Charlotte Magazine – August 2019

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JULY 2019 // CHARLOTTE 33

pened so young, I didn’t know any other

way. It may be better when things happen

early in life.

CM: Was it a humbling experience to get

the chance to start fresh at 50 and do what

you love?

MH: It was, very much so. I am a man of

faith because of where I was and how I

came out of it. Mr. Ketcham created the

characters, and I was just carrying on his

legacy. The readers are attached to the

characters.

CM: Where do you get your daily inspira-

tion for drawing ‘Dennis?’

MH: Mr. Ketcham told me you’re not

just an artist. You are the photographer,

the director, and these characters are

your actors. You never run out of fresh

ideas if you’re the director. You’ve got

to see it from every angle, then decide

which angle works best. He also said, ‘I

want you to have fun drawing Dennis,

because if you’re having fun, it will show

in your work.’ That stays in the back of

my head aƒer drawing for 25 years, over

7,000 panels.

CM: What kind of advice would you oer

up-and-coming artists?

MH: Experiment with every medium

and all the styles you see that are popu-

lar. Then Šgure out which one you’re

most comfortable with, and stick

with it. Listen to your parents or any-

body who knows more than you, and

never stop learning. My daddy taught

me to never give up. Keep going, keep

trying, always look for opportunities,

keep looking.

CHRIS EDWARDS

CHERYL SPAINHOUR is a journalism professor

at UNC Charlotte and a freelance writer.

THINK ABOUT THE LAST high-stakes decision you made. What made it so hard?

Even welcome change is hard to navigate. But you can Šnd your way by taking

the time to understand what you care about.

I like my house, my friendly neighbors, and the convenience and atmosphere

of living in Plaza Midwood. Those things far outweigh the stream of o“ers to buy

our home: “cash, as-is, hassle-free!” Like homeowners in Charlotte’s other close-

in neighborhoods, I get two or three such calls and several postcards every week.

So far, the money isn’t tempting. But I can see how it could be a godsend to peo-

ple who, for example, wonder how they’ll pay for a move to assisted living.

A thoughtful process can help you assess any big decision. Consider asking

yourself these questions:

What are the facts? Do I have the facts I need?

How do I feel about them?

What’s important to me about this? (In other words, what values are being

served or violated by the situation and my options?)

What can I do to gain a more objective view?

What’s the next right step?

Try it the next time you’re wrestling with a decision. The next right step

could be easier than you think.

ALIX FELSING is an executive coach, teacher, and editor. She helps people navigate change more

e‚ectively. Reach her at [email protected].

PERSPECTIVE

Tough Calls

The right questions can help when the stakes are high

BY ALIX FELSING

Surrounded by

memorabilia, Marcus

Hamilton sketches

“Dennis the Menace”

from his Mint Hill

home. He illustrated

a Charlotte magazine

cover in 1969 (above).