2022

31 Dec Last post of the year! What a journey this has been. I am now more focused and in tune with the type of work that best works through me. Painting seems easy and fun now. Books are flowing faster and my list of books ideas is getting erased off my dry erase boards at a point that it is already half empty! With painting, I will continue to try to build on subjects I feel empathy with. Human Made things blended with nature seems to be my favorite subject. Like a car rusting in a field or a foundation built upon existing boulders. As for the books, I think I have established three solid directions that fit most of my ideas. Children’s books with simple morals, darker books (shadow play) on Incoprea and misc (coloring/seek and find etc.) I have some ideas I would like to play with in regards to the books in ways I have never seen and still want to do a little video/digital art on the side. I am working on one short rotoscope animation but feel this area will have to go the way of 3D, audio, programming and other specialties that I am interested in but dont have the time to get the results I want. Thank you for supporting me or spreading the word. Aside from the big QR code stickers on my van, I have done no advertising.

26 Dec Started a new larger painting of Stillwater (first layer, will show with more progress) Here is a new layer on one I have been working on for almost 2 years, lantern shop. I find magic in the real present world when composing reflections with the foreground. Many more paintings are close to being shown as well.

Lantern shop 2021-current wip*

24 Dec Going to paint this week. Also, if you are a collector, I will be remastering these books; Boomacide, Handles and Vantage Point. Once I upload the new version (in about a month) the earlier versions are only the number of prints ordered before it was updated,making them rare earlier versions. Just realized Feb 12th 2023 will be a milestone of 2 years since I started this journey. I will have to make a list of accomplishments.

For the most part I dove deep into oil painting with ideas, sorting my archive of photos, watching restoration videos and trying different things. Of all the paintings I started, I sorted them out and kept going on the best or favorites starting small to large. Most of the good smaller ones 5×7″ 6×6″ are done and now I am on the 8×10″ and 12×16″. There are a few good ones started at a larger size and then about 3 or 4 very large pieces I will get to finishing in about a year. Adding a little bit here and there and letting dry on all.

Antique shop reflection 2021-current wip*

22 Dec Completed Vantage Point. This was an idea I had for a while but wasn’t sure how to execute it until I thought of it as a totem pole. Basically, this is a way to show people how everyone has their own unique perspective and even through they can differ from others it does not invalidate them. Here is the book summary;

Everyone is on their own path in their journey through life. From that path each person has a unique perspective. Just because you see something different than someone else does not mean that either of you are wrong. Vantage Point is a story about one such adventure in which Jr. Rangers report the mysterious findings from their hikes but each one argues that they saw the correct thing and everyone’s is wrong. The Ranger steps in and shows them that they are all correct but only saw what they could see from their own perspective.

15 Dec Remastered Moon Fisher, A book for younger readers that shows how the moon controls the tide and fish can sometimes get trapped until the tide rises again. Will also remaster Handles and Kodumo Usagi on the Simple Morals site. Also completing two books I started for that site and two NEW books for this site.

8 Dec Going to work on children’s books now that I have another graphic novel done. and also clean up the simple morals site. I have a few books close to done for this and one I just storyboarded. so About 3 more books and remastering Moon Fisher along with a video (will post this here soon). Missing the smell of my oil paints so hopefully after the simple morals site update and three new books for that, I will get back to some oils.

With Simple Morals, I had some expansion ideas to fit all of my thoughts in an organized way. one would be a flip side or more darker moral books for adults. This idea is going on the back burner though I do have a list of stories written for this. Another that I need to find a home for is a series that are for very young children that don’t have complicated themes. i.e. Kodomo Usagi Where a dad travels to return a dropped doll. I have two more that are like this that I want to make for some reason. Maybe these would be better as ebooks.

7 Dec pm Just completed Boomacide (too soon?) Boomacide is the story of a baby boomer growing up with a variety of jobs and no concern for the environment. Throughout his life he created a toxic place and when he retires, he tries to put the past behind him. Follow him on this epic adventure. From the family farm in the 50’s all the way up to today on a remote private island. There will be Schadenfreude.

7 Dec am You can now order Windows & Doors coloring book here . New graphic novel will be posted on here by the end of the day today!

6 Dec My daughter is starting art school and I thought I would gather all my notes and put them into an article for her and anyone else that could benefit from my mistakes. You can read that article here. I am still waiting for the Windows & Doors coloring book to be approved for sale (should be updated and available today) I am finishing a new graphic novel and will post it here by Thursday.

Gustave Dore – Saute-Mouton (Leap Frog) -bronze

4 Dec Just completed a new adult coloring book. This took about 6 months to design and it is finally done!. Now to complete a new graphic novel that I started drawing. W&D linked below. The purchase link will be listed once it is approved by the publisher.

Windows & Doors coloring book

30 Nov 99% done with a new high detail coloring book and a new graphic novel. Will be posting both in about a week. Here is a painting I am working on from a trip I took to Louisiana. Wip (not done)

25 Nov 95% done with a new high detail coloring book and starting a new graphic novel. One day I was playing Assassins Creed Valhalla, wandering around a village when I saw this scene in the backyard of one of the village houses. I wanted to paint it like the other real world studies I have done. wip (not done)

Oil painting of a village in Valhalla (video game ~ not done)

12 Nov Just finished something I had been working on in the back of my head for a long time and was able to finally figure out a way to illustrate it in a simple and clear manner. I bring you Handles, a story about Archetypes and their power of control.

Handles is an analogy of this idea. Our main character is assigned archetypes at a young age. Growing up It is proud of their accomplishments and societal roles only to find people using its ‘handles’ to control It. Making It do things and go to places It would normally not . Near the end, a child spins him around and knocks It off It’s post. With one of It’s handles already busted off, It decides to remove them all. Once It does, It becomes ‘free’ to roll around anywhere It wants without a handle to grab.

Growing up, we developed traditions, beliefs and biological roles commonly known as archetypes. Examples of this are, Brother, Artist, Teacher, Sister, Gambler, Mentor etc. There are hundreds. These archetypes are used against you even in advertising;

When we give those beliefs titles and symbols we are inadvertently creating ‘handles’.

Those handles (symbols or titles) allows others to manipulate you. Aside from manipulation, people have their own definition and expectations for those archetypes that may not align with yours. There is NO possible way to please everyone or meet everyone’s expectations for your archetype. You can still be a good mother and not call it mother then anyones criticism would not affect you. The reason they do this is because they know the deeply rooted power that they have on you.

“Dr. Ernest Dichter took these psychological constructs and applied them to marketing. Dichter moved to New York around 1939 and sent every ad agency on Madison Avenue a letter boasting of his new discovery. He found that applying these universal themes to products promoted easier discovery and stronger loyalty for brands.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archetype

1 Nov Just finished remastering Behind the Stars book (with the bonus Shoulder Driver story) I have 38 other books written, will complete when I am able. I am almost done with a new high detail coloring book.

Behind the Stars (Available here)

22 Oct My father is very stoic. I have only seen him cry twice. When my mother told me that he was crying because he missed his workbench and tools that he left behind when he sold the house I got to work on this painting. Luckily, I take a lot of reference pictures and save them forever.

workbench 5 x 7″ oil on panel

11 Oct Added another layer to this and a couple of other paintings that I will be sharing here soon.

work in progress. oil on panel 11×14″

5 Oct Went for a hike in Taylors Falls today and noticed this little guy watching me;

4 Oct Happy October and well wishes to all the inktoberer’s. Added another layer to the shop painting tonight;

25 Sept Created a video for Space Lunch, finishing remastering those images and re uploading to Amazon. Going to remaster behind the stars, finish a new coloring book that is 90% done and working three new children’s books already started.

21 Sept Finished the video for Le Rena “The Fox”. The next one I do will be Space Lunch;

17 Sept Getting ready to add another layer to the old shop, this is layer 3 of about 12. I like to capture some of the in between work that often gets lost and in many ways is better than the final. Also I ordered vinyl stickers with a QR code to scan and view this site. If that’s how you found me, interesting. lol. Hi! Welcome, This is my blog, my paintings, drawings, etc all have their own pages (scroll to the bottom if lost)

Created a new video for the Le Clara graphic novel;

12 Sept A couple of inspirational gas stations I found in northern Wisconsin;

8 Sept Looking back at the first layer of this work vs. now. Layer after subtle layer it comes to life. (still not done) oil on panel 8×10″ from a 35mm photo I took in 1999 in St. Paul MN near the river.

5 Sept Made a video from the shoulder driver story (included as a double feature in Behind the Stars)

4 Sept Remastered one of my first books, Gently. Made a video and put it on Youtube;

27 Aug Wisconsin Trail

WisconsinTrail, digital drawing nft

24 Aug Red Rock Saloon Window, Newport MN Oil on panel

21 Aug Took some time off, drove aimlessly through rural northern Wisconsin

13 Aug  Finally completed! I started this in 2015. I went back a second time to work on it and today the third and final!

Vermillion Falls
Vermillion Falls, Hastings MN Oil on panel nft

August 10th  Blue Owl

August 8th 22 Went downtown to draw with my daughter;

August 6th 22 Here are two small paintings that I am finishing for my parents, My mother liked the trees and the top one is my father’s workbench from my childhood home.

August 1st 22

July 27th 22 DallE the AI art generator that can design from text is finally public and it’s changed it’s name to crAIyon. LOL this is SO MUCH FUN! Try it yourself https://www.craiyon.com/ I will post some of the ones I’ve made below;

I have already rendered hundreds of them, but they’d clog up this blog, so I will put the best ones on the digital section of this site.

July 23rd 22 While reading a book giving advice to aspiring artists, 50 secrets of magic Craftsmanship by Salvador Dali I found this quote. He explains how to control your dreams and find inspiration;

“Choose carefully the fragrances and perfumes which evoke concrete periods of your adolescence. Have your valet pour one of these fragrances or perfumes on your pillow one hour before you awake, and the time, the situation or the persons associated with that fragrance will appear in your dream.”

Salvador Dali

Apparently I have been doing this all wrong…

Salvador Dali 50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship -1948

July 22nd 22 Worked on the faces a bit. Been working on this one on and off for over a year. Probably six months to a year left before we are done. Lot’s of my paintings are coming alive. I find them looking out with expression and life from a magical depth that breaks the two dimensional plain on which they exist. I make new friends, literally. lol

July 20th 22 So far I have completed 11 books for myself (about 1300 books for others over the past 20 years) and about 100 oil paintings. I will finish two more book ideas that I have already started. Not really sure where to go from here. I have about 38 books written. I have some great ideas for children’s books and graphic novels.

July 15th 22 Not to overload this blog today but I couldn’t wait to share this piece I am working on from Detroit (work in progress wip);

July 15th 22 Five new paintings for sale : ) I will place them on Etsy over the weekend. tobymiikle@gmail.com or txt 612 987 5997

Wisconsin Truck 14″ x 11″ oil on panel
The Fountain 5″ x 7″ oil on panel
South Dakota oil on panel 9″ x 12″
Pear Tree oil on panel 9″x 12″
Night Drive oil on panel 5″x7″

July 15th 22 Finishing touches. Todays the day! : ) Posting five new paintings today by 2pm central. After that I will post them on Etsy. Each painting completed by using my own photographic or in person references and I only paint them once so you get a one-of-a-kind original.

July 13th 22 Looking through my archive I found a series I did when I lived in St. Paul. I went to the historical society and found some interesting pictures of the city. I printed them out and walked around until I found where the photographers had stood. I took a current picture and photoshopped in the older ones. This type of work is not my idea. I first saw someone do this with a series of the 1906 San Fransisco earthquake photos merged with ones from present day.

July 12th 22 Finishing up the five new paintings and a new book by Friday. Here is a picture of a painting that I have been working on (I work on many because it takes so long to dry between layers) This one is not part of the new six for Friday.

Glass star on pedestal, oil on panel.

July 4th 22 Working on the five I am putting up for sale on the 15th. I still managed to get another layer on a few others and I’ll share them here;

Wabasha Street. oil on panel. patched the corner and primed it from when it fell. much more detail to add.
Marbles oil on panel study, started one year ago, probably another year left.
Owen @ Gopher bar, oil on panel. He’s giving me the look most people do;
“Why are we here and why are you taking my picture” This is layer 3 of probably 12

June 30th 22 I finished Hoarders Seek and Find which was a marathon. Switching from digital to traditional, I am missing the smell of paint. I have picked out 5 of my favorite new oil paintings that I had been working on and will complete them now!.

5 NEW paintings for sale July 15th

After I post them here I will list them on Etsy.

June 28th 22 Just completed Hoarders seek and find! I am starting a new book then I will add another layer of oil to my paintings. Tempted to show some of the new ones that are developing. Maybe a series of works in progress soon!

June 15th 22 I am taking my best book idea, one that I think will sell and I am making that now. I will publish it early next week and post it here. I have about 13 other stories I would like to do as well, but this one should help support those. I made a video in Colorado to show my friends why I love the mountains so much! : )

June 13th 22 Taking on more commissions until all my expenses/debts are paid. Since my time is going to be limited I have downloaded and stored the Virtual Gallery ( to be re opened someday). I am focussing on finishing my paintings and working on my books.

June 3rd 22 Working on two new paintings, ( I am excited about both! :)))) one large and one medium . Going through my notes I have about 20 books I would like to make with at least 8 of them high priority. Rent went from 960 /mo to 1149 and I have a few other debts/cc’s from the past year I took off to paint. So I will be working on these at about 10% of my non-working schedule. The VR gallery is looking good and I am finally getting into the vr scripting and blender modeling. I still have a long way to go in 3D , especially organic modeling and texture mapping. Vector to blender to VR is very easy and I posted a video to show people how it is done. I made the video in one take

May 1st 22 Worked on the virtual gallery and made a video. I have used 20k prims of 120 so am about 1/6th done with the gallery. You can visit it here https://incoprea.com/virtual-gallery/

March 29th 2022. I have so many exciting new projects planned! 3 more children’s books, 5 books for older children, one adult coloring book, a seek-and-find book and one more graphic novel (all written already, just need to do the artwork). I also figured out how to take high resolution photos in my virtual gallery. So I am going to do all of the aforementioned and also complete a couple of my favorite oil paintings and put EVERYTHING into one hardcover book. So 11 new books, working on the virtual gallery, finishing up some already near complete oil paintings (about 10 of them) and one big book of everything! Check back often as I will post the work here. πŸ™‚

March 16th 2022. Pulled all my social media, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. I will be communicating solely through this website and my virtual gallery from now on. Likes and insincere comments are NOT a good metric to measure my work by. This will give me the focus I need to complete my work. My current attention will be in completing already started children’s books (simple morals) and continuing to develop the virtual gallery. The oil paintings that I have started, I have set aside and will continue to detail/finish them at another time.

Feb 27th 2022. Started working on the backrooms in the Virtual Gallery. Many years ago I listed all of my interests and created places to store each and develop. I thought of them as railroad tracks and planned for them to someday meet. i.e. Photography (starting with low rez low color composition practices, all the way to reflections and complex subjects). Drawing, painting, comics, animations, children’s books, writing, graphic novels, enjoying nature, 3D and Virtual building etc. Now and I am putting them all together. For example, the writing goes with making my own children’s books and graphic novels. My photographs (planned long ago with extra angles) are now used to make oil paintings and those paintings make my digital art better. All to one, focus, this site and it’s categories are the embodiment of this organized approach to my life’s work. One interesting observation, I spent a year drawing, one side of the sketchbook for things I observed and I flipped the book over to draw things I made up. I was always relieved to switch from one to the other until I went to the dive bar downtown (Hat Trick) and everyone was just telling me made up stories and bragging about how they used people. I wanted to draw what I saw but I woke up @ 3am and drew a mix, because I saw them as all bugs, that’s where the bug bar (below) came from. I then moved into abstract lines that had echoed in my work but actually took over completely. If you look at my sketches in order you will see this transition. I liked the abstracts but it was all that seemed to come out when I meditated on a drawing so I moved onto to oil. In oil I started with these as well, but moved it into observations (plein air) and photos, sometimes just a texture so I could learn to paint rust etc.

Jan 31st 2022. Cleaned up the site, going to paint and make books, posting them on this site as they are done. Instagram is the most current work. I am not advertising, so please share if you like πŸ™‚ I am going to try to stay off social media and use my art to communicate through this website. I will never stop learning but my year long exercise here is over. I am going to save and try to get out to Washington state in about a year.


Jan 26th 2022. Feels great to have those two graphic novels done! πŸ™‚ It took longer than I thought and the world seemed to start crumbling around me as I tried to complete them. I just started about 8 new paintings, they are getting easier for me to do. I have more story ideas and I am listing them all out to pick the best ones. For sure I have three children’s book ideas (I will post here and on simplemorals.com) I will continue to update this website with my most current work as it is completed.


Two new Graphic Novels!

Both books were created at the same time. This helped me take breaks from each and show more of a range than one book might. I have a lot more ideas but these take a very long time. Both books use only words that are necessary and no dialogue so anyone, in any country should be able to understand them. 

Le Clara (the bright) is about a character who discovers a grieving mother. Le Clara shows this her that her son is alive and well in other dimensions. They quickly become friends and Le Clara introduces her to the interdimensional controls where she quickly checks up on the life of her son in the other dimension. This is an artistic book with no words and tells a vivid story on a complex subject. PRINT E-BOOK

Behind the Stars takes a look at the world through a variety of perspectives. Road rage, Schadenfreude and international crisis collide in a noiristic style. The first story takes place during a night-time thunderstorm and the second story starts the very next day in the city of St. Paul Minnesota during rush hour. Things aren’t always what they seem, past results are not indicative of future events and not every conspiracy theory is true, but some are. PRINT E-BOOK


January 15th 2022 Two new graphic novels are 99% done. I want to go over them one more time for the most detail. Please check back here on the 25th. After this I will be finishing some larger paintings. I am also working on children’s books here simplemorals.com


January 10th 2022 Happy new year! I will post my first graphic novel here on the 20th. The second is almost done as well and is a completely different story about an interdimensional being. The third is about a cat and that is barely started.