Stacking the stones -

"Sketch for A Greater Pyramid"
digital drawing by Mick Mather

"... the pyramids themselves, doting with age,
have forgotten the names of their founders ..."
- Thomas Fuller

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!

Stormy weather -

"Blue Water Sail"
tempera-on-paper by Mick Mather

Today's post is allegorical in some ways. I've been struggling and restless with my artwork lately and this old tempera sketch has a lot to say about the way I've been feeling: at sea, rough and unfinished, flying in the face of danger, unsettled, fearful that all of this may go under, away, sinking out of sight! At the same time, there's no meaningful gain without some risk so I set sail every day, ploughing through choppy waves without a compass. What this usually means is, the wind is about to change - that I'm close to another series of meaningful work or on my way to a change in style. We shall see, one day at a time, yes?