Update!

Update! Ive added watercolor to Isabella. Although I didn't like it at first, the result have grown on me...besides, I wouldn't want to piss her off.

Isabella Anatolia Manatova

Greetings! Today I want to share with you my latest creation, Isabella Anatolia Manatova.

 Isabella Anatolia Manatova by Michael Hopkins

07/18/2020

I created Isabella on a 16” x 7 ¾” Canson art board in pen & Ink with a slight wash. I’ve never created anything like Isabella before. Although you can tell that it’s my work (style) it is also quite different from my other pieces of art...however, I am very pleased with the result. I honestly don't know where the inspiration for this drawing came from. I woke up this morning and she was on my mind, so I immediately put her onto paper.  

Over the years I have had all sorts or ideas for creations, however most of them, I failed to act upon. The reason was usually because I didn't think the people who enjoyed the type of art I produced at the time, would appreciate or understand, new/different directions. As such, I let these ideas go and never put them on paper. I’m now at a phase in my career, where I'm drawing for myself (except of course, when I’m drawing caricatures at a gig or a commissioned piece). However, when I create new original pieces of art now, I don’t worry about what other people might think. This has made Michael a much happier person and I think the results speak for themselves. Below are a couple more examples of work that I have created recently, that the younger Michael would have tossed aside.

Bella

Bellolesya by Michael Hopkins

05/03/2020

"Abe"

Abraham Lincoln

03/28/2020

This is also  partially the reason for the recent flood of aviation art I have created recently. I’m really fascinated by aviation and flight. When I was very young some of my earliest drawings we’re aviation caricatures and I’m proud to say that it continues now. This is also the reason I fuel airliners during the weekdays, I love being around airplanes. Even if my art suddenly made millions, I would continue fueling aircraft . It inspires me and makes me happy. Isn’t that what life is all about?

See ya next time!

Michael

Introducing, My Patreon

Hello Blogosphere!

 

The weekend's almost over. How is everybody feeling? 

 

I had a hurumph of a day yesterday. Car issues and more...and to top it all off, I wasn't feeling well. In fact, I couldn't stay awake a majority of the day. However, tomorrow's begins a new week and I’m feeling pretty damn good. So, bring it on world, I’m ready for ya!

 

In regards to the cartooning, my current focus is launching The Michael Hopkins Cartoons Patreon Page. For those of you who don't know what Patreon is, here’s an explanation…

 

Patreon is a membership platform that provides business tools for creators (i.e., your favorite cartoonist!) to run a subscription content service. It allows creators and artists to earn a monthly income by providing exclusive rewards and perks to their subscribers, or "patrons"

Basically put, its a way for artists to make a living from their art, through patron's of the arts.

 

When considering a Patreon account, I felt I needed to give my subscribers some more than just a good feeling, about helping to support my art. After much thought,  I decided on the following benefits you receive for supporting my art…

 

$5.00 per month

• Access to my patron-only content
• My Eternal Gratitude

 

$10.00 per month

 

• Access to patron-only content
• My Eternal Gratitude
• A signed Birthday Card from Michael on your birthday, including an original Michael Hopkins scribble! (You must be a patron of Michael Hopkins on your birthday). Of course, I’ll need to know your birthday!

 

 $25 per month

 

• Access to patron-only content
• My Eternal Gratitude
• A signed Birthday Card from Michael on your birthday, including an original Michael Hopkins scribble! (You must be a patron of Michael Hopkins on your birthday). Of course, I’ll need to know your birthday!
• One free “Event Caricature” of the person of your choice. The caricature will be sent to you via email, so make sure you include an email address!

 

So the next obvious question is...What will I be able to see on your Patreon account Michael, that I can't find anywhere else on the internet? or What will be your Patreon exclusive content? 

Well, let me tell you…

 

Michael’s Scribbles - My sketchbook is coming with me every day! My patrons will be the only people who’ll see these daily scribbles - an in depth look, into the mind of Michael Hopkins

 

Monthly Michael Hopkins Cartoons T-shirt Giveaway - All of my Patrons names will be entered into a monthly contest to receive an exclusive Michael Hopkins Cartoons T-Shirt. Every month, one new t-shirt will be given to a lucky Michael Hopkins Cartoons, Patron!

A new weekly Michael Hopkins Vlog will premiere on my Patreon a week before it’s available on my YouTube account!

 

Above and beyond all of this, your patronage will help me have more time, to create new art and hopfully less time doing other things that distract me from creating (like punching a time clock)

 

So there you have it! Check out my Patreon page at the link below.

 MICHAEL HOPKINS CARTOONS PATREON

I will be launching the Michael’s Daily Scribbles tomorrow (Monday July 13th, 2020). Any questions, drop me a line!

 

Thanks,

 

Michael 

Let's take a trip to Lake Tahoe and draw some caricatures!

Because of COVID-19 it’s been a while since I’ve drawn my event caricatures. Although I felt no apprehension during the week leading up to the event, I have to admit, I didn’t sleep well the night before and had a few dreams about not being able to draw…would I still be able to draw?

I woke up to a beautiful July 4th morning. Although I had planned to make a stop at Mac’s and grab some 2 for $5.00 Sausage McMuffin & Egg sandwiches and coffee, on the way up to Tahoe, the bacon in the fridge called my name and instead of mac’s, I made my own breakfast. A penny saved is a penny earned, right?

I headed down to the Batcave at 8:30am. With the windows rolled down in the Batmobile, I turned on Batphone to Art Bell’s Dark Matter broadcast.. “Atomic battery to power, turbines to speed”  Check and check...Let's roll!

What a magnificent drive it was! The batmobile performed well (as expected) and I think it enjoyed the drive as much as I did. When you’re driving from Reno to Tahoe, your world changes as you drive up US50 from Carson City. You go from a desert world of stripmalls and pavement to an oasis in about 12 miles. 






Lake Tahoe is probably my favorite place in the world. My old favorite, Mt Rainier National Park is a close second. My third is Las Vegas...nobody understands this and I feel no need to explain. My fourth is the Pacific Ocean (any location on the Pacific coast). My fifth favorite use to be Seattle, but now since it appears to be on life support, Virginia City, moves up the list. 

I arrived at the Tahoe Beach and Ski Club at 10am. The staff at Tahoe Beach and Ski Resort are some of the nicest, most accommodating people I’ve ever met. Especially Meagan and Riley! Those two were awesome! They had my canopy set up when I arrived and both were very accomodating concerning my requests. They started my day off right and it only got better from there. The guests were great, the pictures turned out well and it turned out to be a great comeback for my event caricatures! 

Here’s to things only getting better from here!