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- CHAOS, CALM, CHARCOAL: MICHAEL'S STORY
CHAOS, CALM, CHARCOAL: MICHAEL'S STORY
Charcoal meets the city that never sleeps
Josh Hernandez
November 10, 2025
In a city that never slows down, one artist found peace in the chaos
“Purging the Storm”
In a city that never slows down, Michael Ragonese found a way to pause. Based in New York City, Michael had taken a few art classes growing up, but it wasn’t until last year that he found what he’d been missing.
“If I'm being honest, Josh was the reason for returning to drawing, and this time picking up a piece of charcoal. It was the speed and efficiency that something so unique, chaotic, and beautiful could emerge. I had to try it.”
Since then, it’s been nothing but charcoal under the fingernails and growth in the grind. Using Josh’s courses, YouTube lessons, and the work of other artists, Michael built a rhythm, trial, error, disappointment, success, and the one thing that always brought him back: peace.
“After all of it, I keep coming back week after week for the peace I find when creating.”
 “Eclosion” |  “Senshi” |
 |  “Ash Elegy” |
“Everything about the MAD Essentials Charcoal Art Kit felt great. The pastel glided effortlessly. The compressed charcoal felt just right for dark and expressive marks. The big chunks of willow charcoal are fun to use. The charcoal pencils even save me from sharpening with a blade and breaking pencils.”
Michael’s story is what the Mad Mafia is built on, artists finding calm inside the chaos and creating something real from it.
Want to be featured next? Tag @madartmaterials or send your story to [email protected] we’re always looking for the next voice stepping out of the dust.
Stay creative, stay savage,
- The MAD Team