A collaboration with Cima -

"Two Cats, One Chair - The Standoff"
digitally manipulated drawing by Mick Mather
- original drawing by Daniel Cimadevilla -

This past summer, mid-July to be precise, my favorite Argentine artist - Daniel Cimadevilla, posted a drawing called "PARA MAMA". One of the things I liked most about it was the loose and carefree approach that immediately evoked memories of Lyonel Feininger, but I digress. Included with Daniel's drawing is a small thumbnail that nagged at me for months. Finally, I ran it through the usual array of plug-in filters here at the Secret Visual Laboratory, sent a copy of the finished piece to Cima requesting his permission to use it and, well, here it is. Thanks so much for your part in this, Daniel, and for agreeing to let me collaborate with you.

Keeping it simple -

"The Contemplative"
digital collage by Mick Mather

My usual method of working consists of multiple layers and images. Deconstruction, digital ripping, repainting, filtering and other manipulations that take hours, sometimes days or weeks, to complete. Even with this piece, such was the case for the first 60 minutes. Then, with recent visits to a few of my new favorite artist bloggers - Harlequin, Daniel Cimadevilla and Trijnie Mohlmann - I thought about something simple, direct and loose. This digital sketch is the result and it's good to slow down the maddening pace now and again, innit?