"As I watched, she slowly lifted the veil back from her face, just as a bride does, and I was able to see the black shadows beneath eyes that brimmed and overflowed with tears. With trembling hands she removed my mask and let it flutter to the floor between us;then her fingers crept hesitantly to the smooth lapels of my dress coat.

A moment longer she stood, like a terrified swimmer on the top of a dizzying cliff, contemplating the plunge that was utterly beyond her courage.

'Take me!' she whispered. 'Teach me...'

...and then I was suddenly no longer the teacher, but the pupil...for her arms were around my neck, her caressing hands an insitent pressure against my skull, drawing me forward with unbelievable strength into her embrace.

When her lips closed over mine I tasted the salt of tears, but it was impossible to say whether they were mine or hers..."

~~~~

My half of an art trade with my buddy and hermana, , using Phantom of the Opera (surprise, surprise) as our theme.

I confess...this is not an original pose. I borrowed it from a picture from Revolutionary Girl Utena. And it turned out looking like the cover of a roman novel (which is exactly why I didn't put Erik in a white shirt) Therefore, I am not 100% satisfied with this. I am, however, 99.9% pleased with how it came out. I also decided to go with Gaston Leroux/Susan Kay version of the story and rendition of Erik rather than the ALW version, in which he wears a full mask and his face looks essentially like a skull. Unfortunately though, I don't yet have the courage to attempt drawing Erik minus the mask. From as far as I know, not much was said particularly about Erik's hair, so I had to improvise with that. I just couldn't resist a little pony in the back

Coloring this was something of a challenge, and not just in getting the gauzy effect of Christine's veil. Erik's skin isn't exactly of the healthiest of hues, so I attempted the sort of off-yellow color described in the books. The color comination - Jasmine and Goldenrod over a usual light layer of peach and light peach - turned out well, I think. I need to remember that for the future.

Other than that....yeah, boring background. It wasn't until I was coloring I wish I could have put something more in....such as rose petals in Christine's veil, or roses around the ring boarder...but oh well, what are ya going to do? There's always next time.

PS: It didn't occure to me that Susan Kay's Phantom was out of print until brought to my attention by . I found my copy for $3 in a local used book store. The cheapest I've seen it on Amazon.com and E-bay is $50. Kudos fate points for me. And to think, it's just been sitting on my shelf for the past three years until recently

Erik and Christine original (c) Gaston Leroux
Artwork (c) me