Strut your stuff -

"Steppin' Out"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Here's something old that deserved to be revisited. I never did quite finish this so I pushed it through the usual array at the secret visual laboratory one more time. I was just having a little fun when all of a sudden a left turn followed by an about face seemed to make sense. Enjoy.

I met her on a Monday -

"The Poet"
digital collage by Mick Mather

... I asked her, "what are you drawing with? Ink, pencil, crayon?"
without hesitation or embellishment she replied, "words" ...

Last exit to Brooklyn -

"Nowhere Man"
digital collage by Mick Mather

"... a simple looking man he was,
aimless, excepting a beeline for an exit
to the anonymous, ordinary street went he,
without a glance in any direction,
and disappeared ..."

Wide awake -

"Air Conditioner Repairman"
manipulated digital collage by Mick Mather

It's been hot and humid for a few days and when does the helpful machinery decide to act up? You guessed it! Even with all the windows wide open I'll be tossing and turning.

Illustration Friday: Worn -

"Worn"
digital collage by Mick Mather

“The hour of the waning of love has beset us,
And weary and worn are our sad souls now;
Let us part, ere the season of passion forget us,
With a kiss and a tear on thy drooping brow.”

- William Butler Yeats

Thursday Challenge: Summer -

"Gone Fishin'"

digital photograph by Mick Mather
- click on image to view full size -

Summer is the theme at Thursday Challenge this week. Who could resist a shady, cool stream bank and a shallow, sunny hole for the fish? I don't have a license so the only fishing I'm doing this year is with the camera. Therein lies another challenge of sorts: take a drive out into the countryside on the next perfectly sunny day ... drive until you can't see any houses and stop at the first little stream or brook you come to. Walk the bank with your camera and keep your eyes peeled ... share the results.

Sun and sand -

"White Bikini"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Today has been one of those perfect days for a lie on the beach! By next week school will be out, all the beaches will be open and in full swing. Me? I can't take the direct sun so I guess I'll be inside dreaming a little dream like this.

Play time -

"Imaginary Cover for a Henry Kuttner Novel"
manipulated digital drawing by Mick Mather

As I was resizing this old digital drawing some of the more abstract, sci-fi paperback covers of the 1950's and 1960's came to mind. In particular, I began thinking about Henry Kuttner novels (I've read more than a few) and thus attached this image to him. A quick search elicited few illustrations in this vein but it still feels right somehow.

NEW from The Trinity Series -

"Trinity #17 - Gere's Lock Readymade, Post Documentation Study I"
manipulated digital photograph by Mick Mather

Last week I posted this readymade with a promise that there would be more to come. I'm making good on that warranty right here and am ever mindful of a future readymade to commandeer. I suppose that means still more to come.

HAPPY FATHER's DAY -

"A Day to Himself"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I suppose today's post is dependent upon many factors and I don't intend to speak for all fathers nor paint the sentiment here expressed with a broad brush. Even so, for some few of us - rather than a homely tie, ill-fitting polo shirt or a "world's best dad" mug - what we'd really like is a little time to ourselves. Being that times are tough, I think today would be a good day for it this year. Well, gotta run, here comes the whole family ... there better be a cake in that lot, somewhere!

NEW from Janus Park Walk -

"Claim Jumper"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Here's one I've been holding on to for quite a while and, as a body of work, the documentation of this walk is always interesting for me. The title supposes a bit of a turf war between nesting females that was fun to watch at the time. I don't know how successful she was this season but I'm fairly certain the new crop has already taken wing ... and the beat goes on.

Illustration Friday: Drifting -

"Drifting"
digital collage by Mick Mather

"... a cool spring, drifting into summer,
past commotion and desire,
excitement and passion,
triggers a melancholy
born of flight from the nest.
Sifting through
down and feather
and old clothes,
rediscovering
freedom ..."

Thursday Challenge: Sweet -

"Sweet"
manipulated digital photograph by Mick Mather

For the theme of sweet at Thursday Challenge this week I began to wonder, "sweet for who? Or is it whom?" This honey bee, for example, seems to find the beautiful vetch flowers a particular treat. I don't suppose we've answered the question but, at the very least, we've expanded the field of possibility. I can say this, the walk in a field of wild flowers where I was fortunate enough to get the photograph was, wait for it ... sweet!

Inside looking out -

"Look Through Any Window"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I'm about to engage in cutting a block. The object of the exercise is to make a new block-relief print, something I haven't done in well over a year. Toward that end, my current work is being tested and certain filters are now employed to give me a specific look. Today's post would make a delightful reduction block-print but the context in which the work is to be created has a strict deadline. It is therefor likely that I'll have to leave this particular image for another day. Well, back to work.

Apathetic, passive or pooped -

"Waiting for a Train"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Today's post is inspired by many of the recent, lo-res, cell phone cam photographs that John H Mora has been taking recently. While I'm at it, there's as much of a nod due to Paul Hockett at monkeyinfez and the ever so sweet postings at Woolgathersome.

She had pluck -

"Home of the Brave"
digital collage by Mick Mather

"... a display of bravado belied the terror
instilled by her bedroom wallpaper ..."

Winter, south of the equator -

"Man With a Goatee"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I believe it was something that Lisa Sarsfield, my good friend in New Zealand, said a few days ago as regards winter is coming. Huh? It struck me that, sure, down under must have one during my summer but, just how winterly is it? Judging by this climate graph of the Tauranga area, situated on the North Island and the Bay of Plenty where Lisa hails from, well, that's just NOT winter the way I measure it. To lend today's post some sense of legitimacy, I may have to travel a long way south.

NEW from The Trinity Series -

"Trinity #18 - Warners Road Readymade, Post Documentation Study I"
manipulated digital photograph by Mick Mather

In the short weeks ahead I'll be making a proposal for a public artwork that, if selected, will be another major public sculpture in downtown Syracuse, New York. Also during this time my collaborator, Mark Moncavage, will be replanting and shaping the topiary sculpture, Trinity #2, that was installed last year at the Inner Harbor. Thus begins the season for site specific sculpture, land art and walking art projects of which today's post is the first documentation of a realized, readymade. In the footsteps of Marcel Duchamp and that dadaist tradition, I post this study ... more to come.

Illustration Friday: Unfold -

"Unfold"
manipulated digital drawing by Mick Mather

It's that time of the week again and unfold is the theme at Illustration Friday. For today's post I went to the digital drawing files, pulled out a neatly folded piece and gave it little nudge of encouragement to, well, unfold.

Thursday Challenge: Old -

"Old"
manipulated digital photograph by Mick Mather

Thursday Challenge offers old for this week's theme. I took this photograph some time ago while walking the Gere's Lock section of the Old Erie Canal. It's rough and tumble, old for sure, but probably not Canal Era old.

The view -

"Hiking Above the Great Lake"
digital collage by Mick Mather

One thing we have in this part of Central New York State is an abundance of water. Be it a puddle, slough, pond, stream, creek, river, canal or lake, there's always something wet within hailing distance. Todays post is reminiscent of some of the walks I've taken over the years mixed with visual memory of some armchair excursions to the Lakes District in the UK. So, get your canteens and walking sticks ... I'll meet you at the trail head.

Mail order bride -

"From Russia, With Love"
digital collage by Mick Mather

There was an item in the news recently regarding an arranged marriage service, expectant grooms and, finally, husbands who became the object of a money scam. I think we're all aware of this sort of match-making business, most legitimate, some that are not and such is the inspiration for tonights digital collage. I, ahem, do!

Aweigh the anchor -

"Ready for the Boating Season"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Only a few more weeks of school, the junior executives June vacations are nigh and the boats are in the water. Natty, nautical togs, a good pair of boat shoes and a windbreaker ought to complete this picture. Every day, summer draws nearer and nearer.

Ready for picking -

"In a Very Small Orchard"
digital collage by Mick Mather

One of the joys of being an artist are those works that surprise even me at the end of the creative process. I've mentioned that some images begin to live, breathe and change on their own ... this is another one of those times. As my brand of crazy fortune would have it, the old dreams have started again as well ... (sigh).

In a mood -

"A Walk After the Rain"
digital collage by Mick Mather

A penny for all of your thoughts on this one ... and remember, the check is in the mail! Must dash, lot's to do again today.

Illustration Friday: Craving -

"Craving"
digital collage by Mick Mather

When she already has more than one closet filled with shoes, how do we explain this week's Illustration Friday theme? It must be a ... craving!

Thursday Challenge: Machines -

"When Steam Was King"
manipulated digital photograph by Mick Mather

This old steam engine, beautifully restored, is part of the Steam Engine Exhibit at the Erie Canal Park in Camillus, New York. When it comes to heritage tourism, there's quite a bit to see at this location along with as many miles of walking/biking trails you might care to access.

Bring a coat -

"Blue Moon at the Cape"
digital collage by Mick Mather

If you've ever had the pleasure of walking a stretch of lonely beach at moon rise, you'll understand the sentiments and feeling in today's post. At certain times of the year it can be crisp and cold but oh so perfectly clear. A bonfire beckons at your back but the view is spellbinding.

Head east -

"Similar But Not Matching"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Toward the end of last month I seemed to be back on one of my fashion kicks. Without knowing why and without asking questions, here you go ... more to come I should imagine.

A place to catch your breath -

"Park Benches"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I can only stop to chat long enough to catch my breath. Actually, you talk, I'll listen. Times up, must dash!