NEW from The Chairs Series -

"Chairs At A Small Round Table"
montage by Mick Mather

The effect is called 'clustering' - where a number of related or similar things begin to happen at the same time, in the same place. This is a common measure in community and economic development that occurs because people want to be where other people are. Soon, that equates to events being scheduled, business openings or expansions, etc. where people are congregating. It's one of those 'chicken or the egg' questions as regards how the phenomenon gets started, nurtured and grown...but, I digress. Here (we may need to stretch a little bit to include inanimate objects as artwork posted to a blog) is another entry in that part of my ongoing work known as The Chairs Series. While Friday's post wasn't labeled as part of that particular body, it surely belongs there. I don't know that I have any other chairs in the files ready to post, but that's what seems to be so amazing about the clustering phenomena. One could appear out of the blue!

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"At the Chinese Take-Out"
$50 unframed - LUCAS GALLERY
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

While waiting for an order of egg foo yung with a side of wanton soup I saw this chair in a new light, so to speak. It helped that the afternoon sun was stealing its way past the narrow blinds only to get lost in the gloom and shadows. After running the original photo through the usual array here at the Secret Visual Laboratory, the color scheme seen here began to amplify the lines and patterns. Variation and repetition enhanced by color if you will, turned this ordinary shot into something much more dramatic in my minds' eye.

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"Old Ghosts of the Boardroom"
digital collage by Mick Mather
"... the ghosts of the tribe
crouch in the nights beside the ghost of a fire,
they try to remember the sunlight,
light has died out of their skies ..."
- Robinson Jeffers

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"Three Chairs"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I've been working on a few images featuring a passion of mine, chairs. An artistic passion for the most part as I don't own many; but, of the ones I do have? Yes, I play favorites. Speaking of playing favorites, I was listening to Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) while working this afternoon - a brilliant EP if you please. Have a listen to a cut called "Bordertown" while I pop out for some fish & chips...and, oh my! We're very low on brandy!

Another chair -

"Chair #12"
monotype by Mick Mather

One of the things I really liked about the theme at Thursday Challenge the other day is the fact that I have a series of chairs. I keep these in a little notebook called The Chairs Journal where most of the pieces are simple watermedia sketches, collage and print or two - like the monotype posted here. With a nice, long weekend in full swing, I think I'll leave it right here and grab another nap.

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"Classroom Chairs"
digital collage by Mick Mather

As this first, unofficial weekend of summer comes to a close, the anticipation of the actual arrival of that season and another few months of vacation begins for most kids. In spite of our current state of affairs I'm certain that I'll soon be hearing a familiar paean, "Life is good"!

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"In the Captain's Chair"
digital collage by Mick Mather

"... tea pot is on, the cups are waiting,
favorite chairs anticipating,
no matter what I have to do,
my friend there's always
time for you ..."
- Unknown

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"Old Ladder Back"
digital collage by Mick Mather
"... and in a chair well-known
my mother sat, and did not tire
with reading all alone ...
if I should make the slightest sound
to show that I'm awake,
she'd rise, and lap the blankets round,
my pillow softly shake;
kiss me, and turn my face to the wall,
and then sing Rousseau's Dream to me,
till fast asleep I fall ..."
- William Allingham

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"Abstract Girl and Her Contemporary Chair"
montage by Mick Mather

While playing around with a throw away image a few weeks ago, things began to click. It was one of those times when I was just playing and surprise, surprise! Progress with one of the new photo editors that was employed here has gone backwards more than a few steps recently. I consider myself fortunate to have this image. So, perhaps I should be playing more? Actually I am, but I might be well advised to play harder this week. Anyway, here it is with some alternate versions and at least one spin-off to show for the effort. All properly hidden away here at the Secret Visual Laboratory! :)

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"Another Red Chair"
digital collage by Mick Mather

"... the last stroke of midnight dies,
all day in the one chair
from dream to dream and rhyme to rhyme I have ranged
in rambling talk with an image of air,
vague memories, nothing but memories ..."
- William Butler Yeats

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"Musical Chairs"
manipulated digital painting by Mick Mather

"... I had three chairs in my house;
one for solitude,
two for friendship,
three for society ..."
- Henry David Thoreau

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"The Amazing Walking Chair"
digital drawing & collage by Mick Mather
- click image to view full size -

"... haven't you felt a peculiar sort of worry
about the chair in your living room
that nobody sits in ..."
- Nicholson Baker

A light breakfast -

"Cranberry Juice and Tea"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Just mucking about all weekend contemplating some recent work that might better have been left under cover. Without mentioning names, I feel like I've been in a bit of a slump over the past 10 days or so. The other night, as I was bemoaning my fate, up popped this little gem. I like it. It soothes me somehow and I moved from this one to another lovely piece. It will be shown later in the week and it's the first image in a long, long, long time to be posted in the practically dormant Chairs Series....wait for it!

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"The Old Office Chair"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

"... when fortune calls, offer her a chair ..."
- Yiddish Proverb

NEW from The Chairs Series -

"Desk Set"
digital collage by Mick Mather

"... a desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world ..."
- John Le Carre

Illustration Friday: Invention -

"Selfportrait of the Artist With A New Invention"
digital collage by Mick Mather

I was going to take it easy today and just toss up another image from The Chairs Journal, but got caught up in the theme of invention at Illustration Friday instead. As those of you who have been looking for a while may see, this is also a NEW addition to The Selfportrait Series. Now, it does appear that sofa is free. Nap time!