Rhythms on the wind

RHYTHMS ON THE WIND

24"x 36"

OIL PAINTING

Moonrise. Dark storm waves churn towards the shore. There, where the beach stops and the thick brush begins, a cloaked figure exits a large crypt. Setting out with purpose, he makes his way along the blustery shoreline. Nearby, perched on a gravestone, a great raven lets out a loud screech. The man pays scant attention to it, for his mind is racing. Thoughts of folly. Thoughts of consequence. Thoughts of lost love.

He is headed for the large manor atop the rocky cliff at the beaches end. As he draws closer his mind floods with memories. He remembers the manor and of its splendor. He especially remembers her.

He ambles over the overgrown pathway that leads to the manor itself. He notices a light in the distance. It shines through her window. His thoughts shift rapidly. There was a promise. There was a ring. Believing he hears her voice calling out to him, he hurries along.

TAKE IT ALL AWAY

COLORED PENCIL SKETCH

At the top of the tower, overlooking the ocean, lies her room. It is surrounded by a circular stone balcony. On the balcony itself, backlit by the moon, her forlorn figure paces aimlessly. There is something clearly troubling her. She nervously toys with the amulet hanging from her neck. The shadow of a cloud passes, bringing with it a few scattered drops. Her head in her hands she kneels. She clasps her hands in prayer.

She dreams of an angel awash in a glittering light. The angel sent to deliver her. As he reaches out for her hand, she does the same. Just before they touch a flash of lightning wakens her to the night. She walks to the balcony's edge and stares blankly at the ocean. A storm is coming. She returns to her room.

ONE DAY

DIGITAL ANIMATION FRAME

Seated alone in a horsedrawn coach, a well- dressed young man holds an old locket. He fiddles with it as the coach bobs and jostles along. He pops it open, gazing intently at its contents. After a short while he snaps it shut, then picks up an open envelope sitting next to him on the seat. He pulls out the invitation card, reads it one last time, then tucks it back away.

At the manor she is dressing for the "occasion". Her silhouette graces the large windows to her room. Around the manor servants are tending to the evening's guests. Everyone is anxiously waiting for her.

Downstairs, near the manor's entrance, the cloaked man stops suddenly. He is taken aback to see footmen and arriving guests. He ducks into the shadows to remain unnoticed. He sees a coach approaching. As the coach speeds up, the young man is dreaming of what she may be like, of what the night has in store for him. He briefly pops open the locket to get one more look.

As his coach arrives at the entrance, he hands his invitation to the footman. Scurrying downstairs to greet him is a tall bald man with a large moustache. They shake hands and proceed upstairs.

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU

COLORED PENCIL SKETCH

Taking the young visitor in arm, the bald man quickly escorts him to the ballroom. He steps away from his guest only long enough to return and hand him a drink. One swallow later our young friend finds himself swept up in a whirlwind of revelry, where things are a blur.

Performing the final touches of her ritual, she adjusts the amulet, then her sleeves. She rises from the bed and prepares to make her entrance. Before leaving the room she stops and toys with a few mementos on the mantle. She puts out the light and closes the door. One of the items, carelessly replaced, falls to the floor.

Downstairs the young man's head is reeling with thoughts both sinister and sensuous. Then, coming down the staircase...! Applause greet her entrance. Scarcely interrupting his young friends trance, the bald man guides him to her. Her eyes meet with the prey, and he stops dead in his tracks. The chattering voices around them sound their approval. With a quick introduction the bald man slinks away. She offers her hand. Her victim willingly takes it.

I'VE GOT YOU IN MY BLOOD

COLORED PENCIL SKETCH

Before he knows it, he is in a dark corridor with her, leaving the festivities behind. She unlocks a secret door and they take the hidden passageway within. As they ascend the dimly lit stairwell, her hypnotic movements plunge him deeper into her web. The passage ends at the secret entrance to her room. Once inside she turns to him. She loosens his clothing. She eases him back on the bed. He is unaware of what she is up to as she rises and moves about the room. He can't see as she places his locket back on the mantle. She returns, toying with her amulet. As the seduction escalates, there is an unseen shadow on the balcony.

THIS MOMENT

COLORED PENCIL SKETCH

He watches through the window as his cloak tosses in the breeze. Wearily, he nods then shakes his head with a sigh. He walks away and looks out over the ocean. The storm is about to break. As he paces the perimeter, he notes the passing of guests on the grounds below. A cool gust of wind accompanies the hauntingly familiar sounds now emanating from the room.

He takes off his ring. He holds it high in a mock toast to her, kisses it, and throws it to the ground. As he leaves the balcony he grinds the ring with his boot. He sails down the stairwell, bursting through a side entrance. His emotions shift with every step. More stairs, halls, passageways. More memories. He had stood helpless when she left. He still stands helpless against her.

Jumping back into the shadows, he narrowly avoids being seen. The moment passes and he proceeds warily down a corridor and disappears from view.

SHADOWS WAIT

OIL PAINTING

24"x 48"

Upstairs in the moonlit room, our young friend is quietly buttoning his shirt. There appears to be no sign of her, though the French doors that lead to the balcony are slightly ajar. He slowly rises, listening out for voices, footsteps. The moon dances in and out of the clouds. He starts to see things moving about; inside and outside the room. The lightning casts wild flickering shadows about. It plays tricks with his mind. He's sure he hears someone whispering to him. The doors blow open wide as the rain begins. A bolt strikes frighteningly closely. Strangely unshaken by this, he walks outside and into the storm. He wanders about; searching, listening. Then something catches his eye back inside. The door to the hidden passageway now stands open. He heads directly to it, like a moth to the flame. The door closes slowly behind him. Closed by a man in a cloak.

FIND OUR LOVE

FREEHAND DIGITAL DRAWING

The search of her room begins. He finds the lamp and lights it. He sees her locket on the mantle. He pops it open, shakes his head, then snaps it shut. He puts it in his pocket. As he walks away he accidentally steps on something. The fallen memento.

The desk next to the mantle always has her stationery, pens and fresh ink. With these he writes a short note. He stands the memento on top; like a paperweight. His head swims with thoughts of her. Of the last time they saw each other. He begged her not to leave, she did not care. It seems so long ago.

Without warning she rushes into the room out of the rain. Fully expecting to see her new pet, she is shocked to see her former lover. He confronts her; angrily at first, trying to get the upper hand. As always, it is useless, and he winds up crumbling at her feet. He looks up at her, waiting for something, anything. She stands at a loss for words. With one last burst of emotion he jumps up and pushes past her. She reaches out to stop him but it is too late. He stands on top of the ledge and turns back for one last look at her before jumping.

YOU'RE GONNA KNOW

FROM STAGE VERSION STORYBOARD

She rushes out and looks over the ledge. She gasps at the sight of his body being tossed in the rocky surf below. She hears someone come in the room. The pawn has returned. She instantly stalks him, clutching her amulet tightly. She finds the note and the memento. She quickly scans the page. Dropping it to the floor, she then raises her sleeves and uses the sharp edge of the memento to cut herself. All the while he continues to back away from her. He stumbles, cornering himself: his back pinned to the wall. She stares him down forcing her wrist to his face. He tightens his mouth shut and turns his head away. She looks deeply into his eyes. He feels his will subsiding. Just as he is about to give in, she abruptly pulls away and storms furiously about the room. She eventually winds up staring out the window, out of breath, clasping her amulet.

WON'T RUN

FROM STAGE VERSION STORYBOARD

Soaking wet and still in a trance, he reaches out to her. Then... slowly.. something occurs to him. His ring is missing. He struggles to his feet. His eyes wander about the room. She is aware of his movements, but keeps her back to him. He stops near the mantle. Eyes drifting over her souvenirs he notices his ring. As he turns to look at her, she is right there, staring at him. He impulsively grabs his ring and maneuvers himself away from her.

She senses that she is losing her grip upon him. She circles. He counters. He takes hold of the lamp. He swings it about, at the same time struggling to put the ring in his pocket. She has soon had enough, and is going to put an end to it. She makes a move for him. He throws the lamp to the floor igniting a chair between them. He kicks it towards her. More flames rise as the fire spreads. She looks about frantically as her entire room catches fire. Left with no other choice, he dives through a window, glass shattering everywhere.

HOT PURSUIT

FROM STAGE VERSION STORYBOARD

Outside, the storm is breaking. He scours the balcony. He sees the main stairwell. Behind him, she comes crashing through another window. Both of them are bleeding. He sprints the entire length of stairs in but a few strides. He's not sure where to go. He chooses quickly. To the left. Stairwells. Down he races. Turns. More stairs. Finally, the courtyard!

She is closing in quickly, the sight and the smell of the blood igniting her. She sees him vaulting the fence to the south side of the courtyard.

He can hear her coming as he dashes through the thick brush. Branches snap and tear at his clothes. The moonset casts long shadows across his path, making it difficult to see. He chances upon the old pathway and runs as fast as his feet will carry him towards the beach. Once there, he finds it a poor choice, the tide providing nothing but soft sand. He stops and looks for an alternate route. There is none. Perhaps a bit further. He runs and runs. She is gaining. Behind them the entire manor is ablaze. The powdery sand swallows his feet as he struggles along, searching. Only one small path. It leads to a graveyard. Exhausted, he shuffles to a standstill. He collapses.

SOMETHING STRANGE

DIGITAL MONTAGE

Her prey has fallen near the crypt. The chase is over, he is hers. She tilts up her head to smell the air. She makes her way towards him. He begins to rise. Nearby a rooster crows.

Back on his feet, he intends to stand his ground. She suddenly slows, as if she were feeling faint. She sees the glow on the horizon. She heads once more for the crypt.

She approaches him, tugging restlessly at her amulet. He tries to fight her off. Her energy draining and his completely gone, she takes him by the collar and wearily throws him back to the ground. She looks back. The first glimmer of sun captivates her, sending her to her knees. She can't turn away. She tears off the amulet. The glittering sunshine washes in. Just like her dream. She reaches out for the angel to take her hand. She understands. She walks to the edge of the shore and into the water. She bows her head and clasps her hands in prayer. She continues towards the dawn. The ocean shimmers like a million diamonds. By the time he rises she is gone. He sees only the sparkle of gentle waves lapping at the shore.