When it comes to illustration especially on wearables, there are two things that truly separate the elite from everyone else–composition and execution.
In the early 2000’s I had the privilege of working with someone who is a master at both, Mike Thompson. Mike headed up the tee shirt division of Ecko Unlimited and I was brought in to focus on special effects printing. Working with someone of Mike’s caliber is a rare opportunity and I was thrilled to do so.
In the years since Mike has gone on to work with some HUGE brands both in and out of the industry. His work is coveted by brand managers and celebrities all over the world.
Mike’s bio:
Best known for his portraits of entertainers and celebrities, Mike Thompson has built a name for himself in the world of art. His paintings have been featured on television, in print and web campaigns. Mike began his career working as both Designer and Art Director in the fashion industry. After creating top selling designs for companies such as Timberland, Ecko and Nike, the artist left the corporate world to become a full-time illustrator.
Over the past decade, his artwork has been featured on magazines, videogame covers, movie posters and toy packaging. Some of the clients Mike has worked with include: Marvel, Hasbro, Warner Bros, Dimension Films, and Cartoon Network.
One of Corel’s featured “Painter Masters,” Mike has hosted several webinars for the company. His art and techniques have appeared in many international publications, as well as the books: “Digital Collage and Painting,” by Susan Ruddick Bloom, and “Secrets of Corel Painter Experts,” by Darryl Wise and Linda Hellfritsch.
In the near future on The Ink Kitchen we’ll focus on a few of Mike T’s t-shirt illustrations which are textbook examples of good t-shirt illustration.
Check out Mike’s portfolio at www.miketartworks.com
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