Mike "Sherpa" Doherty

 

Where were you born? Year, Country, State. Where do you live currently?

 

I was born in Massachusetts and that is where I currently reside.

 

 

What initially drew you to drawing pretty pictures

 

I am a product of the seventies.  I was drawn to art early some of my most vivid memories were of drawing Godzilla over and over while watching TV with the family, we were raised on a steady diet of Star Trek, Star Wars, cartoons and monster movies.  I was always drawing something or reading a book or in front of the TV.  Pop culture was a mainstay of my young life and still is today.

 

 

Who is your favorite skateboarder, living or dead? Any ties to skateboarding

 

Being an East Coast kid we weren't exposed to as much of the skate culture until later in the mid eighties, I was a fan of Tony Hawk because that was the only name that we knew.  I was much more of a BMX kid.  Ironically I have a seven year old son who is a Tony Hawk fanatic.  My only tie to skateboarding was the art which blew me away.

 

Who is your favorite artist, living or dead?

 

As to artist right now I am infatuated with Jim Mahfood, Geoff Darrow, Mike LeSage, Raul Gonzalas and Barry McGee.  I am also digging the Hyper-realistic painters.

 

 

When you're not creating amazing works of art, what do you enjoy doing

 

I am a big reader and I have an artist drink and draw group that I meet with weekly, I also am very active on the Northeast convention circuit, horror cons, comic cons and sic-fi cons. 

 

 

Who are your biggest influences

 

I am a High school art teacher and I draw huge amounts of inspiration from my students, as for influences I think Chuck Close is a huge one because of his awesome attitude. 

 

 

What mediums do you enjoy working in?

 

I love pen and ink, with an acrylic wash, I also have been experimenting with Montana acrylic markers.