Mike Tesch: Ad Man or Artist?

The answer?  Both!!

You might remember the award winning ad campaign that put FedEx on the map, "When it absolutely, positively, has to be there overnight."  We have Mike Tesch to thank for that clever TV spot.  We can also applaud Mike Tesch for his involvement in some very memorable Dunkin Donuts and Tonka Toys ad campaigns.

Tesch has won over 500 awards and was voted to ADWEEKS All American Creative Team.  His work can be seen in the Smithsonian Institute and more recently, his work has become available to the public!  His artwork that is!  

Three of Tesch's abstract paintings - each 36"x36" - available for purchase.

After his departure from the advertising world, Mike Tesch picked up his paintbrushes and seemingly never put them down.  His abstracts have been exhibited at galleries in Wynwood (Miami) as well as Art Basel Miami. His affinity for Folk Art can be seen in some of his pieces and more recently, his love for animals has manifested in his newest company endeavor: TeschPets.  You send him a photo of your beloved pet, and he paints it! 

In addition to TeschPets, some of his works have become available to the public - and they're moderately priced!  You can now own a piece of original "Mad Man" art!  If you're interested, you can contact Billie Vilano Taylor at billievilano@gmail.com for more info.

Click on the image below to see more of his works:

"Talking Heads" paintings - 24" x 24" - available for purchase.

Talking Heads Painting, "There are 3 kinds of people, the haves, the have nots, and the have-not paid for what they haves."
24" x 24" - Available for purchase.

Talking Heads Painting, "Be yourself, everyone else is already taken."
24" x 24" - Available for purchase. 

Talking Heads Painting, "Be sure to taste your words, before you spit them out."
24" x 24" - Available for purchase.

Two of Tesch's abstract paintings - L 36" x 48" | R 48" x 60" - available for purchase.

Abstract Painting - 48" x 60" - available for purchase.

I believe there are 12 paintings in the Quote Series. Seen here, 3 of the Quotes - 24" x 24" - available for purchase.

From the Quote Series, "Egotist; A person more interested in himself than me."

From the Quote Series, "When you take stuff from one writer it's called plagiarism; when you take it from many writers it's called research."

Tim Mancinas? Folk Yeah!

For some time now, I’ve wanted to chronicle the works of art and pieces of furniture that my husband and I have collected over the years.  We have bought directly from artists, through auctions, in stores, online…you name it, we’ve done it.  But for me, personally, I like working directly with an artist/designer.  Although I haven’t had any work commissioned per say (not counting tattoos) I have, as I mentioned, contacted artists directly to see what they’ve got, and have ended up with some great pieces as a result of this method of shopping. 

One of the first artists whose work we had to have, is a gentleman by the name of Tim Mancinas.  We first started seeing his work around St. Louis in, oh, I don’t know, 2006?  2007?  I remember one of his paintings, “Career Woman” was displayed in one of my favorite shops in The Loop – Phoenix Rising.  And he had done a mural for another shop in The Loop (now closed, unfortunately) – Fifi’s.

L - Career Woman by Tim Mancinas, R - Mural by Tim Mancinas. Images ©Tim Mancinas.

We ended up getting his number from the owner of Fifi’s, I believe, and contacted him about his work.  He was actually setting up for a show, and met us for a preview where we ended up purchasing two pieces before his opening!  My husband, being a big Johnny Cash fan, opted for "Cash" and I, being a longtime admirer of Marylin Monroe, went for "Marylin".  I must admit, it was kind of fun seeing SOLD stickers on two of his paintings the first night of his exhibition.  

  

Cash by Tim Mancinas

Marylin by Tim Mancinas

Although many of his paintings are portraits of pop icons, he draws inspiration from a wide variety of origins.  Mancinas mixes pop art with low brow art, abstract expressionism with spiritual and religious beliefs, all of which have become key ingredients in making Tim Mancinas the artist he is today.

L - Ecce Homo by Tim Mancinas, R - Live Blues Tonite by Tim Mancinas. Images ©Tim Mancinas.