Masquerade of the Summer Solstice Eve - June 20th

 

Vibrant colors and heavy shading cover the surface of the page in a representation of a tall man in a comedy mask. At first glance, he appears austerely dressed in midnight black garb, the slashed-sleeved doublet and collared cape stark in contrast to the more vibrant aspects of the costume. His left hand holds the vibrant yellow mask to his face, the deep ebony skin and tight coils of jet black hair contrasting the vivid color. Similarly ostentatious, the bright yellow doublet hose are held in place by cross-laced tie garters in midnight black, the feet spread shoulder-width apart and the free hand held aloft as if gesticulating wildly. Adding to the contrast with the vivid yellow colors, the background is a muted array of murky green foliage and dark shadowing to call more attention to the subject at the center of the piece. Signed with a tiny flourish at the bottom right corner, the name Dalena can be seen in black ink.

Vibrant colors and heavy shading cover the surface of the page in a representation of a large man in a tuatara mask. The lush, verdant backdrop of foliage and flowers seems comically oversized when compared to the figure at the center of the page, intentionally drawn to sell the scale of a lizard in its natural habitat. A first glance the outfit seems reserved and traditional, but the contrasting red hue of the velvet vest and the minuscule matching fez hat perched upon the man's short wavy copper hair complements the playful aspects of the ensemble. The warm tones of the clothing accentuate the bronze complexion seen in the figure's hands where he holds the mask to his face, the crouched posture exaggerated to accent the reptilian theme. Signed with a tiny flourish at the bottom right corner, the name Dalena can be seen in black ink.

Vibrant colors and heavy shading cover the surface of the page in a representation of a young woman in a hummingbird mask. Loose locks of lively dusky black hair complement the sweeping, draped folds of the beaded vivid emerald wrap-around dress, the figure poised on the tip of her toes with her arms held aloft in a mirror to the jade hummingbird wings she wears upon her back, the creamy complexion of the skin accentuated by an oversized stalk of lily of the valley flowers curving over her form. The dark background is heavily shaded to call even more attention to the vibrant greens of the garments, her torso leaning toward the oversized blossoms to complement the hummingbird theme. Signed with a tiny flourish at the bottom right corner, the name Dalena can be seen in black ink.

Vibrant colors and heavy shading cover the surface of the page in a representation of a lithesome woman in a lioness mask. Seated on a large throne with legs crossed beneath the folds of her shimmering nightshade braided gown, this woman sits upright, the regal posture accentuated by the snarling face of the umbral argent lioness mask upon her face. Hanging sleeves of a similar silver color are matched by the circlet atop her head in a replica of a crown, the rich ebon locks of her hair worn piled high in curls that tumble over the headpiece. The background is ominously dark, the glimpse of olive-brown skin along the arms and hands the only warmth in the otherwise cool color palette. Signed with a tiny flourish at the bottom right corner, the name Dalena can be seen in black ink.

Vibrant colors and heavy shading cover the surface of the page in a representation of a brown-haired man in a dragon mask. Standing against a backdrop of rugged stone, this above-average man is vividly clothed in glossy garnet snakeskin, the texture of the material matching the dark obsidian black boots that come to the knee. His posture is proud and upright, the squared shoulders carrying the weight of the outstretched dragon wings that fill the majority of the page behind him. A glimpse of his tanned complexion at the neck as well as the natural waves of shoulder-length light brown hair atop his head seeming out of place amidst the reptilian theme of the ensemble. Signed with a tiny flourish at the bottom right corner, the name Dalena can be seen in black ink.

Vibrant colors and heavy shading cover the surface of the page in a representation of a young woman in a nobleman's mask. Dressed in shades of silver, black, and white, this figure of average height is dressed in dapper masculine garments, the shapely form of her body betraying her gender despite the regale posture as she stands before a throne. Her hand is perched on a dagger at her waist, the silver doublet cut just short enough to display the prodigiously oversized matching codpiece worn with the snowdrop white hose beneath. The noble visage of the mask is a shadowy silver, the cool color contrasted by the long curly light brown hair worn in a bun at the nape of the neck, the loose tendrils capped by a comically tall top hat in obsidian black crushed velvet. Signed with a tiny flourish at the bottom right corner, the name Dalena can be seen in black ink.

Vibrant colors and heavy shading cover the surface of the page in a representation of a tiny woman in a tragedy mask. Floating on the surface of a lily pad laden pond, this figure is clothed entirely in porcelain white, the saddened expression on the cream tragedy mask wreathed in ringlets of brown hair laden with wildflowers. Complementing the flora is a circlet of pale rose red flowers, the colors contrasting the pale white coloring of the gown where it floats on the surface of the murky water. Signed with a tiny flourish at the bottom right corner, the name Dalena can be seen in black ink.

Vibrant colors and heavy shading cover the surface of the page in a representation of a petite woman in a vulture mask. Clothed head to toe in black and wearing a feathered scarf that pillows around her neck, the small scale of her frame is dwarfed by the height and length of the black feathered wings that trail behind her. The ominous visage of the vulture mask is complemented by the tempest-tossed grey sky sketched behind her, glimpses of creamy skin and strawberry blonde hair seeming out of place amidst the dark tones of the piece. Accents of black lace and the trailing skirt of the midnight black gown add considerable texture to the ensemble, the feathers complemented by the smooth luster of the draping fabrics. Signed with a tiny flourish at the bottom right corner, the name Dalena can be seen in black ink.

Vibrant colors and heavy shading cover the surface of the page in a representation of a petite red-haired woman in a tragedy mask. Her lustrous red hair is piled high on her head in a grid braid, the color masked by the lace veil worn over it and complemented by the stark contrast of blood-red and glossy garnet accents. The snowdrop white charmeuse dress accentuates the alabaster skin tone, lace trim at the cuffs and hems stark in contrast to the blood-red gloves. The anguished expression on the mask is further augmented by the embroidered blood seen trailing from the mouth, the figure posed with hands outstretched toward the viewer in a plaintive, desperate gesture. Behind her, the background is almost completely black save for a solitary beam of light that illuminates the white of the draping folds of fabric. Signed with a tiny flourish at the bottom right corner, the name Dalena can be seen in black ink.