Michael Novak was born in Los Angeles, and lived in New York City for ten years before moving to Portland in 2007—officially placing him in the category of “person most despised by native-born Portlanders.” Over a 20-year career, he’s been an editorial Art Director at Time Warner and Portland Monthly, as well as an illustrator, designer, animator, and storyboard artist.

The highlight of Mike’s brief animation career was a year-long stint as a character layout animator on the Fox show King of The Hill, before he decided that drawing Hank Hill all day long was pretty damn boring. After the act of sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring put the kibosh on his freelance illustration career, he discovered design, which he loves.

His duties at Portland Monthly consist of making the magazine look and read awesomely, by designing covers, features, and pretty much anything else. In his free time he likes to sleep.

Mudroom

The Perfect Party: January 2012

The guests we’d most like at our dinner table this month.

12/23/2011

Article

PDX Index: Minimum Wage

12/22/2011 By Derek Pettie

Mudroom

PDX Index: Composting

(Get Excited!)

11/23/2011 By Meghan Ratliffe

Mudroom

Flavor Profile

Oregon’s newest meat artiste explains how the salumi gets made.

11/23/2011 By Vanessa Chang

Mudroom

Sagas of Scent

The stories behind a Portland perfume palace’s most exotic treasures.

11/23/2011 By Emily Burton

Scene & Heard

Shipping News

The Place: The FedEx Ground distribution hub in Troutdale.

11/23/2011 By Martin Patail

Cover Story

Relax: 50 Ways to Spoil Yourself This Season

For a season famous for good cheer, the holidays can prove pretty stressful. Fortunately, we've found 50 ways to soothe your soul (and mind, and body, and appetite) this winter.

11/18/2011 Edited by Kasey Cordell With Brian Barker, Zach Dundas, Rachel Ritchie, Martin Patail, Benjamin Tepler, Ramona DeNies, Ashleigh Westmoreland, Meghan Ratliffe, and Derek Pettie