearings and to assess the direction my father was walking in. Sadly, he had epilepsy and didn't last more than a decade or so, but while we had him, what a sweet, loving pet he was.

Drawing With Leighlund Series -

"The Egg Basket"
digitally manipulated drawing by Mick Mather
- original drawing by Leighlund Ruth Vincett -

A few weeks ago the plan was to celebrate my birthday on Easter Sunday with the family. Somewhere along the way and somehow, more than half of us came down with flu or that stomach virus that was going 'round through the late winter months. In any case, this image was supposed to have been posted then but wasn't ... better late than never, right?

All Fools Day -

"April Showers"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather
- original photograph by Bill Ives -

Welcome to that special day for pranks, practical jokes and every shade of japery. That said, it should come as no surprise that I, a huge fan (especially visual jokes and wordplay), have no joke today! Very fitting that, yes? Anyway, back in October 2007 my good friend, Bill Ives, posted a set of photos taken in Italy, this particular image among them, and gave me permission to work my magic upon it. Finally, while playing about with a 'found' film still and a new plug-in, I was able to press forward ... thanks again for the inspiration, Bill!