After a 20-year career as a medical and commercial illustrator in Chicago, Mike and his wife, Kathy, moved to Lana’i in 2001. Since then he has been selected as a Signature Member of both the Plein Air Painters of Hawaii and The Islanders (10 artists from across Hawaii), and has been juried into all seven Schaefer Portrait Challenges, one of three artists in the State with that honor. From 2010-2013 he served on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii State Art Museum.
Education
1975
B.A., Western Maryland College, Double Major in Biology and Art, Honors in Art
1978
Awards
2014
Winner, “Brush Off” (2 hour painting competition), "Just Plein Fun", Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island
"Honor Hawai’i, Honor Maui" (Hawaiian Cultural Award), Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational
2011
First Place, Professional Division, Makawao Paint-Out, Viewpoints Gallery, Makawao
2009
O’o Farm Label Award, Makawao Paint-Out, Viewpoints Gallery
Café Kapalua Award, Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational, Village Gallery, Lahaina
Exhibitions & Invitationals
Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational, Royal Lahaina Resort, Lahaina (2006-2020)
Schaefer Portrait Challenge (2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022)
Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Schaefer International Gallery
Kahului, Maui, Hawaii
Schaefer Portrait Challenge (2012, 2015)
The Contemporary Museum at First Hawaiian Center
Honolulu, Hawaii
"Just Plein Fun" (2014)
Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, CA
Kaua’i Plein Air Painting Invitational (2011, 2012)
Grove Farm Museum, Lihue
Makawao Paint Out Invitational (2008-2011)
Viewpoints Gallery, Makawao, Maui