Mike Hillyer

Mike Hillyer was awarded the Branch County Art Guild's April 2002 Artist of the Month award. Mike has been a member of the guild for 2 years, and enjoys the fellowship and learning experiences in the guild. He is one of the artists working on the mural in downtown Coldwater.
Mike began drawing when he was 4 years old. His mother said he would draw cartoon characters on anything. Mike studied art in high school, where his art teacher tried to discourage him, saying he had no talent. Hillyer however, was not discouraged, and went on to study art further in college, at Glen Oaks, which has an excellent art department and professors where Mike attended for 2 years. Hillyer attended workshops since then in Traverse City, Detroit and Chicago. He has taught private art lessons,  and does commissioned portraits, with clients throughout the USA. Hillyer states, "I don't think that is too bad for someone with no talent. I hope people will not let anyone discourage them from pursuing their dreams of art and will continue to work hard to improve on this very special God-given talent."
His favorite media are oils on canvas. He also does airbrush and pastels.Many different artists have inspired Mike Hillyer, who describes his work as realism, creating classical portraits from his studio apartment.His greatest supporter is his wife, and his favorite subject is painting people. His goal is to do more commissioned portraits, and he is currently creating portraits of the family members of a local Doctor.
Mike states that he enjoys doing art for the pleasure that it brings to others, and is available for commissioned portraits.

Mike exhibits his art at the various galleries throughout the Branch County area. To view some of his artwork on this website, please scroll down.

Artist Mike Hillyer in his studio 
with one of the classical portraits he is known for
photo courtesy of Mike Hillyer

Artwork © Mike Hillyer
Web Design © Kathryn Barnes, webmaster

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Mike Hillyer's Gallery

Click on an image for a larger view
Title: My Brother, Ken Media: Oils on Canvas Artist: Mike Hillyer Size: Life-size Mike states, "This portrait is my brother, Ken. I was adopted and found him through the Internet. I mostly do portraits from the photos I have taken. Unfortunately, I am an artist, and not a photographer, so it tak
Title: Jazz Media: Oils on Canvas Artist: Mike Hillyer One of Mikes techniques in painting classical portraits is to first do a complete and realistic sketch.
Title: Mikayla Media: Oils on Canvas Artist: Mike Hillyer Mike uses an oil paint called Flake White in his painting, as white has a tendency to be slow drying, and flake white dries more quickly, with the professional quality he uses in his work.
Title: Katlin Media: Oils on Canvas Artist: Mike Hillyer Other techniques Mike employs is to stain the canvas with a base coat of cool grey. He paints in values dark to light, painting midtones, then half tones, and finishing with lights.
Title: Dearest Clara Artist: Mike Hillyer Media: Oils on Canvas Size: Lifesize