It may be obvious that I have an obsession with cupcakes. Cupcakes frequently appear in my artwork, coming in different flavors and settings. I’m obsessed with cupcakes enough to even get one tattooed on my left forearm. It is understandable to assume that because they are ubiquitous in my work, I must have an insatiable sweet tooth and consume the perfectly packaged treat on a regular basis. What I’m really after is the form of the cupcake.

The main interest here is the form (or the actual shape) of the cupcake. The nicely compact form has a relatively even length, width, and height. My favorite shape is the spiral; the frosting on top of the cake is a beautiful upwards spiral with corners spun into the roundness. The wrapper on the lower half of the cupcake has neat ridges all around, giving it an even balance. The ridges complement the corners of the spiraled frosting. Finally, a cherry on top or rainbow sprinkles add a nice finish to the cupcake. The whole ensemble is a lovely form, if you ask me.

Some ask about what I think of ice cream cones then, since the ice cream spirals up on itself. Although they do have that upwards spiral, the form of the ice cream cone is long. It’s also uneven in itself; the top heaviness would most likely make it topple over. In contrast, the cupcake has the desirable compact form, in addition to being able to stand on its own.

Sometimes I go to bakeries just to look at the cupcakes. I may not eat them frequently, but it’s nice to observe the beautiful array of these desserts, especially if they are vegan. Cupcakes are one of the most beautiful things ever created. And surely, I am not alone in admiring them without eating them.