The Official Site of Cartoonist and Playwright M. Mrakota Orsman
Matt has been working as a professional cartoonist and designer since 1986. His illustrations have been seen featured on such esteemed international websites as Ain't It Cool News, Nik Holmes' Zombie Dollar$ site, Canada's Movies Online, and the "Weird" Al Yankovic website. His editorial cartoons, caricatures and illustrations have been featured in the Wichita Eagle, Daily Reporter, The WSU Sunflower and the National Inquisitor.
He has also curated several non-traditional art showings, including his annual CathARTic Halloween Art Exhibits. The latest, "CathARTic 3: Reel Scary" opens this October 26, 2007, at the 20th Century Center on (ironically enough) Elm Street in Wichita.
He has also contributed the successful completion of three major motion pictures in the last year. Non-disclosures keep him from revealing the titles online, but they are all very high profile movies.
Much like the name of Frankenstein has been often been confused as being the creature's name, rather than the creator's, Mirthquake is the name of Matt's comic strip, and the name of his company Mirthquake Productions. However, the name has become synonymous with Matt himself, as he uses it as his online handle on such online boards as MySpace, Comic Bloc, DC Online, Horror Movies.ca, the Chainsaw Mafia, and of course the Domain of Online Social Hooligans, (a.k.a the D*O*O*S*H). So yes, he answers to "Mirth" too.
OK, Mrakota was the family name when My Grandfather and Great-Grandfather emigrated from the Bohemian section of Czechlosavakia. So, yes I am Bohemian by blood!
My grandfather was adopted by the Orsmans here in the new world. In order to keep the Mrakota name in the family, My grandfather gave it to my father as a middle name, who in turn passed it to me, and I have passed it to my boy.
According to Paul Goldschmidt's Dictionary of Period Russian Names, Mrakota is a masculine name meaning "Dark". However, a good friend of mine who is employed as a Russian Translator says that the word is more accurately translated as "Murky" or "80% Chance of Thunderstorms."
Either way you slice it, that's how I sign my artwork.