Mike Graves interest in art developed at an early age as he watched his father, who taught art, grade student assignments and paint in his home studio. He subsequently studied with several notable artists, and has been a full time artist for the last 13 years. Three years ago he moved from upstate NY to Colorado, now residing in Golden.

In recent years Mike has given numerous oil painting demonstrations to local art groups, and taught workshops for other artists. He is prolific painter, producing over 100 plein air oils each year, in addition to his larger studio paintings. His paintings are in private collections throughout the US and in the UK, France, Canada and Mexico.

In addition to his landscape subjects, Mike accepts portrait commissions. Since being featured in a segment on dog painting on Public Television, he has painted numerous dog, cat, exotic bird and horse portraits.

Mike Graves is a member of the prestigious Oil Painters of America and a signature member of the Plein Air Artists of Colorado; he has served on the board of directors of the Rochester Art Club (the nations second oldest juried membership art organization), and has served as president of both the Penfield Art Organization and the Pittsford Art Club.

Mike recently assisted Wilderness-On-Wheel with a fund raiser, donating 25 prints of a painting done on the WOW site to major donors (see Links).