Going with the flow -

"The Gray Sweater"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I know, my posts have been short all week and that isn't likely to change here. This piece was assembled in much the same manner as work from my Faces in the Crowd Series and The Making Faces Series. One difference here is that I'm working with shapes and blocks of color as opposed to faces in particular. Anyway, I'm off to another long day at the office.

Cover Story -

"Red Baseball Cap"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Something new here from the Faces in the Crowd Series. Basically, a jumble of faces and backgrounds have been layered, filtered, manipulated, repainted and color shifted. In the end, it was the variety of textures that were brought further forward than usual that are attractive for me - also seen in yesterdays post where patterns are used more aggressively. Too, the look on the person's face began to emerge with each successive layer and I quite like the challenged appearance that has been suggested here.

Stand a little closer -

"Five O'Clock Shadow"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Another aspect of my working method is to save blocks of time for play. I have two series of works that were made just for that purpose and today's post is one example of the Faces in the Crowd Series. Without going into any great detail - since I've discussed the process previously for work that resides in the Making Faces Series - I take anywhere from 3 to 5 faces and run them through the array of filters, generators and manipulating software here at the Secret Visual Laboratory. Suffice it to say that this image, once completed, suggested its own title. I love it when that happens! :)

One step forward, two steps back -

"Defining Solutions for Serious Issues, With Cocktail"
digital collage by Mick Mather

With more than a week's worth of puffery and ill advised, self effacing innuendo over the new work I decided to step back a bit. I've retreated into old and familiar territory for the past 48 hours. As far as I can tell, it's a purposeful measure of distance traveled from familiar shores. I can also revel a little while in the double entendre present here. Other than that it's time for - what else? - a cocktail!

Stepping back -

"The Profile Model"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Tonight's post is a nod to my good friend Rob D'Agostino whom many of you have already been visiting since his Save My Studies project began to appear. For those of you who haven't yet taken a look at his quick study of yours truly, you'll find it here. As I've already mentioned briefly, Rob and I attended the same drawing class for many, many years and I don't believe there was one among us that didn't come away the better for that experience. One of the more difficult portraits to accomplish was the full profile and Rob and I have done our fair share of them. I may need to haul out some of my own studies one day, get them into digital format and post them. But I digress. This piece takes me right back to that class and all of the good times all of us shared during those wonderful, developmental years.

Thursday Challenge: Young -

"Green Apples"
$50 unframed - LUCAS GALLERY
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

"The immature fruit hangs low, over banks and canal, within equal reach of the footman, the boatman and thee. Fine as they seem - for the mule, the crow or the bee - they're much too young for me." - a flicktion by Mick Mather

Stumbling into the truth -

"Squinting Into the Wind"
$50 unframed - LUCAS GALLERY
digital collage by Mick Mather

I settled into the secret visual laboratory today with the purpose of playing around. I'm glad I did after coming up with tonight's post following a good, long session. I have two other images in various stages that could easily go into one of my existing Series ... on the other hand, I've already opened a file for a brand new series called Faces in the Crowd, and it really belongs there for the moment. As I make headway with a few of the new plug-ins a new excitement seems to be building in relationship to this particular work. A lot more effort and few long yards to go before I'll make this new body of work official. Stay tuned!