HAPPY HALLOWE'EN -

"The Pumpkin Dance"
digital collage by Mick Mather

There may or may not be an Illustration Friday post from me this week because, after all, I have a 4-year old granddaughter to take house-to-house tonight. I suppose it's possible, perhaps even likely, that the theme over at IF will be Hallowe'en related ... if it is, I'll add this to the fray. If not, well, no harm done; I'll be much too busy trying to see how much of the good candy little Leighlund will allow Poppa to get away with! :)

Thursday Challenge: Shiny -

"See Them Glisten"
digital photograph by Mick Mather

Shiny is the theme this week at Thursday Challenge with glisten as one of the sub-themes. As you must know by now, I love that you get more than one idea to connect to and today's post uses the "G"-word. This also happens to be one of the many photographs taken during a fog event that I talk about here in another of my additions to Thursday Challenge. I didn't get as good a close up as I did for tiny but these pinpoints of mist surely glisten as vibrantly as the others. Too, the little white flowers have some shimmer all their own.

Wallpaper? Shower curtain? Kimono pattern? -

"West to East"
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

It was something that one of The Finnish Sisters said, Susupetal to be exact, that got me to thinking about things with a taste of the orient in the recipe. As I pressed the original photograph into and through the super secret array at the Secret Visual Laboratory, things began to take on the proper flavor and so, here you have it.

Getting ahead of myself -

"Study #1 for Ice Cubedigitally manipulated drawing by Mick Mather

As I've mentioned already, I have another land art sculpture that I'd like to build when the weather conditions are right. Toward that end, I need to make a formal proposal to the sculpture park where I'd like to have it sited. This is one of the studies that will become part of the proposal as well as the documentation for that project regardless of where it ends up. I do have other options and the only real stumbling block is the weather ... in any case, I'm posting this now in honor of the imminent snow showers expected tomorrow or the next day.

Drawing With Leighlund Series -

"Code Breakers Brain Scan"
digitally manipulated drawing by Mick Mather
- original drawing by Leighlund Ruth Vincett -

I thought I might do another collaboration with my granddaughter, Leighlund, and was curious to discover that this particular scribble is rather closely aligned to the spider web photographs that I see as 3-dimensional drawings. I haven't done a lot with the latter but they're in my head, percolating, sure to come out again in one form or another not too far in the future. That said, it probably behooves me to work on another that will close the circle of my thinking here. Always, it seems, I make more and more work for myself! :)

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.

In search of the perfect brew -

"Tea Ball"
digitally manipulated fractal flame by Mick Mather

I love tea. I drank it for years, my favorite being Twining's "Irish Breakfast Tea". At one point I even had a beautiful, silver tea ball that looked a bit like this - tarnished and stained with a long, sail-like hook at the end of its chain. From time to time, in my haste, the ball would roll off it's tiny tea plate onto the linen tablecloth, staining the fabric with shadows that never really came out. As I reconsider this, wouldn't I love to have that table cloth now? I'd cut out the tea stained patch and frame it alongside today's post. :)

Illustration Friday: Repair -

"Repair"

manipulated digital drawing by Mick Mather

A few years ago I came up with a cartoon character called "Annie" or "The Little Red Haired Girl". It's been a while, as I say, but this week's Illustration Friday theme, repair, seemed to beckon her back ... and, here she is! Sorry to post and run but it's been a long week.

Thursday Challenge: Hands -

"Lost & Found"
digital photograph by Mick Mather

The theme is hands at Thursday Challenge this week. Blessings upon Dale Hudjik for always, and I do mean always, offering a number of sub-themes ... one of which is gloves this time out. While working on the much mentioned Kings Court Cube, I would often walk about and snap a few other pics that weren't, strictly speaking, part of the documentation. Well, as it turns out, it's all connected somehow, most likely due to the mere mention of these two images in the same breath. Anyway, this glove was lying on the ground about 25 yards from the cube and now I have a chance to use it. Who knew?

Back to the cube -

"Post Cube Conceptual Study II"
manipulated digital drawing by Mick Mather

A week or so ago I mentioned that I might be showing another version of this piece and here it is. I'm having a lot of fun with all of the works that continue to pile up as a result of the Kings Court Cube land art sculpture; and, I'm getting closer to putting what I have so far into a catalog or something. I may also have stumbled into an opportunity to create Ice Cube if I can get a proposal together and find the right weather conditions when winter gets here. I'll keep you posted.

Olé -

"Picasso's Bull"
manipulated fractal flame by Mick Mather

As I am wont to do, I was just frittering away a bit of time and playing about in one of my digital drawing programs. The results of that playtime were minimal as regards posting here so I grabbed an old fractal flame and layered it into the drawing. Still not much to see so I passed that fractal through one of my plug-in filters and, hello! What have we here. A tweak here and a stretch there and what we have is a bit of the Spanish spectacle of bullfighting as well as an interesting bit of symbolism of the sort that informed the sub-conscious thinking of Picasso - Jackson Pollock as well now that I think of it. Whichever way you like it, here 'tis!

Trying to warm up -

"Minding the Knitting"
manipulated digital drawing by Mick Mather

With almost 4 days in a row of morning frost I'm on a search for gloves, mufflers and sweaters. In tune with said search is today's post and, judging from this mess, nothing new is going to be forthcoming.

Spooked -

"A Demons Wife Trading Gossip With A Blackbird"
digital collage by Mick Mather

As the days grow shorter and as the season acquires a chill, I've noticed a trend toward images of a creepier-than-usual nature. Far be from me to be the one to point it all out so today's post offers all of you a better source of information - or, disinformation, depending on how you feel about gossip. Anyway, I'm on my way out to the pumpkin patch with Leighlund today and I'm sure there'll be even more blather, chatter and prattle before the day is done. :)

NEW from The Birdhouse Series -

"Birdhouse XVI"
manipulated digital drawing by Mick Mather

This body of work continues to grow slowly these days. I've had this piece, quite unfinished mind you, in a file for some time now. This week's comment exchanges with Lisa Sarsfield gave me a bit of a nudge though and this morning I got back to it and finished things up. For now, I'm off to get a handle on a few other projects while I still have a nice day to work outside ... we'll chat later!

Illustration Friday: Late -

"A Swing and A Miss"
digital collage by Mick Mather

Illustration Friday offers late this week for a theme. Right about now I feel almost as despondent as this slugger must, albeit if for different reasons, when sometimes in life you give it a go and come up empty. There are levels of meaning for me here that are reflected in this theme and certainly in this image ... still, 'nuff said. Both of us are going to come up swinging at the next fast ball thrown our way; of that there is no doubt. :)

Thursday Challenge: Autumn -

"Autumn 2008"
digital photograph by Mick Mather

Yes, autumn is this week's theme at Thursday Challenge with leaves as a sub-theme. While I was out walking through the neighborhood the afternoon sun was just right, lighting up these multi-colored beauties. While I was out there, I was fortunate to find a cherry tree with 3 ripe orbs hanging from a nub of a branch as well as a long limb full of crab apples on another small tree. The air was cool, the sky was blue, a riot of color was at every point of the compass and my how the birds did sing. Next year, I think I ought to plant a few pumpkin seeds here and there in the wild corners of the big back yard.

Still running -

"With A Gleam in Her Eye"
digital collage by Mick Mather

There's an expressionist quality about this piece that continues to shake me each time I look at it. I love it one minute and hate it the next. On the bright side, the power it holds to pull me back in over and over is a good thing ... I think. :)

Drawing With Leighlund Series -

"Girl With a Bow in her Hair"
digitally manipulated drawing by Mick Mather
- original drawing by Leighlund Ruth Vincett -

All the way back in March, when I was hard at work on a number of my granddaughters drawings, I posted one called "Scribble Face". That same drawing happens to be the seed for today's post. I'll leave it to all of you to look at that other image and hence to find the little nugget that you see here. So sorry to post and rush off again, but I'll be at a conference all day today with an appearance before the Public Art Commission in the early evening ... more about that later.

Making hay while the sun shines -

"Study #2 for Sky Box I"
digitally manipulated drawing by Mick Mather

I've pressed forward with another land art project called Sky Box I that can currently be seen at No Matter What Shape - The Archive, my other blog. I've mentioned it briefly here as well, along with another study for the documentation; but, things have changed a little bit. For one thing, it's completed and, for another, the longevity of this 1-foot square box is suspect. Be that as it may, Sky Box II is already being planned and, in the spring, I believe that Flower Box will be added to my list. This 1-inch square box, as yet an indistinct plan, is expected to surround a wildflower next May. This doesn't presuppose the building of Ice Box and/or Snow Cube should proper conditions occur this winter. Hmm, busy, busy me!

Fast and loose -

"Sunday best"
digital collage by Mick Mather

A little something before I rush off to do some other important work that I've left until, almost, the last minute. Here's a bit of my old style digital collage run through the usual array of plug-in filters, manipulators and tools here at the Secret Visual Laboratory ... and, I'm off!

There I go again -

"Post Cube Conceptual Study I"
manipulated digital painting by Mick Mather

Recent commentary from one of my blogging pals on the other side of the world, Lisa Sarsfield, has opened my eyes wider than ever as regards the importance of the Kings Court Cube land art sculpture. Little by little this work continues to seep into the fabric of my very being and there's definitely something bigger brewing. Almost every other thing that I do is, somehow, connected to this project and as I've mentioned before, I can't seem to break away from it. At this point, I'm totally tuned in to the fact that this is something I must pay attention to and pursue to the fullest and, with that in mind, here's another piece that was accomplished earlier in the week. There are a number of versions and I may post one more at some point ... whether I do or not, the body of work in this project continues to grow into a documentation that is beginning to look more and more like a book every day.

Illustration Friday: Strings -

"Framework II - Strings"
manipulated digital photograph by Mick Mather

Again I have to air one major complaint with Illustration Friday - the fact that they don't give themes a week in advance. This week, for example, I have a terrific piece tailor made for it, but, I already used it, just two days ago! Oh well, I suppose if it were different, there would be other issues and in either event it has caused me to rework one of the earlier versions. I can only imagine the lonely spider that created this masterpiece toiling away under a new moon, hoping for a catch, as the insects of the night fly into the unseen strings!

Thursday Challenge: Favorite -

"Leighlund & Paige"
photograph by Mick Mather

This week, favorite is the theme at Thursday Challenge. I suppose it's somewhat annoying to go on and on about my grandchildren but, with a knowing bias, this pair must be two of the most beautiful that any grandfather could hope for. Only granddaughter number three, Keisha (at seventeen already a beautiful young woman), is missing from the picture but not from my heart. Anyway, here's a view of two-thirds of my favorites posing next to the creek sculpture that Paige suggested, originally discussed and seen here. Can you feel the proud grin I'm wearing from where you are? Okay, I'll stop now. :)

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.

Green Spaces -

"The Tree Tender"
manipulated digital photograph by Mick Mather

Just a little something to feast your eyes on - while I'm at a meeting - with this manipulated version of one of the documentation photographs taken at last weekends tree planting. If I've been talking about this project too much lately, allow me to hand the soap box over to one of the many supportive volunteers.

NEW from The Selfportrait Series -

"Selfportrait of the Artist Painting Himself Into A Mural"
digital collage by Mick Mather

In late summer or early fall of 2007, I participated in a community mural project organized by Michael Berman. One of the photographs documenting that participation seemed to lend itself well to this series and, so, here you have it. The rest of the week will be hectic for me since I'll be at meetings or a gallery opening every night this week. I only mention it here because I have to knuckle down and get posts for the next three days loaded and ready to go. We'll chat again soon!

Land Art Project -

"Kings Court Cube"

land art sculpture by Mick Mather

I finished the project today. If you want to see the daily progress of this land art construction, you'll find it here at No Matter What Shape - The Archive. I took some documentary video footage again but, dang! ... it came out worse than the original one! If I can carve out a little time to do some editing, I might come up with another short movie to post, eventually. I had to cut back on the original concept of filling the cube with colorful leaves but I have another idea if the structure of stacked and woven twigs and branches survives the winter. There's a bit of work involved and, for now, I'm all in with no thoughts of continuing this project for a while. I'll create Sky Box before the weather turns too miserable and then tackle those parts of the new idea that can be done, left to winter over with final considerations and further work in the spring. For now, enjoy this if you can.

Another beautiful day -

"Paige's Bridge"
stacked stone sculpture by Mick Mather

Today was tree planting for the the "Green Spaces Grant" that was awarded this summer to landscape designer, Mark Moncavage and I. As I may have mentioned before, my sculpture, Trinity #2, is scheduled for installation amid 5 flowering crabapple trees on the Creek Walk at Inner Harbor in Syracuse, New York. As soon as the piece is approved by the Public Art Commission and accepted by the Syracuse Common Council, Steve Cooper, my fabricator, will proceed to build and install it ... but, that's another story. My beautiful granddaughters, Leighlund and Paige, came to the planting and had quite good time. Later in the day the three of us went down the other creek - the little stream near Leighlund's house - to inspect "Leighlund's Cairn". Having suffered some bit of damage since I was there last, it had to be completely rebuilt. I'll be showing the new piece very soon, but here in today's post we have a little stone bridge that was suggested by Paige and constructed by all three of us as a team. I seem to have a pair of budding land art sculptors growing on the vine here and there's more to show you. Stay tuned!

Illustration Friday: Sugary -

"Sugary"
digital collage by Mick Mather

" ... Tired eyes flickered open and Sally sat up on the shore when a gentle surge of the incoming tide interrupted her reverie. Stretched out on the sand only moments before, the sun sparkled and shined on her tanned, sugary back ... "

Thursday Challenge: Tiny -

"Tiny"
photograph by Mick Mather

As the title of today's post suggests, the theme at Thursday Challenge this week is tiny. While I was out and about last weekend, in the middle of a lifting fog, I discovered hundreds of spider webs coated with the passing mists. In particular, this image of a fir tree is my personal favorite and rife with examples of fog-induced droplets. The needles themselves each have a bead that's about the size of an opalescent pinhead and seem huge when compared to the tiny little pearl necklace strung along the spider web. Sweet!

Another outdoor project -

"Study #3 for Sky Box I"
manipulated digital drawing by Mick Mather

It's been raining for an entire week now and I still haven't completed my "Kings Court Cube" project. While waiting for a bit of sunshine at the weekend, I began doodling about with yet another outdoor, land art project to be called "Sky Box". This piece is a much smaller cube and will be woven into a stand of small trees at shoulder height. I don't know that I've mentioned this before but there should be some visible progress by mid-month I should think. For now, this is one of the digital studies from the documentation of the as yet unrealized work.