Sunday, July 19, 2020

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.


Saturday, July 18, 2020

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




Sunday, July 12, 2020

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.


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

Sunday, July 5, 2020

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!











Monday, June 15, 2020

Hey, Its Good to Be Back Home Again...

Hello Earthlings!

Sorry about the lack of blogging for the last month, but this world was starting to stress me out. So I decided to leave the planet for a while. However, there was one problem...I left all personal electronic devices at home, so I couldn't write in the blog and I apologize for that...

The trip was a nice and relaxing trip though and I had plenty of time to clear my mind (don't we all need to do that?) and to draw. I created some cool artwork (I'll share with you) and made some updated plans to my long term agenda (its actually relatively short term now - I'll elaborate more, when its safe to do so). Anyways...here's some new stuff






So when I got back from my journey, it seems like the Event Caricatures are starting to slowly come back. I've had a couple of inquires for my services and one booking for July. So were gonna keep our fingers crossed and hopefully this will get back to pre-covid levels. By they way, if your interested in booking Michael Hopkins Event Caricatures, just contact me at scribblesisme@yahoo.com In case you're not familiar with my Event Caricatuires, here's a few examples below



I recently revamped my Patreon account. I'll be posting Patreon Exclusive stuff over there, relative to my art, my photography and my life. I'm even thinking about creating a Patreon Exclusive, new web-comic...we shall see? Either way, I'm going to spread my wings over there and try some new and different things which I'll share with my members. 

Patreon is an inexpensive way to support artists and the arts. So if you're interested in supporting this artist and taking this new adventure with me, check out the link below.


The membership fees are actually pretty minimal ($5, $10 and $25 a month) and I'm going to give you stuff for supporting me! So it's a win-win-win, situation!


Well, I gotta unpack the suitcase, so that's all for now!

Michael








Sunday, May 10, 2020

Funny Airplanes and a Muse

Happy Mothers Day everyone!


How’s your weekend going? It appears that we're starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel in regards to our collective virus crises around the world. I hope everyone is okay and we can pull out of this insanity soon. The most important thing I learned for this crisis is that I need to be more prepared for times like these in case it happens again. Lesson learned…


So on with the drawing!


If you look to the right you’ll see my latest creation, The Michael Hopkins Aviation Caricatures website! This website is dedicated to the selling of my Aviation Caricatures (obviously, right?), both prints and originals. I created this to cut out the middle-man (more aptly named the middle-corporation) in the process of getting my art out to the public. I found that going through third party websites adds costs to my prints and I have less control of the quality of the prints I'm selling. Through my site, I can offer prints (of my art) at a reasonable price and ensure the quality is intact. At the same time, I can also offer my original drawing, through the same website. Of course the originals are much more expensive (based on the value I have placed on them). However, now that I offer prints (at a fair price) more people can afford to own my work. So there ya go! Please check it out and let me know what you think.


WARNING PG13 DRAWING/INFO BELOW! (What?!?! On Mother's Day???)


Instagram is full of many things. I find it as a decent marketing tool for my art and a way to communicate with family and friends. Of course, as many of us know there are the IG “models”. These are women (and I guess some men?) who are fortunate enough to be blessed with a beautiful face and body (or really good Photoshop skills), use said attractions, to gain followers. What do they do with these followers that they gain? Well, for the most part, they offer their followers links to sites where (for a small fee) they can see their photos uncensored (NAKED!!). So I guess what we have here, is the Playboy Magazine of the modern era. Except in this incarnation (for the most part..I think??), these women get to keep the money they make (as it should be). 


Of course, I have encountered people who negatively judge these women for what they are doing. However, it is my belief not to judge others actions or choices (on or off Instagram) and for those of you who do judge their actions, a suggestion, open your bible to, The Gospel According to John, chapter 8 verses 3 - 7.


Given my love for the female form (and my love of women in general). I must confess, I do follow some of these Instagram accounts. One in particular that I am fond of is (WARNING!! LINK CONTAINS PARTIAL NUDITY!) @bellolesya. She is my definition of perfection. So much so, that she is the Muse behind my latest drawing. In fact, come to think of it, she probably is an actual Muse…




Other than Bellolesya, life's been consumed by aviation caricatures and fueling those aircraft...Not a bad life at all :)


See ya next time...


Monday, April 27, 2020

It's All About My Happiness

I'm pretty happy these days. I know that may be the politically incorrect feeling to have, given the state of the planet, but I'm pretty happy. Sure I have things to worry about, my income has taken a hit since this virus arrived (as such, I'm behind on bills...but who isn't??), my weight fluctuates too much and I seem to be tired a lot (Hey, wait a minute...maybe there's a correlation between those last two things??), but overall, I'm pretty happy. I believe at the root of this politically incorrect happiness is the fact that I'm creating some really special art.

Brian May

Of course, "special" is my biased opinion, however that biased opinion is now the only one that matters to me, when it comes to my drawings. Not too long ago, I needed (sought??) the approval of others when it came to my own satisfaction with my art. I was creating art for everyone but me. When I didn't receive the majorities approval of my work, I was disappointed and unhappiness followed. Even if I liked the art I created, if I didn't receive positive feedback (to put in into terms "today's world" can relate to, "LIKES"), unhappiness ensued. Why did this awakening occur during this pandemic, honestly I'm not sure?? However, I believe it had something to do with the forced isolation and the time that isolation gave me to spend time with my consciousness, without being bothered with meaningless distractions. Whatever the reason for my enlightenment, I am a happier person for it. 


I believe William Shakespeare's words, said it best, “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."


Peace out dudes!