“Let them draw cake!” Introducing Le Gâteau Opéra…
‘Le Gâteau Opéra’ is a new collection inspired by cake (of course!)
I read about how the ‘Opera’ cake gained its name due to the layers of sponge and ganache reassembling the levels of an Opera house (such as the Palais Garnier). I started to wonder what the cake slice would look like as a stage and then it needed some characters wearing costumes made of well… more cake.
I was also inspired by one of my other illustrations called ‘Madame Macaron’ which is one my illustrated greeting cards. I started to research different French desserts and imagined I was browsing the cake counter at Ladurée Paris full of their beautiful confections. What would work being transformed into a dress?
I started by sketching some designs in colour pencil, as I find that allows me to be looser with my linework (as seen above with the pink Comtesse sketch). Then I moved onto working in graphite pencil to add more details.
The Stage
I originally planned for the slice of Opera cake to have boxes either side of the stage but I felt it perhaps wouldn’t come across as a slice of cake. It would also take space away from the characters. I then went on to refine the linework and started to add a layer of watercolour painting.
And here are the final leading ladies…
Duchesse du Fraisier
The skirt of the Duchesse’s dress is made of a Fraisier cake with a few more strawberries dotted around as accessories - as you do! (I also hear the dress has pockets which is always a bonus…)
Marquise des Madeleines
The Marquise’s dress is made from Madeleines, some of which have been dipped in icing. It turns out you can also wear a Madeleine as a headpiece - who knew?!
Comtesse des Choux à la crème
Last but not least, the Comtesse’s dress is made from choux pastry swans, éclairs and cream puffs (there’s a whole choux pastry buffet going on on her pannier skirt!)
The ‘Le Gâteau Opéra’ illustration, as well as the individual illustrations of the ladies are available as A4 and A5 prints in my online shop. (There are also special offers on the full collection of prints).