Because there is no question at all that I ought to be spending every last scrap of time on (1) basic parenting, (2) moving preparation, and if there is any odd moment left over, (3) academic work, I have of course undertaken an entirely unrelated project.
There is a great shortage of illustrated children's books, as you know. That is why it is imperative that I drop everything and illustrate one of my own. It was especially important that I select a text--"The Frivolous Cake"--that is only marginally appropriate for children and furthermore written by a man who illustrated his own books, and those of others, perfectly well already himself.
When it is all done I will have a single copy printed up by one of those clever print-on-demand places, and it will all be very jolly and Jane will hate it. I shouldn't have too much trouble finishing the drawings before we move, except that I am still not quite sure how I will render the final stanza, which depicts the sexual congress of the cake and knife. To wit:
In the speed of the lingering light are blown
The crumbs to the hake above,
And the tropical air vibrates to the drone
Of a cake in the throes of love.
As you see. Any ideas?
You know that I will want a copy of this book. Seriously. This is awesome!
Posted by: adriana | 07/05/2010 at 05:26 PM
This is tremendous and strange! I think you should just be matter-of-fact with it. Depict the knife deep inside the cake. Maybe it's already sliced away a bit. Maybe there should be some frosting.
:) - Marissa Flaxbart
Posted by: Marissa Flaxbart | 07/05/2010 at 05:37 PM
I am reminded of a particularly loathsome trick in Penn and Teller's "How to Play with Your Food", involving a cake that vomited gloppy red goo when sliced. But she is not that sort of cake! She is curranty.
Posted by: snarkout | 07/05/2010 at 06:11 PM
Thanks, I did not know this poem. Reminds me a bit of "The Owl and the Pussycat", which I am strongly in favor of having things remind me of. Your cartooning goes well with it, with this poem. I too am putting in my request for a copy of this, of this book.
she is curranty
Fortunate that -- the knife can take little love nips at her betrothed and not have to worry about disemboweling him. (Not that there's anything wrong with that -- I mean it's a totally normal piece of a knife's relationship with a cake to destroy it, sort of a praying-mantis type of thing... I mean whatever the cake is into I guess but it seems to me like there's nothing but heartache ahead for those two. Heartache and cake!)
Posted by: The Modesto Kid | 07/05/2010 at 08:39 PM
pull-quote for the back cover -- "«Heartache and cake!» raves The Modesto Kid"
Posted by: The Modesto Kid | 07/05/2010 at 08:41 PM
Well, the light is tastefully growing dim in the poem, and crumbs are sort of whirling about in the tropical air. Perhaps the actual participants are off camera.
Posted by: Yer Mum | 07/05/2010 at 10:04 PM
These are great! I hadn't any idea you were such a nimble illustrator. I love your drawings.
Posted by: K-sky | 07/06/2010 at 11:37 AM
This is great. The cake will need to take its sail off obviously.
Posted by: Betty M | 07/07/2010 at 04:54 AM
On a field, sable,
the lettera single currant.Posted by: TED | 07/07/2010 at 10:46 AM
just cut to a shot of curtains billowing by an open window.
Posted by: finn | 07/13/2010 at 03:22 PM