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About me....

Who am I? Born and bred in Pittsburgh, PA, in the late 1960's. I'm a graphic artist by trade, and have been drawing probably since birth. Its all I've ever known. It started with crayons, and progressed to pencils. My mind is always designing or redesigning something, whether it be an ad in a magazine or perhaps a book cover. I've always just done what comes naturally to me, God gave me the gift, and I've done my best to use those tools.

My earliest influence was without a doubt comic books and the artists who drew them. To this day I'm still a comic book "geek" who loves to read comics. I was always drawn to the best artists of the day. They had to look good on paper, or I went onto another comic with a better artist.

All the way through elementary school, and through high school, I drew. I drew a lot. Give me a scrap of paper and I was drawing some character on it. Then one day it dawned on me, maybe my career should be in art? I applied my self and entered the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where I learn everything from color theory to how to shoot 33mm film. It was a learning experience I must say. It made me a complete artist, smoothed out my rough edges.

Now my palette is a computer, where I design two monthly trade magazines.
I've done freelance work making web sites, designing logos, trade show collateral and business cards. I like working with all sorts of different mediums, and I think I've succeeded in my goals. I do high quality work, and do it in a very timely manner, and most of all, I try and make my customers happy.

Looking at all these images, reminds me, I really need to pick up a pencil and paper more often and just draw....

Sincerely,
Mike Holmes
Snoopy and Chuck
Charles Schultz — One of my earliest influences as a kid.
Captain Klutz
Don Martin — From Mad Magazine. I loved his style of cartooning. To this day, when I draw, I can still see his influences in my work. This picture is of my favorite character "Captain Klutz".
Conan Sketch
Conan Comic Cover
John Buscema — Man, the way he drew Conan. I got my best anatomy lessons from him. I think I drew Conan for like 2 years straight in junior high.
John Byrne Sketch
John Byrne — I followed John's career starting with the X-men. He gave me a sense of colorization. Who knew after drawing in pencils for so may years, you could color your own drawings?
Patrick Nagel
Starry Night
Self Portait
Patrick Nagel — Clean, and beautiful. He has always reminded me of Japanese block prints. Simple and clean. I was always intrigued how the flesh was always kept "white".
Vincent Van Gogh — Troubled painter, who cuts off his own ear, what's not to love?
He's is by far my favorite painter. His style and brush strokes are a thing of beauty. His self portraits are amazing, and the Starry Night image above, is probably my single favorite piece of his.



© 2007 Holmes, ink E-mail Me