About Michael Grassia
Cartoonist & Academic Specialist
Westchester, New York, USA
In 2019 the Westchester Board of Legislators honored me by naming October 5, 2019 MICHAEL GRASSIA DAY in Westchester County, New York for my devotion to the arts and art education.
I am professional artist with 30+ years with my career beginning in 1994 when I was eighteen years old. My first job was as a concept artist and then animator for a local educational software company. After that I began working in a variety of creative fields including illustrations, animation, graphic design, video production, and puppetry. I hold a Masters in Studio Art from The College of New Rochelle which I received in 2005.
All my work comes from my passion for the cartoon medium which started early in my life. I have been drawing since he could hold a pencil and became serious about learning his craft at eight years old. My passion has never disappeared and continues to be constantly amazed and inspired by the medium.
Over the years I have worked on and created many comics and is best known for my comic Plunger Pup about a dog that fights crime with a magic plunger. I am also known for online newspaper style strip, The Wiz which has been on hiatus since June 2019. The Wiz has returned as a weekly strip every Wednesday which you can follow the comic here on Facebook and on instagram.
I am is also an educator sharing his art with children of all ages. He has taught, guest lectured, and created art courses on the college level. Michael developed GET IN TOON! an educational cartooning program that he travels to schools, libraries, camps, and more inspiring children to create their own cartoon characters and worlds. Since 2001, I have taught on the college level and have been part of course creation as well as developed professional workshops for both students and faculty/staff.
In June 2020, I STARTED GET IN TOON! LIVE which can be viewed live on my Facebook page here and YouTube page here every Wednesday night at 9:00pm Eastern. On GET IN TOON! LIVE I interviews artists, writers, and other creative people that work in the cartoon world. You can view past episodes here. Like and follow him on me social media sites for updates.