Drawn

Or you could use the smaller link http://www.hoopsandyoyo.com/

They are cute and sarcastic.

Or you could use the smaller link http://www.hoopsandyoyo.com/

They are cute and sarcastic.

I work in a Hallmark store. The duo didn’t sell well. I found Hoopses and Yoyos all over the place. I thought they were super cute, but for a long while I felt alone on that one. I even had to convince one lady that they really were a kitty and a bunny. I think she thought I was whacked!
[makes sense to me...]

I work in a Hallmark store. The duo didn’t sell well. I found Hoopses and Yoyos all over the place. I thought they were super cute, but for a long while I felt alone on that one. I even had to convince one lady that they really were a kitty and a bunny. I think she thought I was whacked!
[makes sense to me...]

Oooh! And they’ll really write back to you if you send them an e-mail! God, I am so lame…

Oooh! And they’ll really write back to you if you send them an e-mail! God, I am so lame…

No matter who created them but they r really cute. Thanks Erica for telling that they r kitty and bunny. Nonetheless they r funny and well designed.

No matter who created them but they r really cute. Thanks Erica for telling that they r kitty and bunny. Nonetheless they r funny and well designed.

Yay! Someone else with a love for the kitty and bunny! I have had this (not so) secret love of them and have sent their ecards to everyone I know. I love their caffeine-driven insanity. I KNOW they are corporate whores for Hallmark, but who cares! I hear their squeaky crazy voices and fall in love…

Yay! Someone else with a love for the kitty and bunny! I have had this (not so) secret love of them and have sent their ecards to everyone I know. I love their caffeine-driven insanity. I KNOW they are corporate whores for Hallmark, but who cares! I hear their squeaky crazy voices and fall in love…

They’re so cute!!!

They’re so cute!!!

Where can I get one of them? Trey’re so cute…

Where can I get one of them? Trey’re so cute…

The entire site is just brilliant. I love it. I did a search, and I believe Bob Holt was the illustrator and Tim Stout was the sound designer… eh, for what it’s worth.

The entire site is just brilliant. I love it. I did a search, and I believe Bob Holt was the illustrator and Tim Stout was the sound designer… eh, for what it’s worth.

Rental is correct! (I work at Hallmark whq)

Rental is correct! (I work at Hallmark whq)

…one side note. Hallmark is absolutely a huge, faceless organization. It would be foolish to deny it. However, that being said, it is also an incredibly deep talent pool and the fact that Hoops and Yoyo exist as Hallmark product is a testament to the fact that as huge, faceless corporations go, Hallmark is a pretty good one… especially in this day and age when illustration is often overshadowed by photography… though we have many talented photographers as well…

…ummm… I guess I mean, “Hooray for Hallmark!”

… now go and buy some damn cards.

…one side note. Hallmark is absolutely a huge, faceless organization. It would be foolish to deny it. However, that being said, it is also an incredibly deep talent pool and the fact that Hoops and Yoyo exist as Hallmark product is a testament to the fact that as huge, faceless corporations go, Hallmark is a pretty good one… especially in this day and age when illustration is often overshadowed by photography… though we have many talented photographers as well…

…ummm… I guess I mean, “Hooray for Hallmark!”

… now go and buy some damn cards.

Thanks for the info Rental! You can indeed see Bob credited here for as the designer and illustrator for H&Y (just search for “hoops & yoyo” on the page). But I still can’t find a link to Bob Holt online. I can find Bob Holt the author, and Bob Holt the voice actor, but no Bob Holt Illustrator.

Thanks also to Kevin for your message! Very true, there has been tons of great stuff coming out of Hallmark over the years!

Thanks for the info Rental! You can indeed see Bob credited here for as the designer and illustrator for H&Y (just search for “hoops & yoyo” on the page). But I still can’t find a link to Bob Holt online. I can find Bob Holt the author, and Bob Holt the voice actor, but no Bob Holt Illustrator.

Thanks also to Kevin for your message! Very true, there has been tons of great stuff coming out of Hallmark over the years!

Ya…Hi Luc. A nice first post. I work at Hallmark, too.

Ya…Hi Luc. A nice first post. I work at Hallmark, too.

Nice! Cute and funny like cartoons ought to be.

Nice! Cute and funny like cartoons ought to be.

Thought I’d throw in my two and a half cents.
I’m the voice of Hoops and can tell you first hand that Bob is a genius. It’s really great to work with him and all the others swimming in the H-mark talent pool.

Thought I’d throw in my two and a half cents.
I’m the voice of Hoops and can tell you first hand that Bob is a genius. It’s really great to work with him and all the others swimming in the H-mark talent pool.

And I the only one who finds this obnoxious and painful? It looks (and especially SOUNDS) like the bastard child of market research. It’s more than cloying. It’s Hallmark pornography.

I’m glad that Hallmark employs often times talented artists (Luc among them), but I have to say, that talent is being horribly squandered on unredeemable garbage like this.

Ok, sure, it’s harmless. And it’s what people want, right? Clearly I’m in the minority. But think of it this way: take somebody like Trondheim, or J. Otto Seibold, and remove the content (and the soul), and you have something like this: dirivative empty and easy to put on a t-shirt. It’s “cute” just like any other fashion accessory, but it’s just not that interesting.

And I the only one who finds this obnoxious and painful? It looks (and especially SOUNDS) like the bastard child of market research. It’s more than cloying. It’s Hallmark pornography.

I’m glad that Hallmark employs often times talented artists (Luc among them), but I have to say, that talent is being horribly squandered on unredeemable garbage like this.

Ok, sure, it’s harmless. And it’s what people want, right? Clearly I’m in the minority. But think of it this way: take somebody like Trondheim, or J. Otto Seibold, and remove the content (and the soul), and you have something like this: dirivative empty and easy to put on a t-shirt. It’s “cute” just like any other fashion accessory, but it’s just not that interesting.

hey, each to their own!
i think it’s fun!
sounds almost improvised! is it mike??

hey, each to their own!
i think it’s fun!
sounds almost improvised! is it mike??

While it does seem like a marketing ploy more than anything else, that’s hardly new. What did Hello Kitty do before she sold out?

That horse has been gone from the barn a long, long time.

While it does seem like a marketing ploy more than anything else, that’s hardly new. What did Hello Kitty do before she sold out?

That horse has been gone from the barn a long, long time.

You can get Hoops and Yoyo stuff on the Hallmark website – The new stuff is TOO CUTE. We don’t carry them in my store (BOO!!!), but you can come buy cards from me… and I even have a face!
And Hallmark Pornography? No wonder we don’t carry the DVD line at my place. The Boss’s too stuffy!

…I’m sure it’s very classy.
And has Shelley Duvall or James Earl Jones in it… Maybe both… Hmmm.

You can get Hoops and Yoyo stuff on the Hallmark website – The new stuff is TOO CUTE. We don’t carry them in my store (BOO!!!), but you can come buy cards from me… and I even have a face!
And Hallmark Pornography? No wonder we don’t carry the DVD line at my place. The Boss’s too stuffy!

…I’m sure it’s very classy.
And has Shelley Duvall or James Earl Jones in it… Maybe both… Hmmm.

OOH! Did someone say Hello Kitty?! I am a marketing team’s dream.

OOH! Did someone say Hello Kitty?! I am a marketing team’s dream.

Merchandise smerchandise. That’s not what’s at issue here. I will defend Hello Kitty, the ORIGINAL Hello Kitty (before the brand got deluted with a bunch of inferior product), as very good, original, design. This just aint.

There’s always going to be–stuff. I’d just rather it be original and interesting stuff. There are two ways to produce that stuff: come up with actual new ideas, or borrow from existing trends and the ideas of others until you end up chasing your own tail. Hallmark, as a corporation, has a tendency to follow trends. Most mammoth corporations do. Stuff like this is the result.

As for pornography, I define it thusly:

Creative activity (writing or pictures or films etc.) of no literary or artistic value other than to stimulate.

typically the word is used in a sexual context, but I extend it here to include just about any kind of lame piece of business whose sole purpose is to stimulate or arouse. The purpose of advertising, for instance, is to arrouse you to buy stuff, and that’s its sole purpose. Sometimes it can be done with some finesse, but whatever ornament you give the thing, that’s its ultimate purpose. Everything else is extra. But Hoops and Yoyo in this context is absolute unadulterated obscenity!

But in defense of free speech, just as I would in the case of Hustler, Screw, or Barely Legal, I defend its right to exist. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

And dammit I’m bitter! Nobody has anything to say about Trondheim or Woodring who happen to be the real deal, but there’s a stampede of people here to praise these refridgerator magnets. It’s sickenating.

Merchandise smerchandise. That’s not what’s at issue here. I will defend Hello Kitty, the ORIGINAL Hello Kitty (before the brand got deluted with a bunch of inferior product), as very good, original, design. This just aint.

There’s always going to be–stuff. I’d just rather it be original and interesting stuff. There are two ways to produce that stuff: come up with actual new ideas, or borrow from existing trends and the ideas of others until you end up chasing your own tail. Hallmark, as a corporation, has a tendency to follow trends. Most mammoth corporations do. Stuff like this is the result.

As for pornography, I define it thusly:

Creative activity (writing or pictures or films etc.) of no literary or artistic value other than to stimulate.

typically the word is used in a sexual context, but I extend it here to include just about any kind of lame piece of business whose sole purpose is to stimulate or arouse. The purpose of advertising, for instance, is to arrouse you to buy stuff, and that’s its sole purpose. Sometimes it can be done with some finesse, but whatever ornament you give the thing, that’s its ultimate purpose. Everything else is extra. But Hoops and Yoyo in this context is absolute unadulterated obscenity!

But in defense of free speech, just as I would in the case of Hustler, Screw, or Barely Legal, I defend its right to exist. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

And dammit I’m bitter! Nobody has anything to say about Trondheim or Woodring who happen to be the real deal, but there’s a stampede of people here to praise these refridgerator magnets. It’s sickenating.

Jed….you aren’t French, are you??

Listen…the whole France-burro thing was the result of some marketing research we did post-9/11. (Americans hate France, cheese-eating surrender monkeys…blah blah) That initial report was rejected because–face it–alienating ANY potential international market these days isn’t good for the Bottom Line ; ).

As for this making it into Hoops and Yoyo’s routine, all we can say is YOU KNOW COMEDIANS. (think: Jon Stewart–funny but CRAZY DANGEROUS!!)

Anyway, it’s NOT personal. Sorry.

Jed….you aren’t French, are you??

Listen…the whole France-burro thing was the result of some marketing research we did post-9/11. (Americans hate France, cheese-eating surrender monkeys…blah blah) That initial report was rejected because–face it–alienating ANY potential international market these days isn’t good for the Bottom Line ; ).

As for this making it into Hoops and Yoyo’s routine, all we can say is YOU KNOW COMEDIANS. (think: Jon Stewart–funny but CRAZY DANGEROUS!!)

Anyway, it’s NOT personal. Sorry.

Jed: we’d like to send you a complimentary Thomas Kincade (Painter of Lightâ„¢) 2006 calendar in the mail. Can you give us your “snail mail” address?

Jed: we’d like to send you a complimentary Thomas Kincade (Painter of Lightâ„¢) 2006 calendar in the mail. Can you give us your “snail mail” address?

The above two posts by “Hallmark Marketing Department”, who is not a Hallmark employee, were intended as Satire and do not reflect actual Hallmark business practices or philosophy in any way. Hallmark adores France and that dreamy Paul Pope, just like Mr. Alexander.

The above two posts by “Hallmark Marketing Department”, who is not a Hallmark employee, were intended as Satire and do not reflect actual Hallmark business practices or philosophy in any way. Hallmark adores France and that dreamy Paul Pope, just like Mr. Alexander.

Bob and Mike are both creative geniuses. I work with both of them here at Hallmark. I have no idea who Jed is, but I can tell you what he writes is complety off line.
I can easily guarantee you that the Hoops and Yoyo site has more hits than his. People like it. Any profitable buisness follows trends. Let’s get a look at Jed’s wonderful artwork
and make sure he isn’t following any current illustration trends. Hoops and Yoyo started as one e-greeting. They caught on, Mike and Bob record their funny improvised banter, then make flash movies. As Hoops and Yoyo gained web momentum, a site soon followed. Pople like it, it’s keeps growing in popularity. No one makes anyone buy a plush Hoops and Yoyo. Simple thing, supply and demand. If people didn’t want them, and they didn’t sell, they wouldn’t be made. I look forward to seeing Jeds work on Drawn sometime soon!

Bob and Mike are both creative geniuses. I work with both of them here at Hallmark. I have no idea who Jed is, but I can tell you what he writes is complety off line.
I can easily guarantee you that the Hoops and Yoyo site has more hits than his. People like it. Any profitable buisness follows trends. Let’s get a look at Jed’s wonderful artwork
and make sure he isn’t following any current illustration trends. Hoops and Yoyo started as one e-greeting. They caught on, Mike and Bob record their funny improvised banter, then make flash movies. As Hoops and Yoyo gained web momentum, a site soon followed. Pople like it, it’s keeps growing in popularity. No one makes anyone buy a plush Hoops and Yoyo. Simple thing, supply and demand. If people didn’t want them, and they didn’t sell, they wouldn’t be made. I look forward to seeing Jeds work on Drawn sometime soon!

If this is a popularity contest between me and Hallmark, they win. hands down. I’m not sure why my art personally entered into the discussion, but you’re welcome to criticize it all you like. Link attached. Send me nasty mail. Hurt my feelings. Who knows? Maybe I deserve it.

I understand why you’d want to defend someone who’s work you admire, and whom you happen to work with, but all I’ve seen of their work is on this one particular site, with these two particular characters. This is obviously not the limit of their talents, but just one product of many, so this isn’t really about “Bob and Mike suck” for me.

As for the “creative genius” of the guys who came up with this, I don’t know. “Genius” isn’t a word I personally like to throw around. It’s lost a lot of it’s former cache. How can Eminem AND Einstein be geniuses? So I’m not exactly sure what that means.

Once again I know for a fact that that Hallmark employs talented artists, and I’m not questioning the natural progression of the popularity of the characters, or that people genuinely like this stuff, or the fact that it’s not exactly been forced on anyone. And perhaps my remarks were a little extreme. Many of them, like yours, were meant to be taken with a little bit of humor. Ok they were extreme. If Bob and Mike, whoever they might be, read this stuff, and it put a thud in their day, I genuinely apologize. I didn’t even consider it, and that’s pretty lousy behavior on my part.

I would also like to point out that popularity isn’t a measure of quality, and to point out that “everybody loves them, and nobody loves you” is not the best defense.

As for the Paul Pope remark: obviously this was made by someone who read a comment I wrote on another board, but didn’t really get the context. In essence: I like the guys art, not his politics. Now the intention here seems to be personal, and hunting down this little bit of information and inserting it into an anonymous post seems a little creepy to me. If you want to tell me who you are, and you want to address me directly you are welcome to, but I’m not really feeling great about what other personal remarks you might unearth to use as anonymous little jabs against me in the future. If your intention was to make me feel deeply uneasy, you suceeded. Point for you.

As for my work appearing on Drawn! any time soon–seems unlikely at this point, doesn’t it? But if I’m still welcome, I hope to continue to add to the discussion, as I do still think I do have something of value to offer, but everything I have to say isn’t always going to be possitive, and your not necessarily going to agree with it. That doesn’t mean that every time you disagree, the best thing to do is to imply what a shitty artist I am, and how that invalidates everything I say. If that’s the kind of environment this is, then I’m sorry for wasting your time.

If this is a popularity contest between me and Hallmark, they win. hands down. I’m not sure why my art personally entered into the discussion, but you’re welcome to criticize it all you like. Link attached. Send me nasty mail. Hurt my feelings. Who knows? Maybe I deserve it.

I understand why you’d want to defend someone who’s work you admire, and whom you happen to work with, but all I’ve seen of their work is on this one particular site, with these two particular characters. This is obviously not the limit of their talents, but just one product of many, so this isn’t really about “Bob and Mike suck” for me.

As for the “creative genius” of the guys who came up with this, I don’t know. “Genius” isn’t a word I personally like to throw around. It’s lost a lot of it’s former cache. How can Eminem AND Einstein be geniuses? So I’m not exactly sure what that means.

Once again I know for a fact that that Hallmark employs talented artists, and I’m not questioning the natural progression of the popularity of the characters, or that people genuinely like this stuff, or the fact that it’s not exactly been forced on anyone. And perhaps my remarks were a little extreme. Many of them, like yours, were meant to be taken with a little bit of humor. Ok they were extreme. If Bob and Mike, whoever they might be, read this stuff, and it put a thud in their day, I genuinely apologize. I didn’t even consider it, and that’s pretty lousy behavior on my part.

I would also like to point out that popularity isn’t a measure of quality, and to point out that “everybody loves them, and nobody loves you” is not the best defense.

As for the Paul Pope remark: obviously this was made by someone who read a comment I wrote on another board, but didn’t really get the context. In essence: I like the guys art, not his politics. Now the intention here seems to be personal, and hunting down this little bit of information and inserting it into an anonymous post seems a little creepy to me. If you want to tell me who you are, and you want to address me directly you are welcome to, but I’m not really feeling great about what other personal remarks you might unearth to use as anonymous little jabs against me in the future. If your intention was to make me feel deeply uneasy, you suceeded. Point for you.

As for my work appearing on Drawn! any time soon–seems unlikely at this point, doesn’t it? But if I’m still welcome, I hope to continue to add to the discussion, as I do still think I do have something of value to offer, but everything I have to say isn’t always going to be possitive, and your not necessarily going to agree with it. That doesn’t mean that every time you disagree, the best thing to do is to imply what a shitty artist I am, and how that invalidates everything I say. If that’s the kind of environment this is, then I’m sorry for wasting your time.

After looking at Jed’s work on the above link (click his name) I’d say. Cool color, really nice draftsmanship. I hope he makes a million dollars with his art. I’m not saying a person has to be all gushy in the posts. After all, it does say “Comments.” Jed’s a good guy for admitting a bit of overreaction. I think you’re reading a bit more into these things Jed. I never said no one loves you. Sometime I find the typed messages to come off as cold.
We’re all trying to make money making pictures. Can’t the definition of genius be to have exeptional ability. Was Mozart not a creative genius? His peers and history have deemed him to be. Was he the only man of his time doing what he did? No.But he rose to the top. Einstein is a genius. Can’t someone be a creative genius. I really like Arrested Development, I think it’s genius. It’s a compliment. I say Bob, and the other voice talent Mike are creative geniuses. I mean it as a compliment. Not Bob and Mike are on par with Einstein. They’re two funny guys, who made a funny product for a company. They get paid to do it so they can put food on the table and their kids through school.
Good luck to Jed in his freelance career.

After looking at Jed’s work on the above link (click his name) I’d say. Cool color, really nice draftsmanship. I hope he makes a million dollars with his art. I’m not saying a person has to be all gushy in the posts. After all, it does say “Comments.” Jed’s a good guy for admitting a bit of overreaction. I think you’re reading a bit more into these things Jed. I never said no one loves you. Sometime I find the typed messages to come off as cold.
We’re all trying to make money making pictures. Can’t the definition of genius be to have exeptional ability. Was Mozart not a creative genius? His peers and history have deemed him to be. Was he the only man of his time doing what he did? No.But he rose to the top. Einstein is a genius. Can’t someone be a creative genius. I really like Arrested Development, I think it’s genius. It’s a compliment. I say Bob, and the other voice talent Mike are creative geniuses. I mean it as a compliment. Not Bob and Mike are on par with Einstein. They’re two funny guys, who made a funny product for a company. They get paid to do it so they can put food on the table and their kids through school.
Good luck to Jed in his freelance career.

Alright alright alright. Hold on. Get down off of the chair, Jed and listen for a second.

I think what the above defenders were trying to point out is that you’ve sounded a bit like the tyke who stuck his thumb in the pie and pulled out a big fat cherry of an observation on commercialism and Art.

I mean…come on, man. This is a big old “No Shit” of an insight. You’re obviously talking with other professional artists who’ve probably wrestled with this question (I think it’s safe to say) more than you have. Not to offend, and I may be wrong, but most of us are older, with families to support, and–let’s face it, wiser and more experienced than you on this particular point. Not because we’re better artists, or smarter, or better looking or with better tastes, but, older. And wiser. Sorry. You can disagree, but I’ll lay money that you’d be, um, wrong, at the very least on the older part. The plain fact is that if you are an artist who works for Hallmark, this particular question is something you’ve come to terms with, this Commericalism and Art. It’s a cliché. Hallmark artist. Heard it all before, we have.

So. Thank you for admitting you were to harsh (you were), but please don’t fool youself into thinking that your (repented of) diatribe was anything worse than we’ve all said to ourselves when we drink too much to ease the pain of our selloutishness. I must observe that you’ve got a bit of the flavor or self-flagellation in your posts as well, so I think you know something of Duality Of Art and Money youself.

Besides all of that, maybe the first post from a new Drawn! fellow isn’t the best place to bring this particular debate up.

And IN ADDITION, I don’t think anyone here knows what you’re talking about with the Paul Pope messageboard thing. I don’t. Seriously. But, one does not need to know that particular reference to see that you really like Paul Pope, or Tomer Hanuka or similar EXCEEDINGLY STYLISH AND COMMERCIALLY TRENDY ARTISTS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD SWEET BUDDAH!!

ps.
You’re talented. Seriously.

Alright alright alright. Hold on. Get down off of the chair, Jed and listen for a second.

I think what the above defenders were trying to point out is that you’ve sounded a bit like the tyke who stuck his thumb in the pie and pulled out a big fat cherry of an observation on commercialism and Art.

I mean…come on, man. This is a big old “No Shit” of an insight. You’re obviously talking with other professional artists who’ve probably wrestled with this question (I think it’s safe to say) more than you have. Not to offend, and I may be wrong, but most of us are older, with families to support, and–let’s face it, wiser and more experienced than you on this particular point. Not because we’re better artists, or smarter, or better looking or with better tastes, but, older. And wiser. Sorry. You can disagree, but I’ll lay money that you’d be, um, wrong, at the very least on the older part. The plain fact is that if you are an artist who works for Hallmark, this particular question is something you’ve come to terms with, this Commericalism and Art. It’s a cliché. Hallmark artist. Heard it all before, we have.

So. Thank you for admitting you were to harsh (you were), but please don’t fool youself into thinking that your (repented of) diatribe was anything worse than we’ve all said to ourselves when we drink too much to ease the pain of our selloutishness. I must observe that you’ve got a bit of the flavor or self-flagellation in your posts as well, so I think you know something of Duality Of Art and Money youself.

Besides all of that, maybe the first post from a new Drawn! fellow isn’t the best place to bring this particular debate up.

And IN ADDITION, I don’t think anyone here knows what you’re talking about with the Paul Pope messageboard thing. I don’t. Seriously. But, one does not need to know that particular reference to see that you really like Paul Pope, or Tomer Hanuka or similar EXCEEDINGLY STYLISH AND COMMERCIALLY TRENDY ARTISTS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD SWEET BUDDAH!!

ps.
You’re talented. Seriously.

Stan Makowski:

Yes, you didn’t literally say “nobody loves you” but you did say, “Let’s get a look at Jed’s wonderful artwork” (from which I gathered a bit of sarcasm) and then pointed out the cherry in the pie fact that hoops and Yoyo caught on, people bought it, and liked it. That it is popular. No argument from me there. Never was any. I was just trying to bring us back to the issue at hand, that popularity does not equal quality, and reinforce the fact that your references to my own work weren’t really relevant to the discussion.

But I DO thank you for your compliments on my work. I would like to have opportunity to repay the compliment, but all the links to your work I could find were broken. If you do have some examples online, I’d love to see it.

I have no ambition to make millions of dollars, just to make a reasonable living from my craft, similar to what I’m sure, you aspire to. And yes, I’m going to have to make a lot of compromises along the way.

Speaking of millions of dollars–how much revenue from all of that merchandizing are Bob and Mike getting? I’m thinking, nowhere near what Hallmark is. I mean, probably not even a royalty, since it’s work for hire. I’m guessing, some nice raises and a big Christmas bonus and that’s about it, but you’d know better than me.

Anonymous Hallmark Artist:

I’ll admit paranoia on the Paul Pope thing. Complete paranoia. I had literally no idea what you were talking about, and that was the best connection I could come up with. Hardcore paranoiac over here! Ok, now that that’s over with…

As for how much I do or don’t look like Tomer or Paul Pope:

You know, I’m pretty sure my line style is my own. I had that going in. I have been folowing Tomer as an influence a little more closely than I’m strictly proud of in the last few years, but I think we share a lot of common influences, which happen to stem from comic books. Is it fashionable? Sure. But it’s more of a general zeitgeist than anyone strictly emulating anyone else. I’m the same age as Tomer, Pope’s a little younger than me. I’d been drawing very much like this before I knew either one of them existed, but I will also concede that they’re much much better at it that I am.

But I never meant this to be about me. But then, now it very much is, so here’s the deal–

For me this all stemmed from a very personal reaction to the disparity between the number of posts for this, and the more personal work of guys I truly love, namely Woodring and Trondheim. I went to the Hoops and Yoyo site to check it out, found it loud, a bit crass and assaultive, and so, a few moments of frustration, an admittedly reactionary reaction, and a few hasty “submit comment”s later, and I’m in regrettable territory. I just thought of these things as this product of this big anonymous corporation, anonymous Hallmark Artist, and didn’t stop to consider that they were the actual inventions of individuals. So it’s true, I was more railing against this big giant invisible entity than Hoops and Yoyo in specific. But that was ill considered.

But then again, look at my initial post up there. I said, in essence, I didn’t like it, I found it cloying, and emphasized that I knew talented people make this stuff, but suggested implicitly, that I thought that Hallmark had a limited idea of what kinds of imagery that people will be into. I made no broad and obvious cherry in the pie statements about the nature of commercialism in general.

Then later things got a little more out of hand, with the definitions of pornography and so forth. Way out of hand. But the initial sentiment was simply: I don’t like this very much, and part of the reason I think it’s what is, is because of Hallmark. Is that so gee whiz nieve? Maybe it is.

But I really think this older wiser business isn’t strictly fair. Not that you don’t happen to be older, and wiser isn’t something I’ll try to argue, but don’t assume I don’t understand that you (Hallmark employees) have families to support, or that a steady job in the arts is a rare and valuable thing. Now that I’m married and have a greater responsibility towards upholding our current standard of living, I’ve been, as you gathered Anonymous Hallmark Artist, struggling with the whole art as a service, trying to make a living from stuff that I’m not strictly in love with thing, and I’ve been more aggressively trying to market my work, and doing stuff that is meant to (gasp!) appeal to commercial markets. This has been quite a struggle for me, as I’m sure it has for you Anonymous Hallmark Artist. We definitely share that. But please don’t condescend to tell me that I’m nieve for not liking this, or at least, for pointing out why I don’t happen to like it when confronted.

Stan Makowski:

Yes, you didn’t literally say “nobody loves you” but you did say, “Let’s get a look at Jed’s wonderful artwork” (from which I gathered a bit of sarcasm) and then pointed out the cherry in the pie fact that hoops and Yoyo caught on, people bought it, and liked it. That it is popular. No argument from me there. Never was any. I was just trying to bring us back to the issue at hand, that popularity does not equal quality, and reinforce the fact that your references to my own work weren’t really relevant to the discussion.

But I DO thank you for your compliments on my work. I would like to have opportunity to repay the compliment, but all the links to your work I could find were broken. If you do have some examples online, I’d love to see it.

I have no ambition to make millions of dollars, just to make a reasonable living from my craft, similar to what I’m sure, you aspire to. And yes, I’m going to have to make a lot of compromises along the way.

Speaking of millions of dollars–how much revenue from all of that merchandizing are Bob and Mike getting? I’m thinking, nowhere near what Hallmark is. I mean, probably not even a royalty, since it’s work for hire. I’m guessing, some nice raises and a big Christmas bonus and that’s about it, but you’d know better than me.

Anonymous Hallmark Artist:

I’ll admit paranoia on the Paul Pope thing. Complete paranoia. I had literally no idea what you were talking about, and that was the best connection I could come up with. Hardcore paranoiac over here! Ok, now that that’s over with…

As for how much I do or don’t look like Tomer or Paul Pope:

You know, I’m pretty sure my line style is my own. I had that going in. I have been folowing Tomer as an influence a little more closely than I’m strictly proud of in the last few years, but I think we share a lot of common influences, which happen to stem from comic books. Is it fashionable? Sure. But it’s more of a general zeitgeist than anyone strictly emulating anyone else. I’m the same age as Tomer, Pope’s a little younger than me. I’d been drawing very much like this before I knew either one of them existed, but I will also concede that they’re much much better at it that I am.

But I never meant this to be about me. But then, now it very much is, so here’s the deal–

For me this all stemmed from a very personal reaction to the disparity between the number of posts for this, and the more personal work of guys I truly love, namely Woodring and Trondheim. I went to the Hoops and Yoyo site to check it out, found it loud, a bit crass and assaultive, and so, a few moments of frustration, an admittedly reactionary reaction, and a few hasty “submit comment”s later, and I’m in regrettable territory. I just thought of these things as this product of this big anonymous corporation, anonymous Hallmark Artist, and didn’t stop to consider that they were the actual inventions of individuals. So it’s true, I was more railing against this big giant invisible entity than Hoops and Yoyo in specific. But that was ill considered.

But then again, look at my initial post up there. I said, in essence, I didn’t like it, I found it cloying, and emphasized that I knew talented people make this stuff, but suggested implicitly, that I thought that Hallmark had a limited idea of what kinds of imagery that people will be into. I made no broad and obvious cherry in the pie statements about the nature of commercialism in general.

Then later things got a little more out of hand, with the definitions of pornography and so forth. Way out of hand. But the initial sentiment was simply: I don’t like this very much, and part of the reason I think it’s what is, is because of Hallmark. Is that so gee whiz nieve? Maybe it is.

But I really think this older wiser business isn’t strictly fair. Not that you don’t happen to be older, and wiser isn’t something I’ll try to argue, but don’t assume I don’t understand that you (Hallmark employees) have families to support, or that a steady job in the arts is a rare and valuable thing. Now that I’m married and have a greater responsibility towards upholding our current standard of living, I’ve been, as you gathered Anonymous Hallmark Artist, struggling with the whole art as a service, trying to make a living from stuff that I’m not strictly in love with thing, and I’ve been more aggressively trying to market my work, and doing stuff that is meant to (gasp!) appeal to commercial markets. This has been quite a struggle for me, as I’m sure it has for you Anonymous Hallmark Artist. We definitely share that. But please don’t condescend to tell me that I’m nieve for not liking this, or at least, for pointing out why I don’t happen to like it when confronted.

Someone suggested privately that I lay off, that you were angry, don’t feed the trolls, etc. But I don’t think you’re angry or bitter at all, Jed.

You simply pooped on the carpet during the Luc Latulippe Open House. We’ve all done it. And it should be obvious to you that I was not condescending towards you for not liking Hoops and Yoyo. I was condescending to you for pooping on the carpet.

An appeal to authority isn’t supposed to be fair: it’s a rhetorical device.

Also, don’t sell yourself short compared to Tomer or Paul.

Someone suggested privately that I lay off, that you were angry, don’t feed the trolls, etc. But I don’t think you’re angry or bitter at all, Jed.

You simply pooped on the carpet during the Luc Latulippe Open House. We’ve all done it. And it should be obvious to you that I was not condescending towards you for not liking Hoops and Yoyo. I was condescending to you for pooping on the carpet.

An appeal to authority isn’t supposed to be fair: it’s a rhetorical device.

Also, don’t sell yourself short compared to Tomer or Paul.

This will be the last bit I’ll say on the subject.

Part of getting older is nodding in smiling agreement when your brother shows you a picture of his new girlfriend, exclaiming what a looker she is, when it’s obvious to all that she’s no supermodel. You smile because you love your brother, and are happy for him, and because life is hard, and because one day your own wife will lose her looks, and so will you.

If you want to stand up at the wedding and complain about how tragic it is that society doesn’t value true physical beauty like it should, you are free to do so.

There are times and places I would disabuse someone of the notion that Kincade or Rockwell or Koop is of the same species as a Rembrandt. But not many, and not with strangers.

This will be the last bit I’ll say on the subject.

Part of getting older is nodding in smiling agreement when your brother shows you a picture of his new girlfriend, exclaiming what a looker she is, when it’s obvious to all that she’s no supermodel. You smile because you love your brother, and are happy for him, and because life is hard, and because one day your own wife will lose her looks, and so will you.

If you want to stand up at the wedding and complain about how tragic it is that society doesn’t value true physical beauty like it should, you are free to do so.

There are times and places I would disabuse someone of the notion that Kincade or Rockwell or Koop is of the same species as a Rembrandt. But not many, and not with strangers.

You know, I really didn’t consider the mediator of this particularly post into the equation ( lack of consideration being a theme here). So yeah, how this reflected on Luc, (whose work, and by association, whose taste I admire) didn’t really fall into it. Oops.

And, as you probably know, that particular rhetorical device is a logical falacy, and yes, not just unfair, but poor argument, but you just oppened that right up for me didn’t you? But it’s, as you point out, about as weak as my straw man of a conclusion. (Aren’t we critical thinking studs! Yay, we went to college! That three unit class and this art degree won’t do much towards getting me that job flipping burgers though. You know I actually applied for a government job once that required me to present either my GED or high school diploma, but would not except my Bachelor’s degree as proof of education?!)

So anyway. I get it. I was being shamed. I’ll take it on the nose, but please don’t pretend it’s anything other than that.

Angry? I’m more of a premature curmudgeon. But troll I am not. I’m not baiting anyone. At least not on purpose. I just need to vent all this stuff elsewhere, preferably a blog that few people will actually read.

And Tomer and Paul Pope are surely better, but I’m catching up fast.

You know, I really didn’t consider the mediator of this particularly post into the equation ( lack of consideration being a theme here). So yeah, how this reflected on Luc, (whose work, and by association, whose taste I admire) didn’t really fall into it. Oops.

And, as you probably know, that particular rhetorical device is a logical falacy, and yes, not just unfair, but poor argument, but you just oppened that right up for me didn’t you? But it’s, as you point out, about as weak as my straw man of a conclusion. (Aren’t we critical thinking studs! Yay, we went to college! That three unit class and this art degree won’t do much towards getting me that job flipping burgers though. You know I actually applied for a government job once that required me to present either my GED or high school diploma, but would not except my Bachelor’s degree as proof of education?!)

So anyway. I get it. I was being shamed. I’ll take it on the nose, but please don’t pretend it’s anything other than that.

Angry? I’m more of a premature curmudgeon. But troll I am not. I’m not baiting anyone. At least not on purpose. I just need to vent all this stuff elsewhere, preferably a blog that few people will actually read.

And Tomer and Paul Pope are surely better, but I’m catching up fast.

You know, I really didn’t consider the mediator of this particularly post into the equation ( lack of consideration being a theme here). So yeah, how this reflected on Luc, (whose work, and by association, whose taste I admire) didn’t really fall into it. Oops.

And, as you probably know, that particular rhetorical device is a logical falacy, and yes, not just unfair, but poor argument, but you just oppened that right up for me didn’t you? But it’s, as you point out, about as weak as my straw man of a conclusion. (Aren’t we critical thinking studs! Yay, we went to college! That three unit class and this art degree won’t do much towards getting me that job flipping burgers though. You know I actually applied for a government job once that required me to present either my GED or high school diploma, but would not except my Bachelor’s degree as proof of education?!)

So anyway. I get it. I was being shamed. I’ll take it on the nose, but please don’t pretend it’s anything other than that.

Angry? I’m more of a premature curmudgeon. But troll I am not. I’m not baiting anyone. At least not on purpose. I just need to vent all this stuff elsewhere, preferably a blog that few people will actually read.

And Tomer and Paul Pope are surely better, but I’m catching up fast.

Jed is dreamy. He knows lots of big words.

Jed is dreamy. He knows lots of big words.

Jed is dreamy. He knows lots of big words.

Ahhh, the fans. The fans. my many fans. I love you all. Each and every one of you cowardly little anonymous bastards.

Ahhh, the fans. The fans. my many fans. I love you all. Each and every one of you cowardly little anonymous bastards.

Ahhh, the fans. The fans. my many fans. I love you all. Each and every one of you cowardly little anonymous bastards.

Ok. I definitely regret that one. Damn you “submit comment”.

That was bait, and I bit. Point for you. You got a rise out of me, and that was the whole point right?

You don’t like the way I write. You think I’m showing off. whatever. But I take responsibility for what I write. Did I screw up? Am I being pretentious? Was I a jerk? Fine. But at least I own it. I encourage you to be a grown up and do the same.

Sigh. I’m really hoping next time I can resist the urge to respond to this kind of shit.

Ok. I definitely regret that one. Damn you “submit comment”.

That was bait, and I bit. Point for you. You got a rise out of me, and that was the whole point right?

You don’t like the way I write. You think I’m showing off. whatever. But I take responsibility for what I write. Did I screw up? Am I being pretentious? Was I a jerk? Fine. But at least I own it. I encourage you to be a grown up and do the same.

Sigh. I’m really hoping next time I can resist the urge to respond to this kind of shit.

Ok. I definitely regret that one. Damn you “submit comment”.

That was bait, and I bit. Point for you. You got a rise out of me, and that was the whole point right?

You don’t like the way I write. You think I’m showing off. whatever. But I take responsibility for what I write. Did I screw up? Am I being pretentious? Was I a jerk? Fine. But at least I own it. I encourage you to be a grown up and do the same.

Sigh. I’m really hoping next time I can resist the urge to respond to this kind of shit.

Jed… I like online arguements. I have extremely strong opinions (about which I am often vocal). I often write more elaborately than I speak. I dig where you are coming from. But, I gotta say this… it’s okay to like lots of things. I like J.Otto and I like Hoops & Yoyo. I like stupid, obscure indie bands (which I refuse to name here, because these days it seems like everyone in the world is in an endless competition to like bands that nobody has ever heard of and I refuse to participate) but I also have an unexplainable fondness for ABBA.

I say this in all sincerity (condescending though it may be) … lighten up. Hooray for your dedication to “high art”. Hooray for world leaders portrayed as toys! Hooray for the bravery it takes to draw a weiner! Hoops and Yoyo does not aspire to be anything more than it is. It is cotton candy and when I go to the circus I rarely order broccoli.

… but again, I work at Hallmark, so remember that a lot of this is coming from the chip in my head.

… now go buy some damn cards!

Jed… I like online arguements. I have extremely strong opinions (about which I am often vocal). I often write more elaborately than I speak. I dig where you are coming from. But, I gotta say this… it’s okay to like lots of things. I like J.Otto and I like Hoops & Yoyo. I like stupid, obscure indie bands (which I refuse to name here, because these days it seems like everyone in the world is in an endless competition to like bands that nobody has ever heard of and I refuse to participate) but I also have an unexplainable fondness for ABBA.

I say this in all sincerity (condescending though it may be) … lighten up. Hooray for your dedication to “high art”. Hooray for world leaders portrayed as toys! Hooray for the bravery it takes to draw a weiner! Hoops and Yoyo does not aspire to be anything more than it is. It is cotton candy and when I go to the circus I rarely order broccoli.

… but again, I work at Hallmark, so remember that a lot of this is coming from the chip in my head.

… now go buy some damn cards!

Kevin. so it’s Kevin. Thank you for providing at least your first name, Kevin. Since I have no idea which one of the previous anonymous posts you might have been responsible for, I’m going to have to address you as though this is the occassion of our first acquantance Kevin, so hello Kevin.

So Kevin. I like ABBA too.

I like Steve Ditko. I like stupid Jack Kirby monster comics. My wife thinks that all my pretentions are pretty much invalidated by the fact that I own something called “The Essential Doctor Strange”.

Why does this always have to come back to MY art and how awesome or sucky or how relevant or irrelevant it might be? You’ve got me. I’ll beat. I can’t defend my pictures as profound. I guess you caught me with my weiner hang’in out.

Actually I really refuse to defend my art in the context of this discussion. It’s just completely beside the point.

You know, I admitted essentially to having an impulsive bee in my bonnet. I think I came pretty clean. So Kevin: what exactly is it that you want from me?

You know despite all of my bitching, it wasn’t so much that I found Hoops and Yoyo so offensive, but that I find Jim Woodring so rock’in, and it seemed like everybody was ignoring the coolest thing in the world to me. But everybody loved this–other thing. So I reacted. Badly. It was a MISTAKE.

I don’t think you have a chip in your head, or that you bow down to the corporate monolith. You provide a SERVICE. You can always go home and make whatever the hell you want, but your mak’in friggin cards for a living. Do you think I want to draw portraits of Dick Cheney? I’m trying to make a living like you.

But yes, the stuff you make during the day, the stuff I make, anything I make that I have to sell, it’s a compromise. I know that. It would be just as hard for me to celebrate my compromise as it is for me to celebrate yours or the one the Hoops and Yoyo guys had to make, if it wasn’t for the fact that I expect to get PAID. So yeah, I’m looking at Hallmark from a safe vantage. It’s important to take some pride in, and have some appreciation for the work you do, if you want to have a satisfying life. But since you work in that environment, you probably have more appreciation for the kind of craft and skill it takes to make something like Hoops and Yoyo, and since I don’t, it’s all the more easy for me to dismiss it.

You know, I’m really not as unreasonable as you seem to imagine. What’s interesting and kind of maddening about these posts, is that they etch in stone whatever you happened to be thinking at the moment. And in the heat of the moment, you might say high and mighty and yes, hot-headed things. That doesn’t make me a high and mighty and hot-headed person. The other problem is that I type really really fast–I used to be an office temp–and so I can screw myself at lightning speed.

Not that that absolves me from responsibility for any of it, but you know, sometimes corrections amendments and apologies are in order. But yeah, it’s hard to eat humble pie. But I don’t like to be insulted anymore than Hoops and Yoyo do, so I’m not going to completely roll over.

Kevin. so it’s Kevin. Thank you for providing at least your first name, Kevin. Since I have no idea which one of the previous anonymous posts you might have been responsible for, I’m going to have to address you as though this is the occassion of our first acquantance Kevin, so hello Kevin.

So Kevin. I like ABBA too.

I like Steve Ditko. I like stupid Jack Kirby monster comics. My wife thinks that all my pretentions are pretty much invalidated by the fact that I own something called “The Essential Doctor Strange”.

Why does this always have to come back to MY art and how awesome or sucky or how relevant or irrelevant it might be? You’ve got me. I’ll beat. I can’t defend my pictures as profound. I guess you caught me with my weiner hang’in out.

Actually I really refuse to defend my art in the context of this discussion. It’s just completely beside the point.

You know, I admitted essentially to having an impulsive bee in my bonnet. I think I came pretty clean. So Kevin: what exactly is it that you want from me?

You know despite all of my bitching, it wasn’t so much that I found Hoops and Yoyo so offensive, but that I find Jim Woodring so rock’in, and it seemed like everybody was ignoring the coolest thing in the world to me. But everybody loved this–other thing. So I reacted. Badly. It was a MISTAKE.

I don’t think you have a chip in your head, or that you bow down to the corporate monolith. You provide a SERVICE. You can always go home and make whatever the hell you want, but your mak’in friggin cards for a living. Do you think I want to draw portraits of Dick Cheney? I’m trying to make a living like you.

But yes, the stuff you make during the day, the stuff I make, anything I make that I have to sell, it’s a compromise. I know that. It would be just as hard for me to celebrate my compromise as it is for me to celebrate yours or the one the Hoops and Yoyo guys had to make, if it wasn’t for the fact that I expect to get PAID. So yeah, I’m looking at Hallmark from a safe vantage. It’s important to take some pride in, and have some appreciation for the work you do, if you want to have a satisfying life. But since you work in that environment, you probably have more appreciation for the kind of craft and skill it takes to make something like Hoops and Yoyo, and since I don’t, it’s all the more easy for me to dismiss it.

You know, I’m really not as unreasonable as you seem to imagine. What’s interesting and kind of maddening about these posts, is that they etch in stone whatever you happened to be thinking at the moment. And in the heat of the moment, you might say high and mighty and yes, hot-headed things. That doesn’t make me a high and mighty and hot-headed person. The other problem is that I type really really fast–I used to be an office temp–and so I can screw myself at lightning speed.

Not that that absolves me from responsibility for any of it, but you know, sometimes corrections amendments and apologies are in order. But yeah, it’s hard to eat humble pie. But I don’t like to be insulted anymore than Hoops and Yoyo do, so I’m not going to completely roll over.

Wow, Jed. You gotta get a girlfriend or a boyfriend or something.

Wow, Jed. You gotta get a girlfriend or a boyfriend or something.

Let’s give Jed a break, as he admitted it was a mistake.

Let’s give Jed a break, as he admitted it was a mistake.

You’re right, Buckley. I’m being mean.

Sorry, Jed!

You’re right, Buckley. I’m being mean.

Sorry, Jed!

You’re right, Buckley. I’m being mean.

Sorry, Jed!

: D

: D

: D

Jed, first, I wasn’t one of the anonymous posters. Kevin is indeed my name and if you look waaaaaay back at post number 8 or 9, you’ll see that I didn’t just join this particular thread. I just found what you wrote to be kind of compelling… at least in the sense that I felt compelled to respond. As I said, I like a good fight. It’s a weakness, I suppose…

The thing that I found most compelling was the bile that spewed forth with your criticism of this entertaining little trifle. Of course you would have no way of knowing that this creation did indeed happen organically as the product of a (very) few people and not as some sort of corporate strategy. As a matter of fact, it is so far from the traditional development process here (at Hallmark) that despite its cult-like popularity, Hallmark has absolutely failed to capitalize on it (though some things are in the works). This is a thing created by people and it brings people joy. If it aspired to be a religion or a basis for a lifestyle philosophy, I could see where you might be inclined to lament the state of the world.

As to why I bothered to drag your work into the discussion… well, you submitted a link, so I looked. You look at Hoops and Yoyo and (incorrectly) see it as a corporate strategy and pass judgement on it (as you say, from an outsider’s perspective) and I look at your work and pass judgement on you. Not as an eye for an eye kind of thing, but because that is what is available to us. I don’t know you, but I now know your work. You have skills. If I were to be completely honest… if I came upon one of your illustrations in a magazine, I would certainly pause. I would think, “That’s pretty cool,” then I would turn the page and your work would leave my consciousness forever… just like most art… including greeting cards. Of course this little scenario would play out differently if your work were in Juxtapoz, where it would disappear in the endless sea of almost-Tomers.

Now I’m the dick, but I do have a point. We are all in the same game. You make comics. I make greeting cards. It’s not “sort of” the same game, it’s EXACTLY the same game. We make things up for a living. We try to get paid for it. I think it’s a mistake to get too high and mighty about it. If you’re hoity-toity when you’re young, you’re headed for a painful wake-up call (though this seems to be the norm rather than the exception). If you carry this much pretention into your later years, then you’re just an angry old asshole.

When I said “lighten up” earlier, I meant it literally The entire reason that I responded at all is that your writing reminds me of someone I know. A very talented fella who has had some commercial success as a novelist, but spends a great deal of effort railing against artistic injustice. Jim woodring is doing just fine. J. Otto is doing just fine. I don’t think they would want you to be angry at someone else on their behalf. If you’re actually THAT offended (even briefly) by something as silly as H&Y, maybe you’re concerned about your own success. That’s fine. I am sometimes bothered when I see something of inferior quality garnering critical and commercial attention, but that just makes me want to be better. To do more. Even “Rage Against the Machine” doesn’t rage against the machine anymore…

Jed, first, I wasn’t one of the anonymous posters. Kevin is indeed my name and if you look waaaaaay back at post number 8 or 9, you’ll see that I didn’t just join this particular thread. I just found what you wrote to be kind of compelling… at least in the sense that I felt compelled to respond. As I said, I like a good fight. It’s a weakness, I suppose…

The thing that I found most compelling was the bile that spewed forth with your criticism of this entertaining little trifle. Of course you would have no way of knowing that this creation did indeed happen organically as the product of a (very) few people and not as some sort of corporate strategy. As a matter of fact, it is so far from the traditional development process here (at Hallmark) that despite its cult-like popularity, Hallmark has absolutely failed to capitalize on it (though some things are in the works). This is a thing created by people and it brings people joy. If it aspired to be a religion or a basis for a lifestyle philosophy, I could see where you might be inclined to lament the state of the world.

As to why I bothered to drag your work into the discussion… well, you submitted a link, so I looked. You look at Hoops and Yoyo and (incorrectly) see it as a corporate strategy and pass judgement on it (as you say, from an outsider’s perspective) and I look at your work and pass judgement on you. Not as an eye for an eye kind of thing, but because that is what is available to us. I don’t know you, but I now know your work. You have skills. If I were to be completely honest… if I came upon one of your illustrations in a magazine, I would certainly pause. I would think, “That’s pretty cool,” then I would turn the page and your work would leave my consciousness forever… just like most art… including greeting cards. Of course this little scenario would play out differently if your work were in Juxtapoz, where it would disappear in the endless sea of almost-Tomers.

Now I’m the dick, but I do have a point. We are all in the same game. You make comics. I make greeting cards. It’s not “sort of” the same game, it’s EXACTLY the same game. We make things up for a living. We try to get paid for it. I think it’s a mistake to get too high and mighty about it. If you’re hoity-toity when you’re young, you’re headed for a painful wake-up call (though this seems to be the norm rather than the exception). If you carry this much pretention into your later years, then you’re just an angry old asshole.

When I said “lighten up” earlier, I meant it literally The entire reason that I responded at all is that your writing reminds me of someone I know. A very talented fella who has had some commercial success as a novelist, but spends a great deal of effort railing against artistic injustice. Jim woodring is doing just fine. J. Otto is doing just fine. I don’t think they would want you to be angry at someone else on their behalf. If you’re actually THAT offended (even briefly) by something as silly as H&Y, maybe you’re concerned about your own success. That’s fine. I am sometimes bothered when I see something of inferior quality garnering critical and commercial attention, but that just makes me want to be better. To do more. Even “Rage Against the Machine” doesn’t rage against the machine anymore…

Jed, first, I wasn’t one of the anonymous posters. Kevin is indeed my name and if you look waaaaaay back at post number 8 or 9, you’ll see that I didn’t just join this particular thread. I just found what you wrote to be kind of compelling… at least in the sense that I felt compelled to respond. As I said, I like a good fight. It’s a weakness, I suppose…

The thing that I found most compelling was the bile that spewed forth with your criticism of this entertaining little trifle. Of course you would have no way of knowing that this creation did indeed happen organically as the product of a (very) few people and not as some sort of corporate strategy. As a matter of fact, it is so far from the traditional development process here (at Hallmark) that despite its cult-like popularity, Hallmark has absolutely failed to capitalize on it (though some things are in the works). This is a thing created by people and it brings people joy. If it aspired to be a religion or a basis for a lifestyle philosophy, I could see where you might be inclined to lament the state of the world.

As to why I bothered to drag your work into the discussion… well, you submitted a link, so I looked. You look at Hoops and Yoyo and (incorrectly) see it as a corporate strategy and pass judgement on it (as you say, from an outsider’s perspective) and I look at your work and pass judgement on you. Not as an eye for an eye kind of thing, but because that is what is available to us. I don’t know you, but I now know your work. You have skills. If I were to be completely honest… if I came upon one of your illustrations in a magazine, I would certainly pause. I would think, “That’s pretty cool,” then I would turn the page and your work would leave my consciousness forever… just like most art… including greeting cards. Of course this little scenario would play out differently if your work were in Juxtapoz, where it would disappear in the endless sea of almost-Tomers.

Now I’m the dick, but I do have a point. We are all in the same game. You make comics. I make greeting cards. It’s not “sort of” the same game, it’s EXACTLY the same game. We make things up for a living. We try to get paid for it. I think it’s a mistake to get too high and mighty about it. If you’re hoity-toity when you’re young, you’re headed for a painful wake-up call (though this seems to be the norm rather than the exception). If you carry this much pretention into your later years, then you’re just an angry old asshole.

When I said “lighten up” earlier, I meant it literally The entire reason that I responded at all is that your writing reminds me of someone I know. A very talented fella who has had some commercial success as a novelist, but spends a great deal of effort railing against artistic injustice. Jim woodring is doing just fine. J. Otto is doing just fine. I don’t think they would want you to be angry at someone else on their behalf. If you’re actually THAT offended (even briefly) by something as silly as H&Y, maybe you’re concerned about your own success. That’s fine. I am sometimes bothered when I see something of inferior quality garnering critical and commercial attention, but that just makes me want to be better. To do more. Even “Rage Against the Machine” doesn’t rage against the machine anymore…

I guess the injustice I see here in your bringing my work into it, is in part, because I don’t get to see yours. I offer the link, because I think it’s only fair, if I do happen to offer criticism, that yes, people have the same benefit to apply that same judgement to my work, but I’m not offering it up for comparison–if every time I comment on someone’s work on this page, it’s always going to be about my work and how it compares to to the work in question, what I thought was a gesture of fairness, has turned into a serious pain in the ass. It’s exhausting to have to defend my work every time I express an opinion about somebody elses, so maybe I shouldn’t include the link. But the reason I do, is because I think it’s just too easy to say anything you like about someone elses work and not take responsibility for the quality of your own.

Yes, this is a kind of comparison, but it’s not meant to be a direct one. We’re not holding up my work and Hoops and YoYo together on the same page and evaluating the two and how they relate to one another. I don’t honestly believe that’s the purpose of discussions on this site. And yes, in this earlier instance, your criticism did come off as an eye for an eye kind of thing.

But I will say that if you truly think I’m a Tomer Hanuka clone, you really haven’t looked at the work on my site very closely. There’s a least 20 images that have more of a relationship to Hakusai and Dubuffet than anything resembling what Tomer Hankua does (just scroll down a little more). My more personal work, however, isn’t going to get me in Time magazine or Entertainment weekly, and that, unfortunately, happens to be the general audience I’m after. The Tomer Hanuka comment stings because there’s truth to it–his work has been a marked influence on mine, but if you care to see my most recent work, it couldn’t be further from his.

You know, I thought I took what you said earlier pretty generously. I took quite a bit of culpability for most of what you suggested. But now I think you’re really belaboring the point.

And of course I’m concerned about my own success. It’s very very difficult to make a living making pictures. That’s what I aspire to do, and I’m not really there yet. So I will submit too, that yes, there’s probably some truth in that too, that my reaction was probably related to my own fear of failing, and resentment for the success of something I’m not so fond of. And yes, that also makes ME want to be better.

And I really don’t think I’m that hoity toity pretentious in the grand scheme here. I like a lot of different kinds of stuff, and have an appreciation for a lot of different kinds of stuff. I think my tastes have broadenned over the years, rather than narrowed. Believe it or not, I think I’ve gotten less bitter, rather than more. So yeah, I’m trying to lighten up, but maybe you need to lighten up too, and of acknoweledge the fact that I have listenned, and been willing to listen, which isn’t a tendency that you’d ascribe to your average angry old asshole.

I guess the injustice I see here in your bringing my work into it, is in part, because I don’t get to see yours. I offer the link, because I think it’s only fair, if I do happen to offer criticism, that yes, people have the same benefit to apply that same judgement to my work, but I’m not offering it up for comparison–if every time I comment on someone’s work on this page, it’s always going to be about my work and how it compares to to the work in question, what I thought was a gesture of fairness, has turned into a serious pain in the ass. It’s exhausting to have to defend my work every time I express an opinion about somebody elses, so maybe I shouldn’t include the link. But the reason I do, is because I think it’s just too easy to say anything you like about someone elses work and not take responsibility for the quality of your own.

Yes, this is a kind of comparison, but it’s not meant to be a direct one. We’re not holding up my work and Hoops and YoYo together on the same page and evaluating the two and how they relate to one another. I don’t honestly believe that’s the purpose of discussions on this site. And yes, in this earlier instance, your criticism did come off as an eye for an eye kind of thing.

But I will say that if you truly think I’m a Tomer Hanuka clone, you really haven’t looked at the work on my site very closely. There’s a least 20 images that have more of a relationship to Hakusai and Dubuffet than anything resembling what Tomer Hankua does (just scroll down a little more). My more personal work, however, isn’t going to get me in Time magazine or Entertainment weekly, and that, unfortunately, happens to be the general audience I’m after. The Tomer Hanuka comment stings because there’s truth to it–his work has been a marked influence on mine, but if you care to see my most recent work, it couldn’t be further from his.

You know, I thought I took what you said earlier pretty generously. I took quite a bit of culpability for most of what you suggested. But now I think you’re really belaboring the point.

And of course I’m concerned about my own success. It’s very very difficult to make a living making pictures. That’s what I aspire to do, and I’m not really there yet. So I will submit too, that yes, there’s probably some truth in that too, that my reaction was probably related to my own fear of failing, and resentment for the success of something I’m not so fond of. And yes, that also makes ME want to be better.

And I really don’t think I’m that hoity toity pretentious in the grand scheme here. I like a lot of different kinds of stuff, and have an appreciation for a lot of different kinds of stuff. I think my tastes have broadenned over the years, rather than narrowed. Believe it or not, I think I’ve gotten less bitter, rather than more. So yeah, I’m trying to lighten up, but maybe you need to lighten up too, and of acknoweledge the fact that I have listenned, and been willing to listen, which isn’t a tendency that you’d ascribe to your average angry old asshole.

I guess the injustice I see here in your bringing my work into it, is in part, because I don’t get to see yours. I offer the link, because I think it’s only fair, if I do happen to offer criticism, that yes, people have the same benefit to apply that same judgement to my work, but I’m not offering it up for comparison–if every time I comment on someone’s work on this page, it’s always going to be about my work and how it compares to to the work in question, what I thought was a gesture of fairness, has turned into a serious pain in the ass. It’s exhausting to have to defend my work every time I express an opinion about somebody elses, so maybe I shouldn’t include the link. But the reason I do, is because I think it’s just too easy to say anything you like about someone elses work and not take responsibility for the quality of your own.

Yes, this is a kind of comparison, but it’s not meant to be a direct one. We’re not holding up my work and Hoops and YoYo together on the same page and evaluating the two and how they relate to one another. I don’t honestly believe that’s the purpose of discussions on this site. And yes, in this earlier instance, your criticism did come off as an eye for an eye kind of thing.

But I will say that if you truly think I’m a Tomer Hanuka clone, you really haven’t looked at the work on my site very closely. There’s a least 20 images that have more of a relationship to Hakusai and Dubuffet than anything resembling what Tomer Hankua does (just scroll down a little more). My more personal work, however, isn’t going to get me in Time magazine or Entertainment weekly, and that, unfortunately, happens to be the general audience I’m after. The Tomer Hanuka comment stings because there’s truth to it–his work has been a marked influence on mine, but if you care to see my most recent work, it couldn’t be further from his.

You know, I thought I took what you said earlier pretty generously. I took quite a bit of culpability for most of what you suggested. But now I think you’re really belaboring the point.

And of course I’m concerned about my own success. It’s very very difficult to make a living making pictures. That’s what I aspire to do, and I’m not really there yet. So I will submit too, that yes, there’s probably some truth in that too, that my reaction was probably related to my own fear of failing, and resentment for the success of something I’m not so fond of. And yes, that also makes ME want to be better.

And I really don’t think I’m that hoity toity pretentious in the grand scheme here. I like a lot of different kinds of stuff, and have an appreciation for a lot of different kinds of stuff. I think my tastes have broadenned over the years, rather than narrowed. Believe it or not, I think I’ve gotten less bitter, rather than more. So yeah, I’m trying to lighten up, but maybe you need to lighten up too, and of acknoweledge the fact that I have listenned, and been willing to listen, which isn’t a tendency that you’d ascribe to your average angry old asshole.

Jed, I really did mean that last thing I said. I was once an angry young man and the novelist I mentioned is actually my brother. Any snarkiness you may have perceived in my blathering is probably due to my frustration with him, but you both write so similarly it is difficult for me to separate my reactions to each of you. I will say that if you are less bitter now, I’m glad that I didn’t encounter you previous to this. When I began to work in the social expressions industry (for that is what we call ourselves) I was angry at the system. I was arrogant. I was sure I could fix the stupidity that clearly surrounded me. I ran through my career like a bull in a china shop, then something miraculous happened… I looked around and realized that I was absolutely surrounded by amazingly talented and motivated people. So I quashed my anger and my ego and learned and learned and learned.

I am lucky enough to number among my friends several “celebrity” artists. Do you know what they have in common? Several things, actually… 1) Boundless motivation… 2) Creative generosity… and 3) The ability to gather value from even the most seemingly valueless crap. This is what I’m driving at. Produce. Learn. Share. Enjoy. Don’t be a hater.

…oh… and vist artdorks.com. You may find some allies there. Nice gallery connections, solid commercial networking possibilities and some really good guys… and more than a few greeting card artists (for what it’s worth).

Jed, I really did mean that last thing I said. I was once an angry young man and the novelist I mentioned is actually my brother. Any snarkiness you may have perceived in my blathering is probably due to my frustration with him, but you both write so similarly it is difficult for me to separate my reactions to each of you. I will say that if you are less bitter now, I’m glad that I didn’t encounter you previous to this. When I began to work in the social expressions industry (for that is what we call ourselves) I was angry at the system. I was arrogant. I was sure I could fix the stupidity that clearly surrounded me. I ran through my career like a bull in a china shop, then something miraculous happened… I looked around and realized that I was absolutely surrounded by amazingly talented and motivated people. So I quashed my anger and my ego and learned and learned and learned.

I am lucky enough to number among my friends several “celebrity” artists. Do you know what they have in common? Several things, actually… 1) Boundless motivation… 2) Creative generosity… and 3) The ability to gather value from even the most seemingly valueless crap. This is what I’m driving at. Produce. Learn. Share. Enjoy. Don’t be a hater.

…oh… and vist artdorks.com. You may find some allies there. Nice gallery connections, solid commercial networking possibilities and some really good guys… and more than a few greeting card artists (for what it’s worth).

Jed, I really did mean that last thing I said. I was once an angry young man and the novelist I mentioned is actually my brother. Any snarkiness you may have perceived in my blathering is probably due to my frustration with him, but you both write so similarly it is difficult for me to separate my reactions to each of you. I will say that if you are less bitter now, I’m glad that I didn’t encounter you previous to this. When I began to work in the social expressions industry (for that is what we call ourselves) I was angry at the system. I was arrogant. I was sure I could fix the stupidity that clearly surrounded me. I ran through my career like a bull in a china shop, then something miraculous happened… I looked around and realized that I was absolutely surrounded by amazingly talented and motivated people. So I quashed my anger and my ego and learned and learned and learned.

I am lucky enough to number among my friends several “celebrity” artists. Do you know what they have in common? Several things, actually… 1) Boundless motivation… 2) Creative generosity… and 3) The ability to gather value from even the most seemingly valueless crap. This is what I’m driving at. Produce. Learn. Share. Enjoy. Don’t be a hater.

…oh… and vist artdorks.com. You may find some allies there. Nice gallery connections, solid commercial networking possibilities and some really good guys… and more than a few greeting card artists (for what it’s worth).

That site ruled! Anyone who can’t enjoy Hoops and Yoyo is evil and on the wrong kind of medication.

That site ruled! Anyone who can’t enjoy Hoops and Yoyo is evil and on the wrong kind of medication.

That site ruled! Anyone who can’t enjoy Hoops and Yoyo is evil and on the wrong kind of medication.

That’s me. Muhahahahahahahaha!!!

That’s me. Muhahahahahahahaha!!!

That’s me. Muhahahahahahahaha!!!

Jed:

I normally don’t come back and reply after I send in my two pennies, but this time I will. I feel a bit tweaked by your somewhat pompous comments. Jim Woodring? Hernandez Brothers? Peter Bagge? Renee French Dame Darcy? Peter Kuper? Richard Sala? Maurice Vellekoop? Julie Doucet? Just about anything by Drawn & Quarterly? Dan Clowes? Mary Fleener? Love them all. I’ve been a dedicated alternative comics buyer since forever… but you know, I also love the sometimes shrill caffeine-driven silliness of Hoops & Yoyo too.

I think it’s a bit short-sighted and narrow to think that one cannot appreciate the amazing acid colored world of Woodring AND the hyper brightness of Hoops & Yoyo as well. It’s not wrong to like them both. But it is wrong to castigate people for liking one and then ASSUMING they do not have an appreciation for the other. It’s offputting and does a disservice to talented people like Jim Woodring, because in essence what you have insinuated is that only enlightened people (like yourself) would “get” the brilliance of a Woodring unlike the rest of us who roll around in the ignorant muck of Hoops & Yoyo.

Feel as superior as you like, just try not to smack the rest of us around as you do it.

Jed:

I normally don’t come back and reply after I send in my two pennies, but this time I will. I feel a bit tweaked by your somewhat pompous comments. Jim Woodring? Hernandez Brothers? Peter Bagge? Renee French Dame Darcy? Peter Kuper? Richard Sala? Maurice Vellekoop? Julie Doucet? Just about anything by Drawn & Quarterly? Dan Clowes? Mary Fleener? Love them all. I’ve been a dedicated alternative comics buyer since forever… but you know, I also love the sometimes shrill caffeine-driven silliness of Hoops & Yoyo too.

I think it’s a bit short-sighted and narrow to think that one cannot appreciate the amazing acid colored world of Woodring AND the hyper brightness of Hoops & Yoyo as well. It’s not wrong to like them both. But it is wrong to castigate people for liking one and then ASSUMING they do not have an appreciation for the other. It’s offputting and does a disservice to talented people like Jim Woodring, because in essence what you have insinuated is that only enlightened people (like yourself) would “get” the brilliance of a Woodring unlike the rest of us who roll around in the ignorant muck of Hoops & Yoyo.

Feel as superior as you like, just try not to smack the rest of us around as you do it.

Jed:

I normally don’t come back and reply after I send in my two pennies, but this time I will. I feel a bit tweaked by your somewhat pompous comments. Jim Woodring? Hernandez Brothers? Peter Bagge? Renee French Dame Darcy? Peter Kuper? Richard Sala? Maurice Vellekoop? Julie Doucet? Just about anything by Drawn & Quarterly? Dan Clowes? Mary Fleener? Love them all. I’ve been a dedicated alternative comics buyer since forever… but you know, I also love the sometimes shrill caffeine-driven silliness of Hoops & Yoyo too.

I think it’s a bit short-sighted and narrow to think that one cannot appreciate the amazing acid colored world of Woodring AND the hyper brightness of Hoops & Yoyo as well. It’s not wrong to like them both. But it is wrong to castigate people for liking one and then ASSUMING they do not have an appreciation for the other. It’s offputting and does a disservice to talented people like Jim Woodring, because in essence what you have insinuated is that only enlightened people (like yourself) would “get” the brilliance of a Woodring unlike the rest of us who roll around in the ignorant muck of Hoops & Yoyo.

Feel as superior as you like, just try not to smack the rest of us around as you do it.

Oh Boy. Last word on this. I screwed up. It was a spate of impulsive, over the top pompous rants that have no place here. You’re right. I’m wrong. Nothing to do with the actual posted content. Everything to do with me. I had a BAD WEEK. Personally. Just a very bad very stressful week and I took it out on here, though that’s no real excuse. To be honest, it’s more a funhouse mirror exageration of how I happened to feel at the moment, than how I feel, and think, say, in this more level-headed moment right here.

Call it what you like. Call me what you like. But I friggin appologize.

And I’m actually going to lay off posting to a while (aside from this one). I totally need to relax and go for a walk or something.

Oh Boy. Last word on this. I screwed up. It was a spate of impulsive, over the top pompous rants that have no place here. You’re right. I’m wrong. Nothing to do with the actual posted content. Everything to do with me. I had a BAD WEEK. Personally. Just a very bad very stressful week and I took it out on here, though that’s no real excuse. To be honest, it’s more a funhouse mirror exageration of how I happened to feel at the moment, than how I feel, and think, say, in this more level-headed moment right here.

Call it what you like. Call me what you like. But I friggin appologize.

And I’m actually going to lay off posting to a while (aside from this one). I totally need to relax and go for a walk or something.

Oh Boy. Last word on this. I screwed up. It was a spate of impulsive, over the top pompous rants that have no place here. You’re right. I’m wrong. Nothing to do with the actual posted content. Everything to do with me. I had a BAD WEEK. Personally. Just a very bad very stressful week and I took it out on here, though that’s no real excuse. To be honest, it’s more a funhouse mirror exageration of how I happened to feel at the moment, than how I feel, and think, say, in this more level-headed moment right here.

Call it what you like. Call me what you like. But I friggin appologize.

And I’m actually going to lay off posting to a while (aside from this one). I totally need to relax and go for a walk or something.

I really want to buy a pair of the plush hoops and yoyo does anyone know if they sell it in Hallmark stores in Canada? Or any online stores that are willing to ship via Canada?

I really want to buy a pair of the plush hoops and yoyo does anyone know if they sell it in Hallmark stores in Canada? Or any online stores that are willing to ship via Canada?

I really want to buy a pair of the plush hoops and yoyo does anyone know if they sell it in Hallmark stores in Canada? Or any online stores that are willing to ship via Canada?

Hoops and Yoyo are so addictive!!! They are hysterically funny!! i love them and yes its true if you write to them they DO answer back!!!

Hoops and Yoyo are so addictive!!! They are hysterically funny!! i love them and yes its true if you write to them they DO answer back!!!

Hoops and Yoyo are so addictive!!! They are hysterically funny!! i love them and yes its true if you write to them they DO answer back!!!

I want to be able to have access to the Hoops And Yoyo greeting card collection. He is gone in some way from the web, and I can’t get into it. How do I become a member, etc. to the site. What does it cost? etc.

Thankyou
Ronnie Arnett

I want to be able to have access to the Hoops And Yoyo greeting card collection. He is gone in some way from the web, and I can’t get into it. How do I become a member, etc. to the site. What does it cost? etc.

Thankyou
Ronnie Arnett

I want to be able to have access to the Hoops And Yoyo greeting card collection. He is gone in some way from the web, and I can’t get into it. How do I become a member, etc. to the site. What does it cost? etc.

Thankyou
Ronnie Arnett

i apsolutly hate that stupid hoops&yoyo crap
its dumb because they never create new shows!!!

i apsolutly hate that stupid hoops&yoyo crap
its dumb because they never create new shows!!!

i apsolutly hate that stupid hoops&yoyo crap
its dumb because they never create new shows!!!

i apsolutly hate that stupid hoops&yoyo crap
its dumb because they never create new shows!!!

i apsolutly hate that stupid hoops&yoyo crap
its dumb because they never create new shows!!!

i apsolutly hate that stupid hoops&yoyo crap
its dumb because they never create new shows!!!

my stupid dad created the dumb show i wish he didnt because he emmbarassed us all

my stupid dad created the dumb show i wish he didnt because he emmbarassed us all

my stupid dad created the dumb show i wish he didnt because he emmbarassed us all

sexy butt is hoops and yoyo had sex with me

sexy butt is hoops and yoyo had sex with me

sexy butt is hoops and yoyo had sex with me

[...] I’ve indirectly blogged about Mike before (in the heated Hoops & Yoyo post), but I noticed he’s redesigning his site (psst! Mike! Add a blog too!) and he added a new animated short called David’s New Snail, featuring his son’s voice. It’s freakin’ hilarious! Bravo Mike and David! [...]

About 2 days ago, I checked out Hoops and Yoyo. To me, it’s a unique combination of the music of the Charlie Brown cartoons, voices done in the style of the characters on “South Park”, the sarcastic but kid-friendly (for the most part) wit of Homestar Runner, and the warmth and cuteness of Beanie Babies. It was pretty cool!

About 2 days ago, I checked out Hoops and Yoyo. To me, it’s a unique combination of the music of the Charlie Brown cartoons, voices done in the style of the characters on “South Park”, the sarcastic but kid-friendly (for the most part) wit of Homestar Runner, and the warmth and cuteness of Beanie Babies. It was pretty cool!

About 2 days ago, I checked out Hoops and Yoyo. To me, it’s a unique combination of the music of the Charlie Brown cartoons, voices done in the style of the characters on “South Park”, the sarcastic but kid-friendly (for the most part) wit of Homestar Runner, and the warmth and cuteness of Beanie Babies. It was pretty cool!

I noticed that Luc have responded to my previous question about where can I buy the hoops and yoyo plushies online, but does anyone know if they sell it in Hallmark stores in Canada?

I noticed that Luc have responded to my previous question about where can I buy the hoops and yoyo plushies online, but does anyone know if they sell it in Hallmark stores in Canada?

I noticed that Luc have responded to my previous question about where can I buy the hoops and yoyo plushies online, but does anyone know if they sell it in Hallmark stores in Canada?

Hey Donna, from what I hear hallmark only sells hoops and yoyo plushies online because they didn’t sell well in the stores…..makes sense to me, since the people that know hoops and yoyo are online.

Hey Donna, from what I hear hallmark only sells hoops and yoyo plushies online because they didn’t sell well in the stores…..makes sense to me, since the people that know hoops and yoyo are online.

Hey Donna, from what I hear hallmark only sells hoops and yoyo plushies online because they didn’t sell well in the stores…..makes sense to me, since the people that know hoops and yoyo are online.

Hoops and Yoyo are the cutest online creations ever! To me, they are the BEST evidence out there that you DON’T have to create obscene characters (a la Beavis & Butt-Head) to be highly entertaining! I plan on ordering their plushes online, and they remind me so much of my little brother when he was a baby! They are the best!!! I am so badly addicted I listen to them in the background whenever I am working on my computer. A million THANKS to the creators for brightening our days!

Hoops and Yoyo are the cutest online creations ever! To me, they are the BEST evidence out there that you DON’T have to create obscene characters (a la Beavis & Butt-Head) to be highly entertaining! I plan on ordering their plushes online, and they remind me so much of my little brother when he was a baby! They are the best!!! I am so badly addicted I listen to them in the background whenever I am working on my computer. A million THANKS to the creators for brightening our days!

Hoops and Yoyo are the cutest online creations ever! To me, they are the BEST evidence out there that you DON’T have to create obscene characters (a la Beavis & Butt-Head) to be highly entertaining! I plan on ordering their plushes online, and they remind me so much of my little brother when he was a baby! They are the best!!! I am so badly addicted I listen to them in the background whenever I am working on my computer. A million THANKS to the creators for brightening our days!

The Little Blu One Is Actuallt Named Sprinkles

The Little Blu One Is Actuallt Named Sprinkles

The Little Blu One Is Actuallt Named Sprinkles

The Little Blue One Is Actually Named Sprinkles

The Little Blue One Is Actually Named Sprinkles

The Little Blue One Is Actually Named Sprinkles

Response to Nicole first: Sprinkles was renamed Piddles at some point in the recent past. (actually, she had a different name before Sprinkles, but I can’t remember what it was!) It all had to do with some kind of trademark infringement or some such.

HOOPS & YOYO RULES!!!
Finally ecards that aren’t dorky, but are still free!!!
They are so cute, and the animation goes so perfectly with the audio, even little nuances in the voices.

Conglomerate or no conglomerate, I am grateful to Hallmark for providing us with these two cuties. They often brighten my sometimes difficult days!

Response to Nicole first: Sprinkles was renamed Piddles at some point in the recent past. (actually, she had a different name before Sprinkles, but I can’t remember what it was!) It all had to do with some kind of trademark infringement or some such.

HOOPS & YOYO RULES!!!
Finally ecards that aren’t dorky, but are still free!!!
They are so cute, and the animation goes so perfectly with the audio, even little nuances in the voices.

Conglomerate or no conglomerate, I am grateful to Hallmark for providing us with these two cuties. They often brighten my sometimes difficult days!

Response to Nicole first: Sprinkles was renamed Piddles at some point in the recent past. (actually, she had a different name before Sprinkles, but I can’t remember what it was!) It all had to do with some kind of trademark infringement or some such.

HOOPS & YOYO RULES!!!
Finally ecards that aren’t dorky, but are still free!!!
They are so cute, and the animation goes so perfectly with the audio, even little nuances in the voices.

Conglomerate or no conglomerate, I am grateful to Hallmark for providing us with these two cuties. They often brighten my sometimes difficult days!

Hoops and Yoyo are entertaining. Period. They brighten some peoples lives with laughter and humor. If you like them great if you don’t then don’t log in to see them. I personally love them and wish they had hard copy cards, calendars, and stuff animals for halloween, christmas, valentines, and easter. I would buy them.

Hoops and Yoyo are entertaining. Period. They brighten some peoples lives with laughter and humor. If you like them great if you don’t then don’t log in to see them. I personally love them and wish they had hard copy cards, calendars, and stuff animals for halloween, christmas, valentines, and easter. I would buy them.

Hoops and Yoyo are entertaining. Period. They brighten some peoples lives with laughter and humor. If you like them great if you don’t then don’t log in to see them. I personally love them and wish they had hard copy cards, calendars, and stuff animals for halloween, christmas, valentines, and easter. I would buy them.

Hoops & YoYo are a artistic creation in my eyes and heart, i wish they were real and that they could follow me on my daily routine. Their simple features are what makes them so great, less is more, why can no one understand that? Yes you can buytheir merchandise, you want people to buy yours, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?! I wish they’d come to life! More beings on this planet like them would make the world a lot more bearable at times! Everything seems to be overdone today, so many characters that are so overdone they are ugly, confusing, distorted and vulgar, and that’s even before they speak, (if they do). I am annoyed someone has spent so much time attacking them. No one has made you look at them, who cares if they come from Hallmark, you can’t tell me you live your life with out reaping the benefits of one single corporation, people need jobs, and folks need to smile, and if these guys bring a smile to me, I could give a s%$#t if they come from Hallmark. I’d say the creators of these guys have brought a lot of smiles, joy, laughter and love to someone who has been through some horrifying times. They not only make me laugh, but i can also identify with their genuine feelings. And, what makes them even more great is they do all this with out swearing, vulgarity, etc. That takes talent. I identify with them and i am by no means part of corporate America, or an All American Poster Child by any means! Please go spend your time marketing your bitter crap somewhere else.

Hoops & YoYo are a artistic creation in my eyes and heart, i wish they were real and that they could follow me on my daily routine. Their simple features are what makes them so great, less is more, why can no one understand that? Yes you can buytheir merchandise, you want people to buy yours, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?! I wish they’d come to life! More beings on this planet like them would make the world a lot more bearable at times! Everything seems to be overdone today, so many characters that are so overdone they are ugly, confusing, distorted and vulgar, and that’s even before they speak, (if they do). I am annoyed someone has spent so much time attacking them. No one has made you look at them, who cares if they come from Hallmark, you can’t tell me you live your life with out reaping the benefits of one single corporation, people need jobs, and folks need to smile, and if these guys bring a smile to me, I could give a s%$#t if they come from Hallmark. I’d say the creators of these guys have brought a lot of smiles, joy, laughter and love to someone who has been through some horrifying times. They not only make me laugh, but i can also identify with their genuine feelings. And, what makes them even more great is they do all this with out swearing, vulgarity, etc. That takes talent. I identify with them and i am by no means part of corporate America, or an All American Poster Child by any means! Please go spend your time marketing your bitter crap somewhere else.

Hoops & YoYo are a artistic creation in my eyes and heart, i wish they were real and that they could follow me on my daily routine. Their simple features are what makes them so great, less is more, why can no one understand that? Yes you can buytheir merchandise, you want people to buy yours, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?! I wish they’d come to life! More beings on this planet like them would make the world a lot more bearable at times! Everything seems to be overdone today, so many characters that are so overdone they are ugly, confusing, distorted and vulgar, and that’s even before they speak, (if they do). I am annoyed someone has spent so much time attacking them. No one has made you look at them, who cares if they come from Hallmark, you can’t tell me you live your life with out reaping the benefits of one single corporation, people need jobs, and folks need to smile, and if these guys bring a smile to me, I could give a s%$#t if they come from Hallmark. I’d say the creators of these guys have brought a lot of smiles, joy, laughter and love to someone who has been through some horrifying times. They not only make me laugh, but i can also identify with their genuine feelings. And, what makes them even more great is they do all this with out swearing, vulgarity, etc. That takes talent. I identify with them and i am by no means part of corporate America, or an All American Poster Child by any means! Please go spend your time marketing your bitter crap somewhere else.

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you can get them at any and all hallmark stores…wow i never knew they were a kitty and a bunny….and whats the blue ones name? i heard it was sprinkles…