barfday gifts

The weekend commemorating my aging ephemerality, along with its accompanying mental and physical deterioration, is nearly over. Damn, it's been a good one. Music, movies, stiff drinks, scrumptious food, social interactions both planned and spontaneous, and above all else some quality time with Rachel, all conspired to form a memorable and fulfilling birthday.

One of the highlites of the weekend was a luncheon with Ren & Stimpy creator John K. organized by the Alamo Drafthouse. Since John K. and I were seated at opposite ends of the table, I actually spent most of the lunch talking with Alamo owner Tim League, which was a nice opportunity to meet someone whose labors I greatly appreciate. Alamo chef John Bullington treated us to a fantastic meal featuring crab cakes, duck breast, and LOG for dessert (i.e. a tongue-meltingly rich cake cooked in the shape of a tree stump).

While everyone relaxed and digested the LOG, John K. came around and drew caricatures of each attendee. Drawing is something I used to do a lot of, but it never came naturally. My method was to painstakingly etch, erase, and re-etch slow and exacting lines that ultimately never quite came together how I wanted. But someone like John K. clearly has spent his life drawing from instinct, and he quickly put down a series of caricatures that manage to nail each person's distinct features while retaining a cartoony simplicity. Rachel and I were blown away with the result.

Turns out that there have been a recent spate of John K caricatures posted in other blogs. Two cartoonists have posted a series of sketches that show John K's unique take on various celebrities. The Tom Cruise / Katie Holmes portrait really hits the mark, and most are better than bad ... they're GOOD!