Hi, I'm Mitch. No, I'm not a bloke - Mitch is a nick name.    I really love to draw. I still have to pinch myself to make sure that this really is my full time job. I grew up watching my mum at work as a painter and fashion illustrator, and I doodled my way through school, but I never really imagined that this is what I would be doing for a living.

I work from home in my Melbourne studio which overlooks the back yard - great for staring out of the window when I’m stuck for ideas. I use a variety of mediums, including acrylic paint and watercolour, but I am at my happiest with a good old-fashioned dip pen and Indian ink. It is unpredictable but worth the suspense. All of my work is wonky and messy, especially my paintings: I don’t like drawing cars or anything too technical. My perspective sucks so I wing it a lot of the time – I can’t draw a straight line, even with a ruler. My desk is usually covered in paper , paint tubes, ink splotches, water bottles, empty tea cups, pencil shavings and the day’s biscuit crumbs. I like to think of it as organised disorder . This is my desk on a good day.

I have been working as a freelance illustrator for over twenty years now, five of those based in London, and over those years I have worked in a variety of mediums, on a variety of jobs - anything from storyboards, posters, package design, colouring books, cartoons, editorial illustrations and paintings. 

If you check out my Books section you’ll see I have illustrated a lot of children’s books with many different publishers both in Australia and in the U.S. and I often do school talks and illustration workshops. (All enquiries about workshops and school/library visits: http://www.bookedout.com.au/  )

My partner Danny Katz is a writer and also works from home – my cartoons appeared with his humour column in the Age for over twelve years and we have collaborated on many children’s books together including seven books in the Little Lunch series and the recently published No Thanks Hanks and other Un-mannerly Tales

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/by/danny-katz

We have a daughter, Talia, and a son, Jordie, and they have been, and continue to be, a constant source of inspiration for us both.

I also like to paint for myself and experiment with various different mediums.Keep an eye out on the painting/sketchbook page -  I tend to jump from one thing to another, so my paintings change with my moods.  At the moment I am exploring the themes of childhood memories and  female alter egos using collage, oils, house paint and mono prints  on wood or canvas.