Michael Connor has taught art, illustration, and comics since 2001, starting with the summer camp and after-school programs at Waynflete School and Breakwater School, ultimately snowballing into workshops and teaching at MECA&D. Connor has been at MECA&D since 2010, teaching and collaborating in the BFA Illustration department. At MECA&D, Connor has taught pen & ink in Continuing Studies and comics in the Pre-College. Whichever class, his goal is to share skills and help each student develop their creative superpowers.
While a Fine Arts graduate, his art is narrative-driven with drawing at its core, and informed by outdoor adventures with his family, thrifting, surrealism, and a soup of 80’s pop culture, sci-fi movies, and old toys. Connor plays with materials (collage, assemblage, painting) especially a focus on traditional ink drawing with brush & pen. Much of his work is comics, many starring a small mammal called Asmwe, self‐published in a zine titled Coelacanthus, appearing in various formats since 2002. A lifelong Mainer and resident of Gorham, Connor exhibits and publishes in the greater Portland arts scene and has illustrated work for musical clients such as Big Blood, Dan Knudsen, and id m theftable.
Instagram: @michaelconnorillustration