Carmilla Sketch

I was walking into the local convenience store on the corner one afternoon and as I entered this tall, dignified woman was entering. I could guess from her complexion that she was of Indian nationality, though whether Creek, Cherokee or what I would be hesitant to guess. What struck me about her was not only her penetrating dark eyed gaze, but her inner sense of regal nobility. She had fine narrow cast features and long silky straight hair tied back and her face haunted me on the way to work.

I couldn't help but think of the novella Carmilla, the story of the vampyre Mistress that was publish in the 1870's predating Bram Stoker's Dracula by nearly 20 years. So I combined the face of that encounter with my fancies about the story of Carmilla and came up with this sketch which I will be turning into a digital painting. It is 2B pencil on bristol with a vellum finish. It will probably take me at least a week if more to paint it and may only resemble the original sketch when I am finished but I thought I would share it.