Living in a Metaphysical World

I believe there is a metaphysical aspect to our world that we as a people can't define, however we can and should follow accordingly. It's almost like being one with nature, by trusting our intuition to make our decisions. We should follow our feelings of right and wrong, rather than trying to override those feelings with forced logic. I believe that my struggles of late have come from not following my intuition and instead forcing my decisions through logical (over) thinking. When I have had success, I have followed what my gut told me to do. Not only have I been more successful by following my intuition, but my life's journey seemed more effortless. 

I believe we were put on this earth to enjoy our journey and not for constant struggle. However, there are so many distractions (or unwanted input) these days that it's difficult to be at one with nature and separate ourselves from these distractions. We need to occasionally set down our cell phones, turn off the television and give ourselves a break from those distractions. Find your place of happiness and enjoy life. Let happiness and a clear mind influence your decisions, rather than some random “Influencer” on Instagram (who, by the way, is being paid to influence your decisions).

Talk to you soon,

Michael

 

Fuck You Money and Being Naked

Lately, I’m feeling like the character Bill Murray portrayed, in the movie, Groundhog Day. Every freaking day is the same and It's driving me crazy! I feel like I have no control of my life. I also see myself taking the same stupid missteps, over and over and over…Which of course, leads back to everyday being exactly the same....it's a vicious circle.

So it's time to make changes and take my life back. As such, I have created two goals. The first goal is to get “Fuck You Money" so nobody can control my life. The main example of this control is being employed by someone other than myself. Sure, I could quit my job, however, until I have, Fuck You Money… it's not a good idea (unless I wanted to join the legion of automobile dwellers who poop in a bag or in a toilet that is not connected to a sewer system).

The Urban dictionary describes "Fuck You Money" as follows

“the exact amount of money required in order to tell an individual or organization to go fuck themselves without facing repercussions.”

To achieve this goal of getting my Fuck You Money, I'll need to achieve a second goal of being of sound mind and body. I believe that one can’t achieve their financial goals unless their mind and their body are in peak condition (mine are not). 

Mind - I feel like my mind has been “gummed up” by my attachment to the internet via my cell phone (Although I’m sure this is part of Big Brother’s blueprint). Although I’m not getting rid of the cell phone (you can't get rid of something that planned obsolescence has made mandatory), I am going to start using it less (unless of course, I'm writing my blog!). This plan in-turn will give me more time to exercise my brain by reading more (which sadly, I haven’t done in a while). Also by reducing the time I spend on the internet, I'll have more time available to produce amazing drawings...Can I get an Hallelujah?!?!

Body- Although I could have made this goal easier on myself, by saying, “I’m going to lose 15 pounds” or “I’m going to exercise more”. Screw that! My goal is, to look good naked. When one is naked it’s their true self, unhidden. One can "sort of" hide their flaws with clothing, but if you look good naked you are unafraid of your physical appearance and you are truly in shape. I am currently unhappy with my body when I step out of the shower in the morning. Although I tell myself, “you don't look bad for a 61 year old”, that is only a lie to appease myself. I’m done lying to myself and when I achieve this goal, I’ll know it….and maybe I’ll go streaking in the unlikeliest of places to proclaim my success...or maybe not???

 

McQueen High School Grad Night - 2023

Happy Thursday everyone!

Just thought I'd take a minute and share some photos from Wednesday night's McQueen High School Grad Night - 2023! The event was extremely successful and I stayed up way past my bedtime, drawing caricatures of these graduating students. Although I was booked from 10:00pm to 1:00am (Thursday morning - Yawn!), I could have easily stayed a couple more hours, drawing caricatures of these Graduates. 

McQueen High School and their staff did an outstanding job hosting this event and I'd like to personally thank them and the students for inviting me! Also, I'd like to wish these graduating Seniors success in their future endeavors! 

Good Luck Class of 2023!

So without further ado, here's some caricature highlights from Wednesday's event!

Sunshine and Lollipops

The Michael Hopkins Caricatures Traveling Salvation Show is back on the road tonight. Our first stop is at a local High School to celebrate with the Senior class, their graduation from the easiest part of their lives and to welcome them into the real world. We will help them celebrate this Puritan ritual, with a caricature drawing from yours truly. A drawing that is meant to "exaggerate in order to create a comic or grotesque effect" (i.e., caricature). Sounds like a good time to me! I remember my graduation from high school (approximately a billion years ago), we went bowling…hmmm?…If only we had a caricature artist back then….

“Nothing stresses me out. Except having to seek the approval of my inferiors.”

— Dwight Schrute 

…which is why I'll never participate in another art exhibit. Also, isn't "Honorable Mention" another way of saying "atta boy"?? 

At least those were my thoughts as I left last night's awards dinner (for the exhibit in which I participated). Now some people are probably thinking, "that guy's got some ego" (WHO FREAKING CARES WHAT SOME PEOPLE  THINK!!). Well, when it comes to my art my friend, why yes, I certainly doodilly do. However, I believe that most artists share that ego, when it comes to their artwork. It probably comes with the territory, when you're an artist. However, after neutralizing my controversial thoughts with heavy doses caffeine this morning, I have come to the realization, that although I was disappointed with the results (that's a major understatement), I'm glad I participated in the event. At the minimum (besides the "Honorable Mention " award) I'm sure my art received a ton of free exposure. Also, if you're traveling through Reno-Tahoe International Airport between now and the end of July, stop by and say "howdy" to my drawings…oh and tip your hat to those F**KING WINNERS!! (oops…the caffeine is wearing off)

Now back to my padded room and my Keurig…

My life is sunshine, lollipops and rainbows…

My life is sunshine, lollipops and rainbows…

My life is sunshine, lollipops and rainbows…

McCaricature

blog·ger

noun

"a person who regularly writes material for a blog".

It seems that I'm at my best when I ignore the lines...and if not my best at least my most satisfying. Lines tend to put me in a box and keep me inline (Duh!). However, when I ignore boundaries, I have more fun and I find the final outcome of my drawing is more satisfying. For example (technically speaking) my Prince drawing is perfection 

However,  it is not my most satisfying accomplishment. That designation would be assigned to my Kurt Cobain drawing, even with its imperfection. This drawing's subtitle is "Perfect Imperfection”

I have the same feelings about my Event Caricatures.  When I first started drawing event caricatures, I had a formula that I followed. Although the drawings turned out ok and I could draw them quickly (most event coordinators want quantity over quality) they looked “formulaic” (i.e., conventional, average, common, commonplace, customary, cut-and-dried, everyday, garden-variety, imitative, mechanical, normal, plain, routine, run-of-the-mill, standard, stock, undistinguished, unexceptional, unoriginal, unremarkable - Dictionary.com). Although I saw the light of the, Almighty Caricature God and was saved from a life of uninspired caricatures, unfortunately there’s still a lot of lost souls out there producing uninspired, formulaic McCaricatures (I think of them as the McDonalds of Caricature Artists) and they rule the marketplace. You see them at amusement parks, on Fremont street in Las Vegas, in fact they’re everywhere, because they're nice, inexpensive and non-offensive. However, they're pretty damn boring.

No offense to the person who produced this caricature down at Disney Planet, but I have a question, why's the head so large?? Was the artist making fun of a woman with macrocephaly? Nope! The artist was following standard caricature guidelines (rule #23A to be specific) in the book, "How to Draw Uninspired Caricatures"

Apparently people (and the Disney Corporation) appreciate uninspired things. That’s obviously why God made Justin Bieber, voters elected Joe Biden (or did they??) and why people watch Jimmy Fallon. Don't agree with me? Consider these three top selling cars.

I would imagine you know someone who owns one of these vehicles (or one that looks just like it) Unless of course you're a man with a  a small penis, then you probably purchased an oversized truck (and if your penis really tiny, you hang a set of “truck nutz” under the trailer hitch).

God Bless America....

Boeing 727 Aviation Caricature

Happy Mothers Day All! 

A short post today to introduce you to my latest Aviation Caricature, a Boeing 727! I created this drawing on 11"× 17" Canson XL Mix Media drawing paper with Pitt Artist Pens and Castle Arts Watercolor Pencils. Soon it will be available at The Michael Hopkins Caricatures Online Store!

Boeing 727 Aviation Caricature

 by Michael Hopkins

A guy, his dog and a Cessna 310 walked into a bar...

Hello blogosphere,

The last two days have been very productive, which lately (again) is unusual for me. This week's productivity resurrection was due in part to inspiration provided by a YouTube channel, Rafi Was Here Studios https://youtube.com/@Rafiwashere Rafi and his wife, Klee are artists who create YouTube videos and blog about their life as artists and their art business. I find that their ideas and thoughts about being an artist, have been very helpful and informative. So if you're also the creative type, you should definitely check out their channel.

This first drawing I created , started out as a standard Aviation Caricature, however it morphed itself into a detailed look into a moment in the life of a guy, his dog and their Cessna 310.

While creating this drawing, my bipolar excitement level went from over the top (Woo hoo! I'm drawing again!) to indifference (Yawn! Another airplane caricature...) to frustration (Grrrrr!! Stupid freaking drawing paper!!) back to excitement (Look, they're flying over a city!) to enjoyment (let's detail the crap out of that city!) and in the end, not wanting to stop the creative process. Yes, I had some issues with my drawing paper (the paper I was using didn't accept the wash very well) however, I endured the minor setback and found a solution for the India ink wash issue and came out with a finished drawing that I love! I guess the lesson that I learned is that (like life itself) if we give up and quit when things get frustrating and complicated, we may miss out on the glory that could have been… 

"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.”  

-Molière

To put it simply, my second drawing is my Ode to Shakira's derriere.

Compared to most of my other drawings, this one is relatively small (8 ½" x 5 ¾") however, it's very detailed because I used quite a lot of cross hatching (I love cross hatching!). While drawing this caricature, my plan was that when i finished, I would add color. However, when I completed the drawing, I was satisfied…without color. However....here's a few with some color added!

Talk to you soon!

-Michael