about
I'm a commercial artist: I create images and artwork for books, products, designers, ad agencies, musicians, publishers, and movie trailers. I'm lucky enough to draw pictures for a living.
My images start with the pencil, and finish as digital collages, monoprints, and screen prints. I love bold, bright color in all formats. My work has been recognized by Communication Arts, American Illustration, and the Society of Illustrators (LA). I hold a BA in French Language from UCSC and a BFA in Illustration from CCA. I'm currently back at CCA teaching in the Illustration department, which is very exciting.
You can read more about me and my work here, here, here, here, and here.
I live and work in Oakland, California with my husband, musician and programmer Andrew Cowitt and our dog Olive.
clients
- aids health project
- autodesk
- the bark
- bill graham presents
- camelbak
- camper van beethoven
- david carson
- chronicle books
- cisco
- converse
- deyoung museum
- the exploratorium
- farrar strauss giroux
- gingko press
- hewlett-packard
- info world
- levi strauss
- los angeles times
- macworld
- mccann erickson
- motorola
- rickshaw bagworks
- the national park service
- the new york times
- the new yorker
- nike
- oakland magazine
- the oakland museum
- pottery barn
- scholastic inc.
- san francisco chronicle
- san francisco int'l film festival
- sfmoma
- san francisco opera
- ten-speed press
- tricycle press
- the united way
- utne reader
- washington post
from abigail samoun, tricycle press:
"Tricycle Press has hired Michael to illustrate a number of its children's books. Michael brought a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and creativity to every one of our projects, contributing enormously to their success. His illustrations for author Betsy Franco's 'A Curious Collection of Cats' were vital in the book's receiving the Lee Bennett Hopkins Honor and an ABC Best Books for Children as well as an absolutely rave review from School Library Journal critic, Elizabeth Bird, who called Michael an "extraordinary up-and-coming illustrator" and predicted that the book could win the prestigious Caldecott medal for 2010.
Working with Michael is a true pleasure. He's warm, open, and responsive. He comes up with creative solutions to anything that needs fixing. The results always exceed expectations. Receiving art from Michael is a delight---his sense of color, composition, and balance is extraordinary. His characters are vibrant, distinct, and engaging. He brings humor, wit, and vitality to his art. I would highly recommend Michael for any illustration assignment."