Mike Wimmer was born in Muskogee, OK and received his BFA from the University of Oklahoma and had the opportunity to study with Don Punchatz at The Sketch Pad Studio in Arlington, TX. Mike Later completed his MFA at the University of Hartford in Hartford, CT. Mike is Professor of Illustration at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, GA and formerly served as the Distinguished Visiting Artist at the School of Visual Arts in the Petree College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma City University.
Mike has been featured in an Emmy Award winning production of the television series “Gallery” which runs on OETA. He has produced artwork for some of the largest corporations in the world, including Disney, Proctor and Gamble. RJR Nabisco, Kimberly Clark, and has had the honor of painting portraits of some of America’s most prestigious citizens. His work has recently been seen on packages of Celestial Seasons Teas, and has painted some 300 covers for almost every major publisher in the United States.Mike’s goals have remarkably stayed the same throughout his career: “The details help tell the story.” The details are not only found in his paintings, but in his life as a teacher, a husband and a father. These goals are wrapped up in his personal motto; “Learn It, Live It, and Teach It.”
Mike has illustrated many children’s books and book covers. “Train Song” by Diane Siebert, 1991 NCSS/CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the field of Social Studies and a Redbook Best Book for 1990. He is also the illustrator of “Flight: The Journey of Charles Lindbergh” by Robert Burliegh, published by Putnam Philomel who was the winner of the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children 1990. “All the Places to Love” by Patricia MacLachlan was published in 1994 by Harper Collins and has become a favorite of every generation. It also won the Oklahoma Book Award for Best Illustrated Children’s Book for 1995. “Homerun: The Story of Babe Ruth”, Mike’s second book with Bob Burliegh, was published in 1997 by Harcourt Brace and has been included on many state book award lists. In 1999 Simon and Schuster published “Summertime”-from Porgy and Bess by George and Ira Gershwin with Dubose and Dorothy Hayward. “Will Rogers” written by Governor Frank Keating was released in August of 2002. It has been awarded the 2003 Spur Award from the Western Writers Association of America.
“Theodore”, written by Frank Keating was released in January of 2006 and received a starred review in the MARCH 2006 ISSUE OF SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL. Theodore has also received reviews in Kirkus, review December 1, 2005 and Publishers Weekly, favorable review, January 23, 2006. “Stealing Home”, written by Robert Burliegh, published by Simon and Schuster, 2007. The book has received two starred reviews from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, December 2006, and the January 2007 STAR REVIEW. “The Trial of Standing Bear”, written by Frank Keating, published by The Oklahoma Heritage Foundation, 2008; was awarded the SPUR Award by the Western Writers of America in 2009. “One Giant Leap”, written by Bob Burleigh, published by Putnam Penguin Philomel Books for Young Readers, 2009 and was voted as a 2010 NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book. “Pilgrim’s Progress”, written by John Bunyan and reedited by C.J.Lovik, published by Crossway Publishing, 2009.
"I recently launched my new book “George”, written by Frank Keating and published by Simon and Schuster, on George Washington’s 280th birthday celebration at Mt. Vernon on Presidents Day February 20, 2012. It was an incredible visit where I signed some 600 books over the weekend. Click on the link below to view a short video about George. The book has garnered much acclaim and was recently named as an Oklahoma Book Awards Finalist for 2013. Mike and Governor Keating have just released another collaboration "Abraham" in 2017 and just released their newest book together, "Hamilton", both published by Simon and Schuster."
Mike maintains his art studio in Savannah, GA and is available for Portrait and Illustration work:
www.mikewimmer.com and www.mikewimmerportraits.com