Mike was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up in San Francisco. He began drawing at 9 years of age, and never stopped. His first thought of making art a career began with his exposure to architecture in a Junior High School
Mechanical Drawing class. He continued his training at the Art Institute and the Art Academy in San Francisco, and then on to the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. He is a 47-year veteran, NYC Advertising Art Director. He retired and started painting full time in 2008, studying under the renowned Watercolor artist, Donald Voorhees, NJWCS. His paintings range from portraits to landscapes and seascapes. He draws his inspiration from the intriguing colors and textures that surround him, from the face of a colorful character to the scales of a rusting boat.