About Me

Armed with the philosophy “If it sits still, I’ll paint it.” and a perfectionist’s eye for detail, Mike Hoekstra is a multi-media artist with a wide interest in varying art forms and inspired by fellow artists.

 

His primary artistic medium is airbrushing, but is also experienced in the use of watercolor, acrylics, pencil & ink, and enamels. Born and raised in Northwood, ND, he moved to Grand Forks, ND when he was 12 and where he still lives and and has his studio. Mike has been artistic since his youth.

 

As a self-taught artist, he took art classes throughout junior high and high school. He began airbrushing at age 14 while still working in traditional art mediums and drawing a lot of Kustom Kulture (also called Low Brow) Ed Roth style hot rod art. After graduating high school in 1994, college, life, and family took up his time until 2011 when he returned to airbrush painting. After renewing his love of airbrushing, Mike has continued his self instruction, taken courses from industry professionals, and studied under local talent to expand his skill set.

 

As the owner/operator of Spiked Air Studio, Mike is best known for custom painting cranial shaping helmets for infants both locally and within the state of North Dakota. He is also known for custom painting video game controllers for clients in three countries, 5 states, and been contacted to custom paint Playstation consoles for NFL quarterback Cam Newton. Mike’s other canvases have ranged quite extensively from goalie, motorcycle, welding, and bike helmets, fine art, guitars, clothing, interior decoration, and motorcycle & automotive parts to name a few. He’s even painted living canvases, doing body art for Halloween and special event costumes.

 

Press and publicity to Mike’s credit include a feature article and cover of the IPMS Journal in 2010, Airbrush Action Magazine 2013 and 2015, a feature report for UND Studio One as well as The Grand Forks Herald, and most recently a feature article in the August/September 2016 issue of Pinstriping & Kustom Graphics Magazine.