Mike Holmes

I'm an illustrator and writer. I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
I make graphic novels and comics, puppets, animation,
and a mean empanada. Send me true stories for my comic strip to truestorycoast at gmail.

PORTFOLIO

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Profile

Independent Illustration Professional
Graphic Design | Halifax, Canada Area, CA

Summary

I have been a freelance illustrator for over ten years, published in the Toronto Star, Buddhadharma Quarterly, Halifax's The Coast and various websites. I've created award-winning and nominated album art, show posters and music videos. In 2007 my first graphic novel, "Shenanigans", was published by Portland, Oregon-based Oni Press, contributed the title story to Image Comic's "This is a Souvenir" anthology (May 2009), and in October 2009 Invisible Publishing released my first book as full creator, "This American Drive". In April 2011, my new book, "True Story", will be published and available across North America. I have several projects on the go, and continue to establish myself as a reliable, consistent illustrator who produces eye-catching, imaginative work.
Specialties: Illustration, instruction, graphic storytelling, graphic design, animation, puppeteering, puppet construction

Experience

  • 2009 - Present
    Author/Illustrator / Invisible Publishing
  • Jun 2009 - Aug 2009
    Creative Consultant / CCI Entertainment
    Creative consultant for the CBC-TV art instruction series Artzooka.
  • Jun 2006 - Aug 2006
    Puppeteer / Decode Entertainment
    Background puppeteer for "The Mighty Jungle", a preschool show on CBC-TV.

Additional Information

Websites:
Honors:
Atlantic Journalism Award - Buddhadharma Quarterly, Spring 2007 cover Atlantic Book Award - This American Drive, Mayor's Award for Excellence in Book Illustration, 2010

Posts

Mikenesses #84.

I Johnny Ryan’d myself.

Mikenesses #83.

I James Kolchaka’d myself.

Mikenesses #82.

I Eric “The Goon” Powell’d myself.

True Story #219.

Mikenesses #81.

I Steve “Sam & Max” Purcell’d myself.

It’s that time of year again. Go Owls!

Good morning.

We are spending quality Sunday time looking at the internet. I recommend it!

Mikenesses #80.

I Robert Crumb’d myself.

Mikenesses #79.

I Archer’d myself.

Mikenesses #78.

I Parappa the Rapper’d myself.

Mikenesses #77.

I Steve Rude’d myself.

coreythedopest:

therealmikeholmes:

True Story #218.

That pigeon needs his own series.

I am calling this - it will be done and I will do it.

True Story #218.

Mikenesses #76.

I Tex Avery’d myself.

Mikenesses #74.

I Craig Thompson’d myself.

bigbigtruck:

Illustrator Mike Holmes has been doing a series of self-portraits in the styles of various other artists, and they’re FREAKING AMAZING.

Earlier today, I was like “how the fuck did I get 200 more followers in 4 hours?”

So I snooped around a bit and found this.

Thanks guys!

Another big pile of request messages!

These are coming in fast these days. As always, suggestions are totally cool, but you know I’m just going to do whatever the hell I want anyway. It’s what keeps this whole thing fun and exciting for me.

You should definitely Venture Bros. yourself. And also Archer maybe.


I haven’t totally immersed myself in either show - I’ve caught episodes here and there, and liked what I saw. I spend a lot of time at my table, so a lot of stuff I watch/listen to is in the background, and I want to give my full attention to these shows. But once I start, I’m sure I’ll do these ones at some point.

Casual suggestion. Bá and Moon yourself AT THE SAME TIME.

Yeah sure, that sounds casual enough. I’m a big fan of that simple line style, and want to do Ba & Moon, but also Jordi Bernet & Rodolphe Guenoden and others.

Have you Osamu Tezuka’d, Moebius’d or Max Fleischer’d yourself?

Tezuka’s on the list, Moebius was done, and Max Fleischer is a terrific idea.

Have you considered Mary Blair-ing yourself for one of the Mikenesses? :D

I had to look her up and then immediately recognized the style. That is right up my alley, that is.

Have you Emily Carroll’d yourself yet?

She’s also amazing and is now on the crazy huge list that is in my mind somewhere.

nedison asked you:

A William Steig, Maurice Sendak or even Leonardo da Vinci would be super. Super cool, that is.

The Steig one is good - I loved “Sylvester and the Magic Pebble” as a kid, and Sendak’s so obvious I’m punching myself for not thinking of it earlier. Da Vinci, sure, but I have to come up with some Renaissance-era wacky inventions first.

Seems like everyone’s askin’ so here’s my two cents: Craig Thompson or David Mazzuchelli (a la Asterios Polyp)? Hmm, Johnny Ryan?

You know how on Netflix where you start grading movies you like and then Netflix will start recommending movies back to you, and the predictions get better and better until it’s like Netflix knows you too well? This is what’s happening here.

I might’ve missed if someone asked this already (or that you did it), but have you Shel Silverstein’d yourself yet? I think it would be awesome, but no pressure.

I will now.

Have you Animal Crossing’d yourself?

I Nintendo 64’d myself, which is pretty close.

Ever Tessa Stone’d yourself?

I’m not totally familiar, but I looked her up. Really really nice stuff.

Hey! I really like your site and the Mikenesses you’ve been doing have become addictive to me. I searched your site so I’m pretty sure you’ve never Roz Chast-ed, Lynda Barry-ed or Ralph Steadman-ed yourself. Up for trying any of those? Thanks for being such a good sport about this - the stuff you make in your own style is pretty fine, in my opinion, but seeing you tackle all these other styles is impressive!

Oooh man, those are good ones. So very good.

please please please “Rob Lifeld” yourself. Just for the fuck of it. Show us how many muscles you can invent.

Not even on a bet.

As I’ve become a huge fan of yours (I even tell my buddies they have to check out your page whenever we’re talking art or comics), I must again compliment you on your talent and skill. Now, that the schmoozin’ formalities are outta the way. I especially love the classics and wonder if you’ve done a Kirby Mikeness and I just missed it? Also, I’ll be duly impressed when you post a Mikeness in the style of Frazetta or Vallejo, haha

Yup, did a Kirby. And I would also be impressed if I did those. But I like to spend my days not curled into a ball weeping softly into my knees.

Thanks so much for the feedback and suggestions, guys. Some are my taste, some aren’t, but I’m glad you like them all the same.

 

In doing these Mikenesses, is there anyone on your list that you've found too difficult to produce an accurate homage for, especially with the time limit you've given yourself?

There have been a couple. I give myself an hour (give or take) to learn the linework and energy of any given artist and then produce a drawing that I’m happy with.

The ones that I can get stuck on are the more traditional superhero artists. I’ve taken some swings at doing Steve Rude and Gil Kane, but got too wrapped up into the technical and always ended up spending way too long on the illustration. So I’d abandon it and work on something else. I’ll still do those ones, I just need to get a running start at them.

Mikenesses #73.

I Jamie Hewlett’d myself.

Audio

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