We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hope Stumpf a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hope, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
Alan Cohen perhaps said it best – “Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” It’s easy to think ‘I should have started sooner,’ but the truth is, you’re always right on time, because there is no one right time. We ‘start’ when we are ready; this is the beauty of the journey! From the date I started contributing to my University of Alabama’s paper The Crimson White as a cartoonist, it wasn’t until years later that I decided that as opposed to being Hope Stumpf, contributing cartoonist to The Crimson White, I could be Hope Stumpf, visionary and creator of Zoobreak Cartoons. I started professionally contributing cartoons to The Crimson White in 2021, but that was the extent of my cartoons’ publication anywhere on the Internet or otherwise until 2024, as the @zoobreakcartoons Instagram did not go live until 2024, nor did the zoobreakcartoons.com Website (2025). Many times, I had the thought of “Where could Zoobreak Cartoons be right now, had I started the Zoobreak Cartoons brand in, say, 2021 versus in 2024?” – but truly, everything has happened on time. During those years, I found my artistic style, my ‘why’ behind Zoobreak Cartoons, and my direction. What we have is the present moment, and it is our responsibility to enjoy the process!
Hope, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
The Zoobreak Cartoons brand is rooted in purpose. Sale proceeds support conservation, environmental preservation, and sustainability advocacy organizations. Because I am so very passionate about the conservation and preservation of our natural World, it brings me absolute joy that I am able to dedicate my hobby in this way that serves our Planet! For those of you new to Zoobreak Cartoons, Zoobreak Cartoons primarily lives on Instagram @zoobreakcartoons, with our accompanying shop located at zoobreakcartoons.com. Cartoons are posted regularly to @zoobreakcartoons, as well as conservation, environmental preservation, and sustainability advocacy content. Currently, our available shop Collections are limited to 1) Stickers and 2) Rhinestone Canvas pieces, but expect more drops in these Collections (and more Collections themselves) this year! I am so proud to be at the helm of Zoobreak Cartoons. There is no cause more noble than the conservation of our critters and the preservation of our Earth; we are the stewards of our Planet, and we all carry the responsibility to protect it. It is my greatest honor to use my creative talents in this pursuit of our Planet’s better tomorrow!
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Shop local, shop small!! Supporting independent businesses versus huge corporations gives power back to the little guys. We love to connect with our audience and patrons on a personal level – something that lacks when you shop with the corporations – and that’s what makes what we do so worth it. When it comes to independent businesses, building an audience is synonymous with building a community. It is absolutely lovely to directly interact with every supporter who reaches out, whether with a product inquiry, a supportive message, or any other note! The best support is action; resharing posts, spreading the word within your personal circles, purchasing products or pieces. There’s nothing quite like knowing exactly who is making your products or providing your services, and no business cares more that you are 100% SATISFIED with your purchase and/or experience than the little guys. Keep supporting and shopping small, because every transaction is a direct investment in your fellow (very human) everyday entrepreneurs!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
The Zoobreak Cartoons Promise is a vow to support conservationism across the globe! Sale proceeds support conservation, environmental preservation, or sustainability advocacy organizations. This has always been the “why” and the ambition behind Zoobreak Cartoons; what better way to pay homage to the critter subjects that make Zoobreak Cartoons possible than to honor them in ways that will have real, tangible impacts? The solution is to invest in the people and the organizations who are proactively working day in and day out to make our Planet a better place. The time, energy, and resources I invest into Zoobreak Cartoons fuel the mission of a rejuvenated and protected Planet, and this makes every moment worth it. Every line I draw, every post I make, everything carries with it intention, purpose, and goodness. Together, change is possible! Much love to our supporters joining us on this ride!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://zoobreakcartoons.com
- Instagram: zoobreakcartoons
- Other: TikTok: zoobreakcartoons
