The Official Poster, by Mickey Paraskevas

A painting by renowned illustrator Michael "Mickey" Paraskevas has been selected as the artwork for the official poster of the 2008 Hampton Classic Horse Show, marking the fourth time the artist's work has been selected for this honor (his work was previously chosen in 1987, 1992 and 1998).

"Mickey Paraskevas is as much a part of the Hampton Classic Horse Show as the posters themselves," said Shanette Cohen, executive director of the Hampton Classic. "To have his work featured in four posters speaks to what a valuable member he is of the Hampton's community as well as the art community. We are thrilled to show his work this year."

Paraskevas, a well-known illustrator among magazine art directors, has had his work appear in such prestigious publications as Sports Illustrated, Time, Town & Country and Esquire as well as earning numerous awards from industry professionals.

"I love the Hampton Classic. I've been coming to this show since 1985 and each show has a special memory for me. I am proud to have been selected to be the poster artist four times. I can't think of another honor across the country that I would have been as proud to receive," said Paraskevas. "I have countless sketch books of the event - my shelf is full of them. I'll be there this year filling up another one with drawings, sketches and paintings."

Paraskevas has exhibited at Giraffics Gallery in East Hampton (six one-man shows) and recently showed at the prestigious Southampton Gallery owned by Peter Marcelle. He has an exhibit of his new horse show paintings at the Hampton Road Gallery in Southampton.

In conjunction with his mother Betty, Poraskevas has published many children's books over the past 12 years. Their works include the much loved Tangerine Bear, which was produced as a Christmas Special for ABC in 2000. Other popular works include Junior Kroll, A Very Kroll Christmas, Shamlanders, The Ferocious Beast, Cecil Bunions, and Chocolate at the Four Seasons.

The mother-and-son team's most well-known project, Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, was developed for cable channel Nick Jr. and is still running on Noggin. It won the prized Gemini Award (in Canada) for best animated show of 2001.

Currently, Michael and Betty are writing, producing and starting an online puppet show called "The Cheap Soup." The team also writes and draws The Green Monkeys comic strip, which runs weekely in Dan's Papers. It can be seen at thegreenmonkeys.com. The two also run The Paraskevas Gallery during the summer and fall months in Westhampton Beach, which sells all of Michael's illustrations and autographed books. It is open in the evenings and by appointment.

Paraskevas was educated at the School of Visual Arts in New York where he also received his Master's Degree in Visual Journalism.

The 2008 Hampton Classic Poster may be ordered online at www.hamptonclassic.com or purchased on site in the Boutique Garden during the Hampton Classic.

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