Michael in his first art studio, circa 1988

Michael has been drawing and painting since he was old enough to hold a brush. As a young child, he became inspired to become an artist after watching his uncle draw cartoons, and began to create his own comics and characters. He excelled in art throughout his days in elementary and middle school, and used every opportunity to explore a variety of mediums, from pencil, to pastels, to pen and ink, to watercolors, acrylics and oils. Michael enjoyed all of these mediums equally, and subjects of his art varied from animals, to landscapes, to portraiture.

Horned Owl, Pen and Ink, 1987

A love of reading led Michael to discover a wide range of writing styles and alternate worlds, from the classics to pulp fiction novels to comic books. A long time comic book collector and afficionado, Michael dreamed of becoming a comic book artist, inspired by the early works of such artists as Berie Wrightson, Jim Starlin, Frank Frazetta, and Boris Vallejo. He wrote and drew several issues of his own comic book hero beginning in sixth grade, and though those early works are lost to time, he fondly remembers those times as uplifting experiences, ones that would contribute to his affection for both drawing and writing.

Landscape in acrylics, 1985

Michael exhausted the school's art cirriculum during the first semester of his Sophomore year in High School, and became the first student in Maryland to enter Independent Study before their senior year. He planned on attending Maryland Institute College of Art upon graduation, with the intent of majoring in illustration. Life intervened, however, and he found himself a single parent, the sole provider for his two daughters, and often worked multiple jobs in order to provide for them. Working late hours at odd jobs, and with little funds for entertainment or distraction, Michael would often turn to art and writing for release, and would take on freelance artwork assignments at every opportunity.

Early furniture painting project - 1988

In 1987, Michael formed Reincarnations - Painted Furniture and Other Artistic Creations. Michael quickly expanded the company, taking their art to various high- end contemporary craft galleries, and attending juried craft shows along the East Coast. He designed and built the trade booth in which to sell their work, drawing upon his experience working for a display and exhibit company some years before, and continued to solidify his company's reputation for high-quality artisan crafts. In 1997, Michael became interested in web design, and created the company's website, Reincarnations.com, which he continues to maintain today with his new partner and fiance, the lovely and talented Michelle Rose.

PandaMania Public Art Project - 2004

Today, Michael continues to produce artwork for Reincarnations, and has rededicated himself to his artistic and literary pursuits, working to hone his skills in painting and illustration, and once again exploring new dimensions in terms of mediums and subject matter. He is currently working on a series of paintings and illustrations based on his writing, with the goal of illustrated special editions of his novels upon publication. A selection of his paintings, drawings, and sketches can be found in the Gallery.