My Brain is Too Full

Good Morning!

I’m going to share a secret. Don’t tell anyone...ok? I have an idea, for a new episode. of my webcomic, Missed Approach episode inside my brain.

The fact is, I can't stop thinking about this idea. I’m sure it’s going to offend some (several) people and I’m sure some people are going to love it...I love it and I haven't even drawn it yet?? However I do need to get it out of my head and on some paper. I can't stop thinking about it. You see, although I love my webcomic, it’s very time consuming and leaves very little time for anything else, which is why you don't see many updates to it. I have to find a way to expand time, so I have more time to draw. Maybe I’ll look back at some old Star Trek episodes and see if there’s a way to accomplish this?? Till then, for those of you who are not familiar with my Missed Approach (99.999% of the world's population),  here’s my favorite episode of the series

Lately the artistic part of my brain has been very productive. Ideas are piling up, filling my brain and causing headaches. Things are just piling up and my head, drawing ideas, marketing ideas, webcomic ideas Unfortunately there must be a blockage somewhere between the brain and the hands, because the actual production isn't keeping up. In fact, I really didn't want to get up and write this blog today, but my brain forced me to (stupid brain!). There must be something I’m doing right (mentally) and wrong physically. Sitting down to draw after getting off of an eight hour job is sometimes like pushing a car that ran out of gas, to the nearest gas station...slightly uphill. I know what I need to do. I need to be a full time caricaturist, blogger, cartoonist, marketer and my own agent (Hmmm??? Wouldn’t it be nice to have an artists agent).

I’m sending a letter this week to several art galleries. I’ve already contacted two galleries and the goal this week is to contact a least a dozen more. I’m also working on a new YouTube series. In fact, I have already, tentatively, booked my first guest. The idea I came up with is amazing and one that I hope you’ll enjoy it. I would tell you more (whispers) but I’m sure they're listening….Stay tuned and share more, real soon.

However, the first thing I need to do is make it possible to give up the day job, concentrate on the art and relieve the pressure in my brain.

I’m working on it.

Michael

A New Journey Ahead

If you've been following my blog, you know that I've been having an internal debate with myself (in which I occasionally win) in regards to whether or not to offer prints of my Pen & Ink Caricatures.

https://michaelhopkinscaricatures.ecwid.com/ 

The decision was finally made to offer limited edition prints of my work. However, I was only willing to do this if I could offer quality prints, which would offer a good investment to the buyer of my prints. So the question became, which type of prints should I offer?

I have finally decided to offer Giclée prints of my originals. What is a Giclée print? Please see the Merriam Webster definition below

giclée print : a print produced by the giclée process

The high end of inkjet printing is the giclée print … . The name is derived from the French verb “gicler” meaning to squirt, or more accurately in this case, an extremely fine spray of many different sized droplets. This application of overlapping dots of ink mixes, forming additional color combinations. The application of the inks in this printing process is so fine that there are no discernible dots or droplets on the final print.

— Steven Bleicher, Contemporary Color: Theory and Use, 2012

So my next step will be determining a price for my prints and how many of each original will be made available. I have to base these decisions on what I feel the drawing is worth (including the value I placed on the original), potential demand of the print and the exact number of limited prints I will make available for purchase (i.e., if I make 1000 prints available they will be of less value than if I limit then to, say, 200). So that’s where I am at the moment. Also, I'm currently discussing the giclée printing process and production costs with my printer, so I’ll take you with me on that journey in future blogs…

Another step I have taken this weekend is to begin looking for an art gallery to display and sell my art. I’m thinking I like to find a gallery in Las Vegas or Lake Tahoe (although I won't rule out other cities...or countries for that matter), I’m going to inquire into several, over the next few weeks and hopefully line up some visits to galleries in February.

Exciting times ahead!

Michael

Rash Decisions

I am definitely prone to rash decisions. 

In my previous blog, I stated that I was no longer going to offer prints of my Pen & Ink Caricatures. Today, I've spent the entire day, thinking about that decision. Although I am correct in stating that this would increase the value/worth of my original drawings, after a full day of self-debate (in which I always win) I feel that was an incorrect and probably a bit of a selfish decision. Why? The reason is, that it would limit the number of people (who really do appreciate my art's value) who want to purchase my art, but can't afford an original drawing. I understand that problem, as I have struggled with the cost of living in this world, for most of my life. When looking back on my life today, I realized that would never have been able to afford an original drawing of my favorite artists work. When I have purchased art in the past, it was always a print, as that was all I could afford.

Alas, I have decided to alter my decision. I will continue to offer signed, limited editions of my drawings and lower cost than the original. This will continue to ensure that those who appreciate my work (but cant afford an original) will have the opportunity to enjoy ownership of my art.

Talk to you soon,

Michael

A New Year...Changes

Prior to my latest epiphany, I believed that the value of something was based on what someone would pay for it. Based on that mindset, I priced my Original Pen & Ink Caricatures on what I thought someone would pay for them and priced my art as such, with little regard to my true feelings for what I thought my art was actually worth. By following this pricing structure, I actually gave the power of placing value (or worth) on my art, to others. As such, I have often felt that my art was undervalued (yeah, I know...boo hoo, poor me). No longer...

I have decided to change my pricing structure. By making this change, I risk not selling my art to those that disagree with it’s value and that's ok. My art is now priced on my opinion of my art’s worth. I have decided that preserving my art’s value is more important to me than selling my art to others (at what I believe is an undervalued price). I would rather sell a few pieces of my art to patrons who really appreciate it (and agree with my value), rather than sell it to the masses, who don’t appreciate my art at the same value I place on it. 

In step with this change (and going forward), I am no longer going to create and sell prints of my new, Original Pen & Ink Caricatures. This will in turn, preserve (and maybe increase) the value of my originals to those who purchase my art, as they will truly be a, “one of a kind” work of art. 

*Note. I will still sell prints of my Aviation Caricatures (and try to keep them as reasonably priced as possible), as I view them more of an expressive outlet, and a way to share my love of aviation (which is also why I created my webcomic, “Missed Approach”). P.S., this is also the reason I’m fueling airplanes at 3am each morning, Matt…

So this is a beginning. The beginning of a change in the way I live my life. The way I do things, why I do things. I am no longer going to to live the status quo and do what is expected of me. From today forward, I will follow the path I choose to follow, not the one that is expected of me, but the one that I want.

"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream. Discover." 

--Mark Twain

Heading for 2021

Long time no see Blogosphere…

I just realized it’s been almost two months since my last post. Geez! A lot has happened in these last two months and a lot hasn't happened. However, I’m still here and still reaching for my goal (i.e., financial independence through funny pictures).

With 2021 less than a week away, I like everyone else, has set a lofty expectation for next year. I didn't achieve what I had expected in 2020. Of course, SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) was no help at all. Personally, I never got it (at least from what I know), however the virus did its best to destroy large wedding gatherings, corporate events and conventions (which is a large part of my business). Thank goodness I have a back up gig, fueling airplanes. 

Not the type to be patient, I’m not going to wait around for the virus to go away. I'm going to take 2021 by the horns and succeed. Many plans are being formulated in my mind and on January 1st, The Michael Hopkins Caricatures Traveling Salvation Show is departing the station! Watch out world, here I come!

In the meantime, I’m going to share my recent artwork with you...enjoy!

Our Next President

Joe Biden

Created December 26th, 2020

Our current President

Donald Trump

Created December 20th, 2020

Jay Leno

Created December 29th, 2020

The Ladies of The Reno Blow Dry Bar

Created December 2nd 2020

A Commission piece, now in Oregon

Created November 29th, 2020

That's all for now, folks!

Michael

Staycation

 Hello there!

It’s been a productive week at the Michael Hopkins’ Cartoon/Caricature Factory. I proved to myself, that given the time, I CAN be productive. The availability of time came from the fact that I had a week of vacation from the jet fuel. Although, I originally had other plans for my vacation, allergy season and surprise car issues, got in the way. It turned out to be a mixed blessing however, given the fact that I was so productive in the art department. Besides, I still plan on fulfilling the two original objectives of my vacation soon...more than likely during the weekends, So all’s well that ends well.

The first thing I want to show you is my second JP Patches (Gertrude) caricature.

For those of you who don’t know who JP Patches is I’ll let JP Patches.com fill you in with the history of JP Patches. Follow the link below  

https://jppatches.com/history/

JP Patches was an important part of my childhood and definitely an significant influence on my sense of humor, which of course is embedded in everything that I have created.

Anyways...I created a short montage (is that the correct word?) of my latest JP Patches drawing from beginning to end. 

The next drawing I’m going to show you is my tribute to Eddie Van Halen. Although I was never an aficionado of the group Van Halen, I was definitely in awe of Eddie Van Halen’s talent and the world was a better place because he shared his gift with all of us. Rest in peace, Eddie.

My next creation is another drawing that came to me in my sleep. Something told me to draw a caricature of Jackie Gleason as Sheriff Buford T. Justice. Besides his portrayal as Minnesota Fats in The Hustler (1961) his performance as Sheriff Buford T Justice in, Smokey and the Bandit was my favorite.+

So that’s it for now. Since I’m back at the drawing board I’m going to try and produce more work, we'll see how that goes….

Incomplete

 Good morning world. It's 4am. One fueled and several to go. Sometimes is a pain in the ass to start work at 3am, however it does have it's advantages...most noticeable, getting off at 11:30am. Disadvantages? Starting work at 3am! Ha! Sometimes I think I'm too old for this sh*t, but I do love this job. Sometimes I think my mind tries to talk me into not liking it, but the heart wins over the convoluted brain and I press on...besides, what am I going to do? Draw??? Oh, yea…

What you see above, is an opening paragraph of a blog, uncompleted. It’s from a few days ago at work (as it states it was about 4am). Anyways, I liked it so I didn’t delete it and here it is. I actually took a picture to go along with the incomplete blog (see below).

The blog, the webcomics and even the caricatures are suffering because of the hours I work. Once you get home after waking up at 2:00am, one doesn't feel like doing much else, let along creating. But create, I must.. because I probably can't fuel airplanes forever (no matter how much I like it). I hit these roadblocks to being a successful artist every so often. This is the reason you haven't seen a new blog, caricature, webcomic or caricature in a while. So it’s time to quit whining and start producing art again. 

Here it goes...