Mike Joos – Interview

By Daniel Rolnik On April 8, 2011

Art by Mike Joos

Mike Joos is an avid mountain biker living in Maryland who creates fun-loving illustrations involving Star Wars, superheroes, unicorns and bicycles

Daniel Rolnik: When did you start making bicycle illustrations?
Mike Joos: About 6 months ago

Art by Mike Joos

DR: What’s the best feud you’ve witnessed between a hipster biker and a mountain biker? And what are the defining differences between the two?
MJ: I’ve only seen scoffing behind each others’ backs, no face to face feuds… Even though they both ride bikes, there isn’t too much interaction. Mountain bikers focus energy on maximizing performance and seeking thrills while hipsters focus their energy on looking cool and trendy and convincing others that they aren’t trying to look cool and trendy.

DR: Are all your pieces made digitally? If so what program do you use?
MJ: Yes, I make all of them with illustrator.

Art by Mike Joos

DR: If Dog the Bounty Hunter and Boba Fett actually hung out and had a brewsky together, what would they talk about?
MJ: They would share stories and play pool… Eventually Dog would try to convince Boba Fett that he shouldn’t use a laser gun because it’s too lethal, he would suggest that Boba Fett should use pepper spray instead like him. After some arguing they would compromise and Bobba Fett would turn his laser gun to stun. They would agree to be BFFs, exchange friendship bracelets, and call or write each other at least once a week.

DR: What’s been the most powerful tool to help you sell your art, facebook, twitter, or etsy?
MJ: Esty, I don’t sell any other place yet so for now that is by far the most important selling tool I use.

Art by Mike Joos

DR: Which of the characters in your super-hero bicycle series is your favorite and why?
MJ: I like Spider Man riding a bike made of his own webs. I was particularly witty to come up with that one.

Art by Mike Joos

DR: Has Lance Armstrong seen your portrait of him? If he hasn’t would you mind if we showed it to him, it’s genius!
MJ: I don’t know if he has seen it, you can show it to him if you like. I’m not really too impressed with myself with that piece, It’s not particularly witty or interesting, it’s definitely no Spider Man riding bike made of his own webs.

Art by Mike Joos

DR: And lastly, but most importantly, what does Admiral Akbar smell like?
MJ: I work for a business that builds and cleans ponds. When you clean a pond you need to drain it and there is a green slime of decaying organic matter, algae, dead snails, and fish droppings left on the bottom of the pond surface. That’s what Admiral Akbar smells like, and after a long camping trip without showering his smell is lethal.

Questions by: Daniel Rolnik
Answers by: Mike Joos

You can purchase Mike Joos’ art as prints, t-shirts, or tote bags from his etsy shop Line Draw