Empty Nest Syndrome

My son's officially a sailor! It's been a tough couple of months adjusting to life without him (given the fact that he's always been here), however I do believe that I have now adjusted or at the very least, adjusted to the point of less adjustment needed. Does that make sense? If not, join the club. Sometimes you can't make sense of life. Life makes sense for 21 years and then it doesn't. Even if you know life is going to change soon and you prepare for it, sometimes you're not prepared. Enter, the, Empty Nest Syndrome.

The empty nest syndrome refers to the grief that many parents feel when their children move out of home. This condition is typically more common in women, who are more likely to have had the role of primary carer. 

From The Better Health Channel 

Although it states that it is typically more common in women, trust me guys it can easily happen to anyone, who has the role of "primary carer''. Which is less defined as a female role these days. I was the primary carer for my youngest son and the empty nest syndrome hit me like a ton of bricks. It's very real and the grief can be overwhelming. Luckily I got through it with the support of my friends and almost daily letters to my son (letter therapy?). 

Although our normal form of communication (talking with each other) was silenced (due to Navy bootcamp rules) the centuries old standard form of communication (letter writing) took its place and those letters saved me (with the help of my friends) from grief bordering on depression. If you're going through empty nest syndrome or know someone who may be going through it, take it seriously and be there for them. If it wasn't for my friends who were there with me when I needed someone to talk to, things would have been a lot tougher. Alas, I made it through this period of my life. I was there for my son's Navy bootcamp graduation and we're using modern technology to communicate again. Life is good once more.

So now it's time to get back to the cartoons and less serious subjects (at least until something serious needs to be addressed again). I apologize for the necessary break in the blogging and I'm looking forward to making up for what has been missed!

The Michael Hopkins Caricatures Online Store, Hide and Seek Promotion!

June is here, let's have some fun! 

Introducing, The Michael Hopkins Caricatures Online Store, Hide and Seek Promotion! Each day in June, I will reduce the price of one of my Original drawings by 90% (for only 24 hours!). After 24 hours, if the drawing is not sold, the drawing will be re-listed at its original price and then on the next day, a new drawing will be listed at 90% off. If the drawing is sold, the sale is over for that day.

You heard correctly! if the original price was $5000.00, the sale price for 24 hours will be $500.00! If the drawing's original price was $225.00, you will be able to purchase it for $22.50!

*Normal shipping costs still apply*

What’s the catch? The catch is, I’m only going to give you one clue, as to which drawing is on sale. Decipher the clue to find out which drawing is on sale at The Michael Hopkins Caricature Online Store! 

Each day's clue will be listed on the following pages

• Michael Hopkins Instagram (@iamscribbles)

• Michael Hopkins Cartoons Facebook Page

• The Michael Hopkins Cartoons Blog

June 1st 2022 - Today's Clue. My nickname is Dakota.

By the way, today’s original drawing is already on sale!

That big eight-wheeler, rollin' down the track Means your true-lovin' daddy ain't comin' back...

Most people know the following quote, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Although this may not be the technical definition of the word, insanity, it definitely makes sense. 

Contrary to my last post, I discovered this past week that I can't do everything. It's overwhelming. Especially when life throws you a curveball (which it did this week). That being said, the following common saying, "A Jack of all trades, is a master of none", really makes more sense to me at this moment in my life. Although I tried to get back on the webcomic wagon, I fell off. As I was sitting on the ground, dusting myself off and watching the webcomic wagon drive away from me (for the umpteenth time), I thought to myself, “why do I keep doing this?” 

I keep re-trying to re-start my webcomics over and over again, expecting different results.” I can’t do it (at least on a regular basis), there’s too much other stuff on the proverbial drawing board that needs my attention.  Besides, I’m not sure if anyone “gets” my webcomic’s humor. Not that my humor is not funny (at least I think it’s funny). I believe that my humor is too complicated for today's instant gratification world and I also believe that in this world, the average person's attention span is short and wants a quick, easy to understand gag that'll make them laugh immediately. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not what my webcomics are all about. I think to understand my webcomics, one needs to understand the history of the characters to understand the humor contained in my webcomic. Maybe I'm completely wrong, but that's the way I see it. 

That being said, time waits for no one, so I think it's time to permanently move on from the insanity of creating webcomics and focus on the art of the caricature. 

I’ve heard that it's not about destination, it's about the journey to the destination and I'd have to agree. However, my webcomics have reached their destination and it was an interesting journey.

 

If a Webcomic is not on paper, does it mean the it doesn't exist?

 Mission accomplished. 

Yesterday, I restarted both of my webcomics, Missed Approach and Cosmic Fowl. Since I'm my own worst critic, I'm always apprehensive when I create new art, including my webcomics. I know there'll be the eventual argument between me and myself, as to whether I could have created a better drawing. Of course, I will win the argument (but I’ll also lose the argument). However, yesterday was different. I was less apprehensive (maybe I'm starting to learn how to deal with myself??). Maybe it's because my ideas for the new webcomics were better thought out (as they should be Michael, considering you’ve been thinking about a new Missed Approach for several years!) (Quiet you! I'm trying to write a blog!).

Missed Approach by Michael Hopkins

                                Cosmic Fowl by Michael Hopkins

Although I've had several recurring thoughts about giving up my webcomics, I've discovered that is impossible to do. The characters in my webcomics are living beings to me. Although that statement makes me sound like I should consider psychological counseling, it's the way I feel. Due to this fact, it's difficult for me to quit creating my webcomics. I mean, how would you feel if you were one of my webcomic characters, you’ve been stuck in the same panel for several years and nobody was creating your next adventure?? Not only would you be bored to death, you would feel sad that your creator gave up on you. Not to mention the fact that not putting them on paper, doesn't mean they are not being created. I continuously create new webcomics, however, by not putting them on paper, it only means they are just filling up the ever decreasing space in my brain (no wonder I can't remember birthdays!)

Also, I like the fact that when I'm drawing my webcomics, I can escape to that alternate reality I've created…or maybe, I can escape from this alternate reality???

Looking at Options

When I was growing up, one of the best parts of the day was looking through the daily newspaper and finding the comics page. Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, Peanuts and Cecil C. Addle (a local Seattle comic strip) were just a few of my favorites. Back then, the daily newspaper was around a quarter (or so..) and the Sunday paper was a bit more. In those days we received news, sports and entertainment news, all from the newspaper. Those were also the days when cartoonists could make a living from having their cartoons published in the newspaper. The more newspapers your comic strip was in, the more money you made (syndication!!!). Everyone was buying and reading newspapers (in some of the larger cities there were even two newspapers!). So the newspaper industry was doing well. People were buying newspapers, companies were advertising in those papers and because of that, newspapers were making money…and the comics were king! Those were the days and sadly, these are not. These days, thanks to technology, newspapers are sadly going the way of the Tyrannosaurus. As such, it's even more difficult these days to make a living with your comic strip…especially via the newspaper.

"So what's your point Michael?" 

"Missed Approach" by Michael Hopkins

"Cosmic Fowl" by Michael Hopkins

My point is, although I love sharing my webcomics (Cosmic Fowl and Missed Approach ), via the worldwide webosphere for  likes, peace and love and happiness…unfortunately that kumbaya crap doesn't pay the bills. If I'm going to invest approximately four hours a day (28 hours a week or one day per week) on putting out quality webcomics on a regular basis, I need a return on my investment (i.e., sweat equity...although when one draws cartoons, hopefully they're not sweating).

As such, I'm looking at options to get some revenue from my webcomics. I'm going to try and avoid the subscription type services (Patreon and other sites, where readers would pay a monthly fee to access my webcomics), although that is one of my options. Instead I'm first going to try to increase my readership by increased and consistent production of my webcomics, which will hopefully attract more readers. This will be hard for me ("that's what she said!") because I'm my own worst enemy when it comes to giving my webcomics, I know my past history of lackluster output of my webcomics…any yet I'm going to try it again, cause I'm also Tenacious 

adjective: tenacious

tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely.

"a tenacious grip"

However, I'd like to give at least one of my webcomics the immortality they deserve (that may be a bit arrogant…but what the hell, I'm very proud of them). 

I'm also looking at other ideas for revenue, maybe selling merch? How about a book compilation?? YouTube?? Shark Tank?? Or hey, how about, "Missed Approach the Movie!" or “Cosmic Fowl: The Missing Years”.

So once again, back to the drawing board…

"I Must Have Something Better to do than Watch YouTube"

 I want to share this AMAZING drawing I created!

The drawing was created on 11"x 14" Strathmore Bristol (smooth surface) drawing paper, with Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens, an India Ink wash and watercolor (specifically Castle Arts Watercolor Pencils). Originally the drawing was going to be black and white (thus the second picture), however as I started out to only highlight the drawing...well, one thing led to another and thus, its in full color! I'm very happy with the results! This drawing has life! This drawing is fun! Most importantly,  this drawing makes me happy!

This drawing is the first of a series of Caricatures that i'm creating. I'm naming the series, "I Must Have Something Better to do than Watch YouTube". The genesis of this series is laziness. Basically, I've been slacking in the drawing department. While slacking, I occasionally zone out on YouTube. So I figured I'd put that "zoning out" to good use and start drawing caricatures of characters I'm watching on YouTube.

First up is @jordanvainikka. Her YouTube channel is, Flight Attendant JoJo. Besides being easy on the eyes, Jordan can be pretty entertaining (in a Mary Tyler Moore sorta way). Everyone should definitely give her channel a look, especially if you find yourself watching YouTube with nothing better to do (but trust me, there's always something better to do). Anyways…Judging from Flight Attendant JoJo's response (or lack thereof) I'm assuming she didn't like the drawing (yes, I tagged her Instagram account), but that's OK, because I love the drawing and hope you enjoy it as well.

Speaking of YouTube, is it amazing how it's made "celebrities " out of ordinary people. YouTube channels (if executed correctly) have to be the best marketing value for the dollar. Where else could an unknown person become known nationwide (even worldwide) with just a phone and internet access?? This is why I'm considering marketing my art through YouTube. Instagram is limited, unless you want to purchase followers (one way or another). I've bought ads on Facebook with limited success and a limited budget. However, even though I have a YouTube channel, I haven’t taken it seriously and think that has been a mistake. Note to self, Let’s correct that mistake.

Correcting Confucius

 “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” 

Confucius

Actually, I believe that Confucius wasn’t exactly correct (Yes, I’m correcting Confucius).  I don't think one chooses the job, as much as the job chooses you. 

Anyways…If what Confucius said is (partially) true, I'll never work another day in my life after August 1st, 2022. That's right my friends, it's the time for...

136 days...

If you look back at my last blog, I mentioned that I’m easily distracted. Well I just proved it. It's been over two months since I've written a blog (Yikes!!!). Well, the time is now  to do away with the distractions and move forward. Actually, there’s no choice now. My life is changing on August 1st, 2022. So the time is now (whether I like it or not) to get the proverbial head out of the proverbial ass and fix this situation.

Excuses like, I’m tired. Distractions, excuses, deduces, adduces, misuses (and whatever else rhymes). Whether it’s, work related (my secret identity as a mild mannered fueler), being tired (caused by being a Fueler that starts work at 3am) or food (purchased by a guy who is a fueler, that starts work at 3am and does not have the time (i.e., energy) to prepare and partake nutritious food to bring to work at 3am. It’s a rut that I need to get out of, in order to get on that train, August 1st. The train is leaving and I will be on it..

Another part of my problem (i.e., being artistically inactive) is that although my brain is drawing pictures (there’s so many ideas floating around, it's giving me a headache) the body doesn't want to cooperate. So I will need to fix this issue as well. Thanks to my youngest son (who’s very persistent at reminding me what I need to accomplish) I took the first step towards health redemption last Sunday. I dragged my butt off the cozy burgundy sofa chair and followed him up the hill. Yes, I went hiking. Here’s some photos to prove it, in case you had your doubts (as did I).

So the first steps have been taken, I wrote another blog, I’ll be drawing tomorrow

and it's back up to those hills this Sunday. 

Before I end this blog, you probably want to know what’s happening August 1st? Stay tuned and you might just find out.

Michael