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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.
