Michael Arthur likes to draw, so it starts there.

Sometimes he draws other artists while they’re rehearsing or performing. Sometimes his drawings end up in animations. And sometimes he draws live on stage, with a camera over his drawing pad, his drawings projected on a screen above the stage as they appear, accompanying music and performers with projected, real time illustrations.

Michael draws mostly in ink without any pencils or rough drafts, each drawing a live reaction to the moment. Michael's drawings and writing have appeared at Vanity Fair, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Departures, NPR, The Huffington Post and many other places. He has performed at Joe’s Pub, City Winery, Lincoln Center, The Indianapolis Symphony, La Jolla Playhouse, and many other venues around the country. Michael’s animations and videos for Suzanne Vega, Nada Surf, The New Pornographers, Josh Ritter and many others can be seen in the Animations gallery.

Michael is currently the resident artist at the legendary Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY.