Thursday, December 23, 2010

Illustration Friday: Mail


For this week's Illustration Friday topic, "mail", I had a simple idea which I thought would best be illustrated simply. So I drew it rather quickly in ink on a large sheet with a Sharpie.

* * *

A: (Wide-eyed) Is that IT? Is that the whole post? That couldn't be all there is - not in Dan Kent's blog! He always has something to say!

B: (Frowning) Too much to say if you ask me. The man doesn't know when to shut up!

A: (With derision) So, who asked you?

* * *

Well, it does seem like a rather short post, and I do happen to have a true story about the mail that springs to mind.

* * *

A: (Delighted) See?

B: (Throwing up his hands) Oh Brother.

* * *

I remember a sunny day a few years ago when a letter arrived in the mail at our home. The letter was scented with perfume and my name and address were written with beautiful penmanship on the envelope, as only a lady could write it.

"What's this?" my wife demanded. She handed me the letter.

I inhaled the sweet scent and examined the envelope. It was addressed to Fr. Daniel Kent. A small bead of sweat rolled down my forehead, although I knew I was innocent - really I did.

I opened the letter. My wife leaned toward me. I leaned back and cupped my hands over the paper as I read the long handwritten letter. It turns out that the woman was hoping I was the Daniel Kent she had known. She was depressed and wanted help. She was writing to the man that had been her priest.

I handed my wife the letter. "How could you ever have doubted me?" I asked, wondering all the while what would have happened had the contents of the letter been different.

I located Father Kent through the local archdiocese, and forwarded him the letter. He said he'd call the woman. We spoke on the phone and exchanged holiday cards for a few years. And that was that.

Sometimes, even now, on sunny days when the postal worker is walking up our steps, I feel a cold breeze carrying a sweet scent. At those times I shutter, wondering what is about to be delivered.

* * *

B: (Pretending to gag) Shmaltzy. I hope he's done.

A: (Indignant, with hands on hips) Aw come on, that was a great story and you know it!

B: (Brows furrowing, crossing his arms) Hmmmph.

* * *

Happy holidays everyone!

23 comments:

  1. Hi Dan, I like the simplicity of your snail; it's hard to bring off simple, but you did it. Fun story too! Wow! Great at drawing, painting AND writing!

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  2. a delightful snail...and an interesting story. One question...why does a woman spray perfume on a letter to her priest? That was pretty Thornbird-y of her.

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  3. ha ha a classic Dan Kent post. Great illustration, but I'm with Celeste - why would a woman send a scented letter to a priest?

    Merry Christmas

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  4. Father Dan, if you're going to correspond with desperate women you should use Facebook since it doesn't transport perfume - yet.

    Great sketch. It's sweet, too the point, and quite poignant. I think it belongs in Readers Digest, or even the New Yorker.

    Merry Christmas! (Can you smell the cinnamon and clove from my potpourri?

    -Don

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  5. That is a lovely little illustration, it makes me smile without even knowing the story! The dialog is cute, but unlikely: EVERYONE loves your stories! It was very kind of you to help the perfumed letter lady find her priest!

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  6. Yes I did wonder, simple drawing yes...but no words, just wouldn't be you!
    A funny story to go with your illustration, emails and texts have taken over now so not many perfumed letters arriving by post?
    Merry Christmas and Buon Natale!

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  7. Cute drawing, Dan! And a really good story :D
    But....I have the same question: why does a woman spray perfume on a letter to her priest...?
    Upsss...... Life misteries.....

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  8. You kept me reading right to the last word! Marry Christmas and a fabulous New Year for you and your family!

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  9. Great! Nice story, lucky for you the priest existed! ;)

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  10. Hmmmph!....but seriously, you always make me smile, and today both the drawing and the narrative did it for me. Merry Christmas!

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  11. Lol, enjoyed the humor! Needed it just now, in fact. Merry Christmas. Cute illustration too!

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  12. I'm with Celeste and Don--good cover story.

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  13. I love your drawing Father! It's fabulous!! And your story is "delightful"!!!
    And now I'll bask in the glory of two Dan Kent posts nearly back to back.
    Merry Christmas!

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  14. Well I think I will start writing letters and always spray them with perfume even if they are sent to a business, priest or a friend. its a lovely idea. I also love the snail drawing. By the way I'm working today so this is why I am responding to your post on Christmas day but its a very nice way to pass the day

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  15. Cheerful, cute, fun =) and most of all, Dan-style creativity, so it's always simple and interesting at the same time. Merry Christmas to you Dan!

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  16. Great story (and the ending is perfect ; )!) Your illustration is fun, and this little snail expression is very sweet!

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  17. Thanks for commenting on my blog.

    Your illustration is playful and your story....hmmm. If I were your wife I'd keep an eye on you!

    Happy New Year!

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  18. Thanks everyone for enjoying my illustration and my story. freebird - thank you for telling me that you "needed it", and that it made you smile. That makes me feel so good. Celeste - yes it was Thornbirdy! lol. Maybe that's why the letter was scented! Sue - Parts of this story are exaggerated for effect, but the scenting of the letter is 100% true - it reeked. Go figure. joyful - You get that thought right out of your mind! I love my wife, and am totally faithful. Her demands (and my concealing the paper) are exaggerated for the story - the story is king. Any comment she made at the time was tongue in cheek. Everything else is true though (except that last line, of course). This is one of those unique events that make life interesting.

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  19. It is a simple drawing, but has outstanding line quality! What kind of sharpie did you use that gave you the thick and thin lines like that? Do they have one with a chisel point or something? I like it and agree it would be a great graphic for a newspaper and magazine or something.

    Hope you're having a terrific holiday, Dan! Wishing you and your family a healthy, happy, and creative 2011!

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  20. forgot to mention...I am totally impressed with the uniformity of the "e"s..the whole drawing is beautiful...but those e's are especially impressive!

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  21. Raena, this is the first time I have ever used a Sharpie because I tend to work so small. I used a Sharpie with an extra fine point. It is not chiseled. First I drew the lines, then I went over the lines again in areas where I wanted them to be thicker - so I crafted the thick where I wanted it. Thanks Celeste - I drew it twice and realized that the best way to make it look good was to establish the path with the middle horizontal lines and then draw the circular part of the e around each. btw, this was drawn in ink with no pencil pre-drawing. Thanks, both of you (all of you) for your interest!

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  22. Appreciate the comments and to answer your questions, if I can remember them now...since my wife interrupted me a while ago.
    1. I would do the rough sketch(blacklines) show the publisher and author, and if they approve, I'll color them like usual(watercolor or pen marker, my preference), and then they will tell me how they'd like to improve it, and usually the publisher will have an in-house computer graphics guy to tweak them using photoshop, without disturbing the blacklines, just the colors.
    2. No the publisher didn't ask me to draw to scale. I could draw something so puny or so huge as long as it can be scanned, it's good. *I forgot this question, I had to go back and read your questions again^^*

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  23. congrats! keep up the good work/this is a great presentation.


    Tires Miami

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