Welcome to Michaels Hopkins Cartoons Blog…a place for Michael's thoughts, observations, remembrances and general incoherent ramblings concerning the creative process behind his drawings and life in general...
This blog stuff is difficult to figure out. An example...I decide to update my blog every Sunday and my readership stats declines, I don't update on Sunday and my readership stats increase???
I do believe I need to update on a more regular basis, however, I'm not sure if, Sunday updates, were the answer. So here's a updated blog on Wednesday...take that!
Nothing much new and exciting my world (either as a Cartoonist or a Aviation Fueler). Actually, I'm not sure whether my blog readers are interested in my life as a Aviation Fueler? Personally I love the job! It keeps me involved in aviation, which in turn, inspires me. Also, it grants me access to some fantastic photo opportunities (which is one of my other interests). I wouldn't have had this opportunity, if it wasn't for the fact that I work at the airport. So today, I'll share of my favorite photos I've taken, while working at the airport.
Below is my latest.It's a beautiful sunrise a couple of days ago, taken right after a early morning thunder and lightening storm.
My next picture caught my eye, because of the clouds. It's looking the same easterly
direction as the previous picture.
This next picture is of a American Airlines Airbus A-319, taken over the wing of
Skywest/United Airlines CRJ-200
Another sunrise..over the fuselage of another CRJ-200
The Antonov 124
The Spirit A320neo
I have hundreds, if not, thousands of airport pictures. If you're interested, I'll share more in the future.
I remember the exact moment when I heard the news. I was 15 years old at the time. It was a warm Tuesday afternoon and I was sitting in the front passenger seat of my former brother in law’s, Datsun B-210 (ugly orange).
We were heading to Lake Washington Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park in Renton, Washington (my hometown) for some swimming. My brother in law was driving and someone was in the back seat (I don't remember who...maybe my brother, Roger??). They interrupted the radio station’s regular broadcast with news. For me, the music world would never be the same.
Besides being devastated by the news of his death, the one thing I kept thinking (and I still do, to this day) is, if I could somehow go back in time, I would go back to Memphis Tennessee, prior to his death and try to somehow warn him, so he wouldn't die. Of course, there’s no way I could have done that. With what we know today, his tragic downward spiral started long before his death. Yet, if there was a way to go back in time, I would head to Memphis prior to his death and try.
My earliest memory of Elvis was his 1973, “Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite Concert”.
I watched it with my mom and I distinctly remember my dad making a point of his dislike for Elvis (he was a Hank Snow fan), my mother and I watched the concert anyway. I was 11 years old. From that day forward, I was hooked. So while I only had a few short years to immerse myself in Elvis prior to his death, he made a major impact on a quirky 11 year old.
My favorite Elvis album was 1977’s Elvis in Concert.
It was recorded during his final concerts. Again, I watched that CBS concert with my mother.
Earlier this year I purchased the 2016 Elvis album, “Way Down in the Jungle Room”.
It was recorded prior to his death in 1976. It’s a magnificent album and would probably be my favorite album, if it wasn't for, “Elvis in Concert (it has the sentimental edge - probably from watching the original broadcast with my mom).
Although most Elvis fans give lists of their favorite Elvis songs, following are my Top 5 Elvis Presley performances, because he was all about the performance.
Number 5 - Hurt. Although he sang this song at several of his concerts, his final performance still blows me away. Listen to his magnificent voice. He throws everything he had into this performance and it proves that he was the best ever, even at the end.
Number 4 - Trying to Get to You. I just love this song. This was taken from his, ‘68 Comeback Special.
Number 3 - Polk Salad Anne. - From Las Vegas (my second home) in 1970.
Number 2 - Blue Hawaii. The bellow clip is an outtake from his 1973, “Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite Concert. From what I’ve read he performed this after the concert was over.
Number 1 - Unchained Melody. From one of his final performances, prior to his death. Unbelievable!
By the way, have I ever mentioned that I impersonated Elvis for a Charles A. Lindbergh High School, talent show in 1979? Yep! There are pictures out there somewhere that prove it and if I get a hold of them, I’ll post them here!
Another productive week for the world of, The Michael Hopkins Cartoons Blog. I completed two caricatures (one aviation caricature and one regular caricature). OK, maybe not "productive" in the sense that I accomplished a lot. However, "productive" in the sense that I completed two very good caricatures.
My first Caricature is of Alice Cooper. I’ve been trying to capture Alice Cooper for a very long time and I finally succeeded!
My second caricature is that of a Boeing 777X. This drawing was inspired by watching aviation videos on YouTube.
I'm still having a difficult time getting the ball rolling on my webcomic, Missed Approach. I don’t know what it is, however at this point in time, I’m not getting any enjoyment from that webcomic. As such, if I’m not getting any enjoyment from it, I fear you may not be either. I believe the problem is the format (i.e., it’s a “strip”). Drawing a strip takes an enormous amount of time and energy. After 8 hours of fueling airlines (my secret identity job) and taking care of other things in my life, I'm left with about 4 hours a night to draw. Out of that four hours, I need to find time for all aspects of my art, including,
The Michael Hopkins Cartoons Blog.
Michael Hopkins Aviation Caricatures
Michael Hopkins Original Pen & Ink Caricatures
Michael Hopkins Event Caricatures
Included in all of the above aspects of my art. I have to find time to market, post and update each individual website that corresponds to each of those aspects of my art. So what I’m trying to do at the moment is scheduling each aspect of my art with a specific day (i.e., Monday draw and aviation Caricature. Tuesday draw and Pen & Ink Caricature...and so on…). Therein lies the problem. Creating a work of art takes inspiration, and inspiration doesn't always follow a schedule. You can't say, “on Tuesday I’m going to come up with Aviation Caricature!”. Inspiration doesn't follow a schedule, it’s random and you never know when it’s going to happen. I admire people like Charles Schulz (Peanuts) and Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) who for years had to schedule inspiration to a timeline and somehow pulled it off with amazing results!
Although I’ve faced this cold reality before, maybe a webcomic isn’t for me.
I just had a thought. Instead of trying (and not succeeding) to update this blog on a (more or less) daily basis, I’m going to update every Sunday. For me it’s a mellow day of the week (especially in the morning) and a good time to reflect on the past week and make plans for the upcoming week. So I’ll start doing that, and if the demand is there in the future for more updates, we’ll consider expanding. However for now, tune in to the blog on Sunday’s and I'll keep you updated on what's going on in the world of iamscribbles.
In reference to the art, this past week was a very productive week. I restarted my web comic, Missed Approach, completed a couple of new caricatures and made some positive strides on my Fine Art America account. Also, although I haven’t sold anything on Ebay, I’m getting a lot of views of my work.
On the negative side of things, I’m still gathering no interest in my Patreon page. I’m not panicking about that, I really think I need to create more interest in my work, before I’ll find anyone that wants to support my page. How can I create more interest? Right now that's the million dollar question.
Although I’ve been avoiding it, I believe the key to marketing my art is through YouTube. Although I have a Youtube page, I’ve been reluctant to put much effort into it. I think the reason is, like many of us, I’m very self-conscious. Previously, when I have made a video, I overly critique myself (i.e., I don't think I look good on camera..I don't like the way I pronunciate...nothing in my life is that interesting.). However, then I’ll watch YouTube and think, I look better than those people...I pronunciate better that they do...My life is more interesting than theirs! So I’ve come to the conclusion, that maybe I’m just using the excuse of being self-conscious as an excuse to be lazy. I’m not looking at YouTube as a way to get wealthy, I want to use YouTube channel as a way to market my art. So look for that in the future. By the way, here’s the link to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/MHopkinsCartoons
Enough of my babbling, let's get to the new art.
First, below are the new, Missed Approach Episodes -6 “YouTube Star” (yes, it's amazing how my life coincides with my webcomics...
Next my most recent two caricatures. The first one is of Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute from the television show, The Office.
Finally, the next caricature is of an Instagramer I follow, Nicole Dodson (not sure if that's her real name?). What I find fascinating about Nicole (besides that fact that she is beautiful ) is the way she speaks her mind without regard for what the current politically correct opinion might be (and although I don’t always agree with her), in that regard, I’d like to emulate Nicole.
Well, I guess that's enough for now. I'll talk to you next Sunday!
