"You wouldn't believe how many people were interested in pumpkin pies, especially the making and how they taste."
And many people from small children to adults were very keen on posing for a pencil portrait.
"It's different to having a photograph of yourself - I think people see it as a little more personal and special.''
Mike is an experienced art teacher and artist at Square Edge in Palmerston North.
His art courses cover the basic techniques at Art which include finding the artist within, Composition and light and shade.
He has taught at several schools and has been involved in many education programmes.
Mike said he's very passionate about teaching and believes teaching art is about discovery and empowering the artist within.
"I love to do portraits I enjoy drawing people always have.''
He remembers one man he drew who was mentally handicapped and had constant facial tics which distorted his face.
"I managed to draw him between tics and the final portrait was of quite a handsome man.
"Years later a couple came up to me when I was drawing in a shopping mall and told me the man had died and that the only picture they had of him for the funeral was the portrait I'd drawn years before.''
