About
Santa Fe-Based Artist
K Hopkins has been drawing cats in humorous and slightly dark scenarios for over a decade. After moving to the Southwest, K started designing cat-themed western film posters, based on real vintage movies. K lives in Santa Fe, NM with his cat Findel where they enjoy hiking, cooking, and listening to audiobooks.
Step One
Sketch
After K selects a film poster for cat-ification, he uses Adobe Fresco to create his designs. He starts by creating a sketch using blue lines. It's rough but helps get everything into place and set out the proportions.
Step Two
Cat Puns
After he finishes the sketch, K moves on to making the title and all the cat names into cat puns. The Big Trail becomes The Big Tail, John Wayne becomes John Mayne etc. Sometimes the puns are easy, like TomCat Mix instead of Tom Mix, and others take more time to think of, like George Hackleback instead of George Hackathorne. Cat-ification is a real skill.
Step Three
Line Drawing
After K is satisfied with the sketch and lettering, he lightens the blue sketch layer and, in another layer, draws out the lines for the finished design. This step is also when he adds the details of the cat's face after finding models with the appropriate facial expressions. Sometimes, the line drawing follows the sketch exactly, and sometimes, it deviates a lot.
Step Four
Color
Once the lines are drawn, K adds colors to the designs. The colors are drawn in solid sections, making a mosaic of hues rather than a blended or gradient effect one might get from painting or other techniques. Bringing the design to life with vibrant colors is K's favorite part.
Step Five
Finishing Touches
Finally, K checks over the finished piece looking for any flaws or missing shadows. Once satisfied, K moves the file to the computer and sizes it for printing.
Step Six
Printing
K worked hard to find the best printers, going over many samples and proofs of his various offerings, ensuring that he has high-quality finished products with vibrant colors. Once they arrive, he double-checks the quality, and, if excellent, they're ready for purchase.