The new Melville book is coming together. I’m over halfway done. This one is full of animals so that’s what I’m drawing. He mostly uses them as a way to describe the variety of characters on his ship of marks and grifters and that’s the way I think of them too.
I don’t know how to embody another person so another species isn’t even on the table. I portray these birds, insects, and mammals as a person looking at another person. It’s the only way I can do it. They have faces, trunks, and limbs, so it’s not too much of a stretch.
The only pet I ever had was a dog I had to have put down because of heartworms. I lived with a dog and cat for a couple years once after that. They weren’t mine and with the dog especially it felt like they were waiting me out. Nevertheless, I dug a hole in the yard and buried the cat when he went.
Now I see a cat a couple times a week. He lives at K’s house. I can’t say he’s ever happy to see me but he’s okay as cats go. We divide up the room and coexist the best we can.
Melville’s animals are nothing like them. They’re just literary devices. We’re meant to think of people when he writes about possums, toucans, and bats.
K tells me Tomás acts completely different when I’m not there and I believe her. Why shouldn’t I?
I don’t how anyone or anything is when I’m not looking right at it. Even then, it’s not entirely a sure thing.
I liked Cassatt’s prints and Vladimir’s set-changes.
First Jungle poster is out in the world.