Mike, with Sandy Kish-Jordan at the Vermilion Market in 2008.
According to my mom, I’ve been drawing since I was in diapers.
I make a living as a professional caricaturist and illustrator. I also teach art locally at libraries and other places where people gather.
Contrary to what seems to be popular belief, one can do this kind of thing for a living. My main bread and butter is doing event and party caricature and shows. Plus, I do a lot of commission work, illustration work, and other art related projects, not necessarily all in a caricature style. I draw people, pets, houses, landmarks, and whatever people want to pay me to draw.
My favorite medium is pen and ink drawing and cartooning, but I also have strong experience with chalk, color pencils, and digital web graphic and other media.
Mike doing caricatures at the Amherst Public Library 100th anniversary celebration.
In my copious spare time, I enjoy sharing my knowledge with anyone by teaching art classes locally, at libraries, the Cleveland Metroparks, and other facilities in NE Ohio. And when I’m not doing that, I offer other programming and talks about the artistic life and related business to local organizations.
I’ve dabbled in comics doing several small press comics jobs in the 80′s and made a brief comeback in the 2000′s with the publication of Drawn From Experience, a collection of some of my comics work. I am developing a web comic idea for eventual publication.
Mike at Roxy’s Reads, in the office!
In addition to my artwork, I am an experienced Internet Marketer and Website Designer and consultant, having designed over a dozen websites for clients including models, plant nurseries, game stores, and even a local county commissioner. On the Internet, I market my artwork and services online on several sites including Etsy.com and ebay.com.
I have a long, diverse background in several areas, including community theater (acting, directing, tech, and design), business (having several managerial and supervisory positions), small business, customer service, marketing, and sales. I have a stong affection for comic books and strip history and culture. I like to say, “Life is a buffet and I’m a glutton.”
Finally, I have experience in local cable television access production having hosted and produced programs for a local public access station.