Mike has some tutorials and lesson plans that will be posted on the site. He also has a great way of expressing his vision through pencil artwork. He enjoys posting his work on pencils.com because it helps his online portrait business. We would like to thank Mike for joining the pencils.com team and we hope that you will visit the new site regularly to view his newest artwork.

Mike Theuer was raised in a rural town where he spent much of his time near woods, farms, and streams. While growing up, he loved ‘outdoorsy’ activities. Mike spent time camping, fishing, competing athletically, and building forts. He was a very independent child. He loved working with power tools and building things.

When Mike started high school, he did nearly everything. He participated in painting, sculpting, theatre, sports, and drawing. Drawing was something that Mike liked to do, but he felt that he could not make it a career.

Mike ended up going to SUNY Binghamton for college. He studied English and ended up getting a second degree in Psychology. While all of this was going on, drawing was just a hobby. Mike also received a Master’s Degree in Psychology.

Mike has started a few businesses since college: a coffee shop, a fertilizer company, and he was a child counselor. Now, Mike is an art teacher at Penn State University. His art class is almost exclusively watercolor paint. Mike also started an online portrait company in 2007. He averages between 5 and 9 pencil portraits a week.

Our Interview with Mike

What began your passion for art?

Mike’s passion for art began at around age 10.

“I think just the outdoors inspired me at that age.”

Mike spent most of his time outdoors, and growing up in a rural town gave him plenty of open land where he could enjoy endless beauty. He enjoyed several different types of outdoor activities.

Is there something that continues to inspire you today?

“My students have a way of approaching the same subject in different ways. All of the art is unique and beautiful.”

Mike also enjoys the ‘uncontrollable’ feeling that he gets when he makes drawings. When he is finished, he asks himself, ‘How did I do that?’

Why do you use pencils to express yourself?

Mike only uses one pencil for his artwork. He will use a blending stick for the eyes, but that is all.

“Pencils are all over the place. I can turn something ordinary into extraordinary.”

Another reason Mike uses pencils is for business. It takes him less than an hour to finish a drawing. He can complete work quickly and make his customers happy.

What is your favorite piece from the Mike Theuer gallery?

“The girl with the braids. She has such a sweet smile. The way the light hits her eyes…I don’t know, it is just gorgeous.”

Mike Theuer is a featured artist on pencils.com. If you would like to check out his personal portrait site, Click Here.