Continuing with our artist profiles of artists both living and working in the Hamptons, our next artist is Michael Paraskevas, who lives in Westhampton Beach.

Michael Paraskevas was born in New Jersey and declares "It's not that bad a state - it just gets a horrible rap." He attended the School of Visual Arts where he received both a B.F.A. and M.F.A.

Artist Michael Paraskevas. Photo courtesy of Jakes van der Watt

Commenting on his family, Paraskevas indicates "I have a twin sister who is hysterically funny."

Reflecting on his art career, Paraskevas stated "I've worked at Dan's Papers for 21 years now and did five years at Hamptons Magazine back in the Go-Go 1980s. I've had the wonderful honor of painting four Horse Show posters for the Hampton Classic. I love that show and I'm not even a rider. It's just a wonderful event for the Hamptons. I have countless sketchbooks from each year."
His honors include a Silver Medal from the Society of Illustrators, which he received in college, and a Silver medal from the Art Directors Club.

When did you start making art and what medium(s) do you consider to be your roots in art?

MP: I was always drawing as a kid. I remember the day my father brought me along to pick up something at a frame shop where they sold art supplies. I found a small sketchbook and was hit with the idea that I could draw pictures in this book and keep them. So I asked my father to buy if for me. I think I must have been in the fifth grade - from there on it was drawing non-stop. I still have that sketchbook.

"Birds" 2009, Acrylic on Wood, 24" x 24"

Drawing was always a delight for me. I use to carry that book around everywhere. I copied all sorts of stuff too - from Hirshfeld cartoons to drawings from Mad magazine. I did not get have formal training in painting and the arts until I entered college. I was a fast learner and I picked up technical skills at a rapid pace in the years I spent at SVA (School of Visual Arts) in New York. I worked in all mediums but always came back to those sketchbooks. I still keep them. I continue to fill them with doodles and ideas, and someday I'm going to have a show of just those books. Right now I'm working primarily in acrylics but I also do large canvases in oil.

What is it about the Hamptons that brought you here and enticed you to stay, work, and pursue your art here as opposed to some place else?

MP: I grew up in New Jersey with some childhood trips to the Hamptons when my parents brought us out here with the Broadway producer Harry Rigby. (Harry produced "Sugar Babies," Irene," and "No, No, Nanette"). My twin sister and I loved it out here. It was much nicer than the Jersey shore, although sometimes I do miss that boardwalk.

"My Agent" 2007, Oil on Canvas, 24" x 24"

In 1979 we bought our first house out here - just a summer place - but it seem I never left after that - I just stayed. Even while I was going to SVA I was out here on the weekends all year-round. Starting in 1985 I was here full-time.

I travel to LA often but always love it here. I like LA a lot but it's not the Hamptons. I like the pace of life here. I enjoy the summer crowds actually. I know that it will get somewhat quiet in the fall so the fun of having a ton of people around here was never a drawback to me.

How do you support yourself as an artist?

MP: I've always worked. I remember printing up a "Rocky Horror" poster when I was in high school that I used to stand on line to sell at a midnight movie showing. I worked for Hamptons Magazine from 1984 to 1988, and then Dan [Rattiner] hired me away to draw cartoons. But I've worked for every major magazine. Mostly in editorial illustration. Some Advertising and of course the best time I've ever had was convincing my mom [Betty] to write children's books. She's a wonderful writer, and that teamwork has grown into 22 books and three animated TV series over the years. We just signed a new deal to develop and produce a new show for Playhouse Disney (that I'm not supposed to talk about), other than we are working on a new animated show. I owe a lot to my mother.

Our book "Peter Pepper's Pet Spectacular" has been turned into an animated series for the CBC in Canada. That will go into production later this year. We worked a long time to get that show up and running.

"Sunset Blvd." 2007, Oil on Canvas, 48" x 48"

Mom and I created "Maggie and the Ferocious Beast" for Nickelodeon and that was a wonderful success. Betty wrote most of the scripts and all the songs. I got to produce a series and even wrote two scripts for the series and it was the single most wonderful work experience for both of us. Brown Johnson at Nickelodeon was such a believer in our work and we always give her credit for making that show work.

Painting is fun but the animation work and the actual production of the show brings me into contact with the world. The life of a painter is somewhat solitary. So I like to mix the two.

The other project I continually work on is a puppet show called "The Cheap Show" about a group of sock puppets who own a diner off the back roads in the Hamptons. It started at WVVH with a Christmas special and moved to Plum for a while and now it's back at its home on WVVH every Friday morning running as two-minute shorts. It's amazing what you can do with a few socks and a computer to edit video. To learn more about it you can go to www.thecheapshow.com

Why live and work in the Hamptons as opposed to elsewhere?

"Joe" 2009, Acrylic on Paper, 24" x 29"

MP: I like the variety of weather, and as I said before, I enjoy the summer crowds and the quiet winter. We could really live anywhere.

We also have a gallery in Westhampton that's been there for the past 25 years. It just shows my work and is always open in the summer.

What local environmental or historical aspects of the Hamptons do you relate to that may be reflected in your medium?

MP: I think the beach paintings I've done speak for themselves. Big sky, warm sun and beach people. I was in Nick & Toni's years ago and they used to have this old antique gun target up on the wall. I took one look at that and built six very large shooting gallery targets. That was a lot of fun, but I'm not really a sculptor. I usually stick to paint.

I like Ponquogue Beach. It's a family beach so there are all sorts of people to draw. All different types. It's not just the beautiful people - old, young, fat and skinny - a great mix.

What artists do you feel have influenced you and your work?

MP: The big influence was always Robert Weaver. An illustrator's illustrator. He was really something. I was glad to have met him and learned from him while I was in the masters program at SVA. He was the biggest influence. His sense of storytelling and ability to draw was unmatched.

Gil Stone was another artist who taught me that you could illustrate on canvas, and that illustration was a fine art.

'Window in Spring" 2009, Acrylic on Wood, 24" x 24"

Marshal Arisman for - well, I'm not sure - Marshal always taught me that the life of an artist was a lot of differnt things. All the parts fit to make the artist, the influence for the painting came from all areas - music, art, writing, books - life. Marshall was good at linking all that together as a teacher. Look him up online, he's an amazing artist.

Betty, my mother, was a great influence on me. She taught me how to write and always made me want to be a better artist.

Oh, and Stanley Kubrick, who simply by watching his movies taught me to always make the picture interesting.

I'd also have to list Arthur C. Clarke as a major influence. His books just made you see the world in a different way. I could go on and on about his writing but I'll stick to painting for now.

What advice would you give an emerging artist?

MP: Learning how to paint is one thing, learning what to paint is another thing and something that is very difficult, if not impossible, to teach.

And also art is still a business if you want to actually make a living at it unless you like that image of the starving artist. Starving artists - well, they starve. You really need to be committed to it as a job.

Read a lot of books and don't think you can sell original art on the internet. Paintings are unique and the physical aspect of the work is part of the painting.

Also, eat a lot of fruit and veggies. Don't drink - it clouds your vision.

What gives you an edge (if any)?

MP: I never stop thinking. I haven't been on vacation since I was six years old. I am always thinking of something to do. Paint, draw, write, film, animation, character design - I really never give up.

What are you working on now, and are you involved in any upcoming shows or exhibitions?

MP: We are working on a number of things right now. I have been drawing the weekly cartoons for Dan's Papers since 1988, and I will continue that. I still love the newspaper business. "Green Monkeys" Daily comic takes up a large amount of time. Betty just finished a new book that I have to start painting. Disney just picked up our new show, and we start working on that soon - an animated series. I am planning a new show of paintings at Peter Marcelle's Gallery in Southampton. He always pushed me to paint large canvases. I better get started on that in between trying to write, ink and draw the "Green Monkeys." The Paraskevas Gallery is located in Westhampton Beach at 83 Main Street, and is open Saturday and Sunday, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. You can read the Green Monkeys Daily at www.thegreenmonkeys.com

"Hampton Classic Grand Prix" 2008, Acrylic on Wood, 23" x 29"