Profile

Michael Austin is a high-energy guy. Way high.

High as in capable of remodeling his house, taking writing
classes, holding down a full-time job, nurturing a marriage,
working out, planning trips to Europe and illustrating children's
books ---concurrently.

He is also one of three artists whose works are currently on exhibit in the large galleries at the Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for the Arts. The others are Atlanta artist Lauren Betty, who works in acrylic, and Elisabeth Barton of Athens, whose eye-popping quilts in "The Idea of the City" take fiber art to a whole new level.

There's also a group exhibit in the Promenade Gallery of two- and three-dimensional works by 16 artists of Hispanic heritage. Among those featured are Marco Razo, Agustin Bossio and Jaime Valero. This exhibit will be up through October.

The three individual exhibits will remain until January.

Since 1997, Austin, has illustrated four books, three published by Peachtree Publishers in Atlanta and one by Scholastic. He's in the midst of another illustration project for Peachtree. The book's original title is "Railroad John, Lonesome Bob and Granny Apple Fritter," but that could change. And in his spare time, he's illustrating and writing his own children's book.

Spare time? For the past four years, he has been the art director for Pritchett & Hull in DeKalb County. Austin worked for the company as an illustrator and graphic artist before becoming the director.

In college at Southern Mississippi, he studied medical technology but always drew, he said. His first job was at Tower Records in New Orleans, where he did convention and display work. He also worked in displays and signage for Turtles, Record Bar and Blockbuster.

As someone who has drawn "for as long as I can remember," Austin was also busy doing drawings for children's magazines, including Cricket, Spider and Highlights, while earning a paycheck.

"My job and my own projects keep me energized," he said. "They're so different."

A chance meeting landed him in the world of children's book illustration. His stepmother met writer Carmen Deedy, whose
works include "The Library Dragon" and "The Last Dance," two children's books published by Peachtree. She put in a word for
him at the company.

"And they contacted me about '13 Monsters Who Should Be Avoided,' " Austin said. "It was right down my alley. I have a real creepy streak."

The comically gothic paintings from "13 Monsters," along with Austin's illustrations for "The Horned Toad Prince" and "Late for School," are at the Hudgens Center. "Late for School" was written by Mike Reiss, one of the writers and producers for "The Simpsons."

Working at night and on the weekends in his basement studio, Austin produced 18 paintings for the book in 10 weeks. The story begins, "My name is Smitty, I come from the city, and I live by one simple rule. I may not be smartest, no athlete, no artist, but I've never been late for school." He then goes on to tell about the many roadblocks and problems he encounters en route to school.

While Austin's two other Peachtree books have been praised for their exaggeration, energy and edginess, the illustrations in "Late for School" are tamer and more realistic. All but the main character and the bus driver are based on members of Austin's family. His wife, Kim, and "our furball dog" appear in the pages, as they have in his other books.

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