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" ...

Taking back the landscape -

"Rejection of Perspective"
digital collage by Mick Mather

One of the difficulties artists have when attempting to represent the real world is an understanding of perspective, regardless of the ism one may be working in. Particularly, the landscape artists of the Romantic Age well understood that using perspective was necessary even as they also understood that it was an imperfect method for the draftsman. I suppose the dichotomy of vision, as we observe the world, and the tools we must use to represent it, will always be at odds. Even so, make more time for walking and looking is the message here.

Stretching the limits?

"Disappearing Into A Gridded Landscape"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Today's post is tied to some of the research I've been doing for months and, more specifically, this past week at the blog, Walking Art. The land art movement, with roots all the way back to the 1960's, is exploding as social issues such as sustainability, recycling, the environment, rural and urban planning begin to settle out from the radical activist fringe. Grass-roots organizing on the local level is slowly replacing the hippy dippy junk-science-based paradigm with better informed models, experiments and projects that place all of these important issues back within the realm of good stewardship, where they belong. The better news here is that individual ideas of art, public art and land use interpretation is shattering the elitist viewpoint and returning art to the masses. At the same time, the individual is empowered to redefine certain forms of conceptual art for himself by simply taking a walk. With digital cameras, video and other emerging technologies new methods of creating and documenting en plein air art are added to traditional forms of painting, drawing or sculpture. There's much more to say but, not having the room in this forum, I'll do what I can to reveal those areas where I'm in concert with some of the new directions and movements that I'm beginning to see.

Making connections -

"Framework I"
manipulated digital photograph by Mick Mather

For one reason or another I can't seem to break away from work on the Kings Court Cube. This isn't a complaint, mind you, as the continued additions and connections with the recently completed sculpture are fabulous in and of themselves. Today's post comes from a group of photographs (I speak about them here) taken while checking on the condition of the piece. It soon became clear that some of these wonders of nature could be seen as drawings and I quickly set about looking for as many as I could find that might work in 2-dimensions toward that end. Here's the first of what may become a new series as well as an addition to the documentary record of that land art project.

Drawing With Leighlund Series -

"A Little Girl and Her Picture Book"
digitally manipulated drawing by Mick Mather
- original drawing by Leighlund Ruth Vincett -

As it so often happens, I've gotten sidetracked from the collaborative project with my granddaughter, Leighlund Ruth Vincett. For the background info, have a peek at a number of posts you'll find here. Suffice it to say, while poking about this morning I found this unfinished piece ... well, it seemed unfinished until I studied it for a time. Now, having added a border and my digital signature, I offer it up. Enjoy.

On the Road -

"Trinity #13 - Proposal Study #3"
digitally manipulated drawing by Mick Mather

No sooner am I back from vacation than I'm off again! As you read this I'll be on the road, driving to Vermont to The Carving Studio & Sculpture Center, where my proposal for "Trinity #13" has been accepted for exhibit in SculptFest08. I will be constructing this work from 'found' materials on-site over the weekend. "Labor Day" takes on a whole new meaning for me this year I think. In any case, no Illustration Friday for me this week and apologies, again, in advance for the short shrift given the pre-scheduled posts through Monday. More documentation of the piece upon my return and, until then, please have a glass of red wine with me in celebration.

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.

A study of my own -

"Christina II"
colored pencil drawing by Mick Mather

Rob D'Agostino popped into my office on Monday for a blog tutorial. Afterward we took a tour of the 10 Totem Project sculptures scattered around downtown Syracuse, New York before getting lunch and heading to my other office at The Warehouse. While we were walking it came up that I promised to post a few studies of my own - accomplished at the class that Rob and I attended for many, many years. As I was checking back through the files of scanned images from one of my sketchbooks I found a piece that makes perfect sense when considering his blog and our connected, shared past ... here then, is one of my drawings, Rob's daughter, Christina.

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.

Simple Simon -

"The Lawn Chairs"
$50 Unframed - LUCAS GALLERY
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

In keeping with my recent return to simplicity, here's another image in that loose, sketch-like style. You can see the original photograph and get a bit more information about the history of this piece here. That said, summer is almost over and my schedule at the office is, once again, filling itself with more evening meetings than I ever thought I'd have to attend. Not a complaint mind you, but it will surely be taking much time away from my activities here. Fair warning to my good blog friends that, if it seems like I'm not around as much as before, it isn't personal nor permanent! :)

Sketches and studies and drawing effects -

"The Photo Op"
digital collage by Mick Mather

For the past week or so I've gone back to a simpler, sketchier and more loosely drawn style of manipulation. I don't suppose there's any great purpose for these works but it's vastly helpful for my own vision to simplify things for a while. To let it go, to loosen up, not worrying so much over hard and fast detail is the assigned task for me. I've always been fascinated by the sketchbook drawings of other artists and getting things down quickly, gestural, intuitively and simplified is a place we all need to revisit - more often we think.

NEW from The Reinventing the Wheel Series: Still talking about paintings -

"Reinventing the Wheel IV"
$50 Unframed - LUCAS GALLERY
digital study by Mick Mather

I happened to be looking through digital files of my old paintings over the last few days and, no pun intended, the wheels began to turn again. With this series in particular and in general as regards actually searching for studio space, paint, brushes and a surface that may or may not end up being canvas. As mentioned a few times previously these pieces are intended to be large scale - in the case of tonight's post, 4' X 4' - and perhaps in this square format as an inside joke. While I still have my work cut out for me and as I continue to draw and sketch ideas, creating a study for each piece will quite likely be the marketing vehicle for the actual work once I begin. Keep your checkbooks handy boys and girls!

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! :)

NEW from The Mr Existence Series -

"Sister Existence on a Dog Day Afternoon"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I was playing around with a few elements last night, including a wonderfully scribbly drawing by my 3-year old granddaughter. This was layered over a rough 'n tumble, hazy, blocky base of cut 'n paste before running the whole business through the super secret array. It didn't take long to realize that we had another piece where Sister Existence is out walking the dogs. "What dogs?", you might legitimately inquire. Let me see, pretend this is one of those "Where's Waldo" books except that we're looking for "Fido" instead. Well, two of them actually. :D