Clyde Mikkola was born in Highland Park, MI, and moved up to Calumet when he was 7 years old.  He graduated from Calumet High School and worked at the Osceola Mine for three months before joining the Navy.  Stationed in Hawaii, he saw much of Southeast Asia while on short term detachments.  Eventually he returned to the Copper Country to take all the art classes he possibly could at Michigan Tech, and transferred to NMU, married Vicki Liimatta and completed his degree at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

After a few years, Clyde returned to the Copper Country, where he helped raise his two sons and has since held several jobs, while continuing to grow as an artist and an important member of the local art community.  He has also worked extensively at Keweenaw Krayons in Mohawk, taught classes at the Copper Country Community Arts Center in Hancock, the CCAA in Calumet, and worked extensively at the Omphale.   Clyde is a bit of a “time traveler”.  He enjoys occasionally stepping back into the world of the “Limners”, itinerant artists of the mid 18^th century, and much of his artwork reflects the unspoiled beauty of that time.  He as shared this interest in with many area schools, bringing educational programs to history classes and even did a Lewis and Clark Residency,   He has done Artist in Residency programs at Isle Royale, the Hiawatha National Forest, and the Porcupine Wilderness state park.

Clyde’s most common subjects are scenery, but he does portraiture as well. He is well known for his breathtaking watercolors, his expansive acrylics, and meticulous pencil drawings.