Mike Mahon had his artistic beginnings in the mountains of Northern New Mexico, with his Southwest flair developing as an honest outworking of his family’s roots. His grandfather moved to Taos, New Mexico, in 1913 to be the town’s only pharmacist, living for several years next door to Kit Carson’s residence, and sometimes receiving paintings by early Taos artists as payment. 

Having been the art director of  both an advertising agency and a commercial printing company, Mike operated his own successful commercial art, photo, and film animation studio for 28 years before establishing his full-time fine art career. He has studied under several internationally recognized artists: Clarence Kincaid, Ben Konis, Kim English, Judi Betts, John Budicin, and Albert Handell.

 Mike’s style is impressionistic realism, with his paintings varying from landscapes to stately and detailed portraits. Ordinary people and places are suddenly transformed when he focuses on the heart and soul of his subjects. As an art critic stated recently, “Mike Mahon is an artist with a clear command of both the oil and pastel media… [his] works reveal an ability to single out simple, unassuming details for special emphasis, elevating  the imagery into radiant, dream-like originality.”

Winner of many art awards and honors, Mike has most recently been featured with other artists from around the world in the book, 100 Ways to Paint Portraits and Figures, published by the International Artist Magazine, and available from North Light Books.