{"id":46058,"date":"2025-10-07T07:36:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T11:36:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/?p=46058"},"modified":"2025-10-07T07:36:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T11:36:22","slug":"you-cant-keep-a-good-spacefaring-hippie-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2025\/10\/07\/you-cant-keep-a-good-spacefaring-hippie-down\/","title":{"rendered":"You Can’t Keep a Good Spacefaring Hippie Down!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Drifting through the starry void, he felt as one with the cosmos. It was utter harmony and contentment. His shaggy hair floated weightlessly about him, catching glints of light from distant nebula. He pondered the vastness stretching infinitely out in every direction before him, and something occurred to him.<\/p>\n

\n

“Hey, man, it’s Tina’s birthday. Far out!”<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Tina has taken another lap around the sun and a certain spacefaring hippie has been watching it all go by from the depths of outer space. Yes, Cosmic Maaaaaannnn <\/strong><\/em>is back for another birthday card! His first appearance<\/a> was in an anniversary card back in 2011. The tattered flower child would reappear here and there in greeting card form when I had time to draw him and when I didn’t have a hysterically funny joke in mind.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I guess I still had the Alien<\/em> soundtrack<\/a> on the brain as I took to cooking up the joke for this year’s birthday card thus the “In Space…”<\/em> joke.
\n\"\"I drew a couple of variations of Cosmic Maaaaaannnn <\/strong><\/em>in a few different sketchbooks, but the final version above was drawn in pencil and finished with my Sailor fountain pens in a Fabriano 1264 Mixed Media<\/em> pad. The pages in the sketchbook are perforated for easy removal, but I couldn’t bring myself to pull it from the pad. I’m hoping to have a complete sketchbook composed entirely of inked drawings. I may get there yet.<\/p>\n

\"\"I scanned the drawing and brought it into Affinity Photo<\/em> in order to color it in. I used some bits and pieces from the work I illustrated for Jim Curtis’<\/a> science fiction novels as well as some letter treatments I worked up in Affinity Designer.<\/em> The space hippie was on a separate layer so I decided to rotate him to give him more of a weightless feel.<\/p>\n

Happy birthday, Tina!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Drifting through the starry void, he felt as one with the cosmos. It was utter harmony and contentment. His shaggy hair floated weightlessly about him, catching glints of light from distant nebula. He pondered the vastness stretching infinitely out in … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46055,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4953,18,7,49,16],"tags":[158,58,266,312,6070,907,824,32,43,3661,5,4866,25,915,6069,6,480],"class_list":["post-46058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-doodle-tuesday","category-drawer-cards","category-illustration","category-it-came-from-the-sketchbook","category-sketch","tag-analog","tag-birthday","tag-card","tag-comic","tag-cosmic-maaaaaannnn","tag-drawing","tag-gift","tag-hippie","tag-humor","tag-illustration","tag-joe-williams","tag-pen-and-ink","tag-sketchbook","tag-space","tag-stoner","tag-tina-garceau","tag-usa"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/10-07-2025-just_art-detail.jpg?fit=900%2C223&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1ed1x-bYS","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":43957,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2024\/10\/19\/amethysts-and-orchids\/","url_meta":{"origin":46058,"position":0},"title":"Amethysts and Orchids","author":"Joe","date":"October 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"In the event of birthdays, anniversaries and a few other holidays, Tina and I exchange cards we make for one another.","rel":"","context":"In "Drawer Cards"","block_context":{"text":"Drawer Cards","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/drawer-cards\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/JW-28TH-ANNIVERSARY.jpg?fit=850%2C850&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/JW-28TH-ANNIVERSARY.jpg?fit=850%2C850&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/JW-28TH-ANNIVERSARY.jpg?fit=850%2C850&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/JW-28TH-ANNIVERSARY.jpg?fit=850%2C850&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10011,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2012\/10\/08\/the-return-of-cosmic-maaaannnnnn\/","url_meta":{"origin":46058,"position":1},"title":"The Return of Cosmic, Maaaannnnnn!!!","author":"Joe_Williams","date":"October 8, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Tina's birthday was fast approaching, and I didn't have a rock solid, hysterically funny idea for a card so I decided to revisit a friend from last year's anniversary card, Cosmic, Maaaannnnnn! I did the sketch above during my commute to and from work on the Market-Frankford El in a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drawer Cards"","block_context":{"text":"Drawer Cards","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/drawer-cards\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/outer-space-background.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/outer-space-background.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/outer-space-background.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41681,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2023\/10\/07\/cosmic-maaaaaannnnn-sticks-around-for-another-birthday\/","url_meta":{"origin":46058,"position":2},"title":"Cosmic Maaaaaannnnn Sticks Around for Another Birthday","author":"Joe","date":"October 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"As I have written before, it's Tina's and my tradition to exchange birthday, anniversary and holiday cards we have illustrated ourselves. It's more personal and making your own cards is a lot cheaper than a Hallmark card from one of the drugstore chains. Have you priced them recently?! Ouch! We\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drawer Cards"","block_context":{"text":"Drawer Cards","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/drawer-cards\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Cosmic-Man-detail-2023.jpg?fit=640%2C519&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Cosmic-Man-detail-2023.jpg?fit=640%2C519&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Cosmic-Man-detail-2023.jpg?fit=640%2C519&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39222,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2022\/10\/07\/cosmic-maaaaaannnnn-returns-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":46058,"position":3},"title":"Cosmic Maaaaaannnnn Returns Again!","author":"Joe","date":"October 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Cosmic Maaaaaannnn has returned to celebrate my darling wife's birthday! We first met this star traveler during our crystal anniversary and again on Tina's birthday ten years ago. Happy birthday, Tina! \u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Drawer Cards"","block_context":{"text":"Drawer Cards","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/drawer-cards\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Return of Cosmic Maaaaannnn!","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52407934565_7f281c1d7e_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52407934565_7f281c1d7e_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52407934565_7f281c1d7e_z.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4769,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2011\/10\/19\/15-years\/","url_meta":{"origin":46058,"position":4},"title":"15 Years","author":"Joe_Williams","date":"October 19, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Fifteen years ago on a similarly rainy day, before a gathering of family, friends and a priest who had buried most of the gangsters in South Philly, Tina and I got hitched! As I've said before, Tina and I exchange cards that we make ourselves on holidays and major occasions\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drawer Cards"","block_context":{"text":"Drawer Cards","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/drawer-cards\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/10-19-11-FINAL-jw-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/10-19-11-FINAL-jw-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/10-19-11-FINAL-jw-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10005,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2012\/10\/07\/happy-birthday-tina-the-2012-edition\/","url_meta":{"origin":46058,"position":5},"title":"Happy Birthday, Tina! The 2012 Edition","author":"Joe_Williams","date":"October 7, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"This is the 2012 edition of my birthday card to Tina. This is the front or outside of the card. ...and this is the inside of the card which marks the Triumphant Return of Cosmic, Maaaannnnnn! Happy birthday, Tina! \u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Drawer Cards"","block_context":{"text":"Drawer Cards","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/drawer-cards\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/happy-birthday-tina-2012.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/happy-birthday-tina-2012.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/happy-birthday-tina-2012.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/happy-birthday-tina-2012.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46058"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46058\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}