Mike's early career as an artist attracted recognition through his accurate, highly detailed pencil sketches of the contemporary working cowboy. In the 70's, with encouragement from Ed Runci (a former Coca Cola illustrator turned professional oil painter), Mike began to work in oils. His subjects also changed, enlarging to landscape, particularly that of the cowboy-in-context. During this period, Mike had further help from Joe Beeler, founding member of the Cowboy Artists of America.
Mike is no stranger to the West and it's lifestyle. From cowboying on one of the west's largest ranches, horse back packing in the Rockies, being a lease agent on the Crow Indian Reservation, to running sled dogs in the Colorado high country in the winter. Mike not only lives in the West, Mike lives the West, and that is what he paints, the West.
Sensitivity to the West is central to Mike's work. "The West is my home. I believe it to be unique. The landscape, the buildings, the people and the animals that make up the west is what I paint." When not in his gallery/studio, Mike can usually be found out painting on location, gathering reference material for future paintings or merely "living the West".
"I paint in a traditional, representational manner. However, on occasion I will push the limits of a medium in an attempt to create a desired effect. Additionally, I will utilize any style of painting to suit a particular picture. I hope you enjoy my work."