Mike started out by working as a journalist and radio announcer, at The Star Weekly and Radio Jordan 96.3 FM, before deciding to pursue illustration, comics and graffiti. Since then he worked as a managing editor, freelance writer, t-shirt designer/art director and online content producer. He is currently running his own illustration studio F.A.D.A. 317 from which he has curated illustration, comics and graffiti themed shows. Mike also publishes a comics collective called Fanzeen with local, regional and international artists. The Fanzeen logo is designed by Comic Artist and Friend Lutfi Zayed.
Under his pen name, Sardine, Mike has been spraying and painting the walls around his city Amman since 2010. Most of the time he paints in the streets on his own and at his own expense.
———————————————–
In the streets there are no middlemen. It is just you, the wall and the rest of the world. I love painting in the streets of my city because you are always inspiring someone to do the same. I keep telling people who ask how to do what I do: Get your spray paints, paints buckets, rollers and a wall – any wall – and get out there. Make sure you start out with a permission wall. Don’t wait for anyone to guide you to it.
The smiles I see on the faces of people passing by are the best feedback. Putting out a street piece that does not conform to traditions or what others think is my objective – I do the same with my illustrations. It says I can be different. I can break free from the crowd. You just have to be smart about it. One more thing: Always paint in broad daylight.
In the end my motto is “Spray the word… claim your city… and fight the bullies!”.
