Lovecraft Sketch MWF: Morthylla
Another Clark Ashton Smith drawing, this one from his romance “Morthylla,” about a man who meets a lamia in a cemetery. It’s one of his Zothique stories, set in the decadent and dying far, far future. This was a sketch for a Kickstarter patron (thank you!). When I first read “Morthylla” when I was about 12, I didn’t really get the point, but when I recently reread it at the age of 37, it made a lot more sense.
I’ve got lots of drawing to do today, so I better roll up my sleeves and get going. After I’m done with my current project, though, I’m totally up for sketch commissions! Also, I’m going to be at the Stumptown Comics Fest this weekend. If you’re in Portland, Oregon, please stop by — I’ll be sharing a table with my friends in the “Couscous Collective” so keep a lookout for that name (or for the big map of the Dreamlands I’ll be displaying).
If it wasn’t for her slit pupils, she would look too demure to be a lamia! Her jewelry is a bit of a tipoff, I suppose. Good to know that beauty marks are still in fashion in far-off Zothique. As usual, your statuary is great–I consider you one of the great “rock artists”, along with Mignola, Corben and Kirby.
Well, she is described as having a mark near her lip. ;) Actually, I intended her to be looking slightly down and to the side, but since there is no color difference between her pupils and the whites of her eyes, you’re right, it does look like she’s got slits. Execution… lagging behind… concept!… -_-;;
I see you didn’t want to depict her in her true form. Though you could have added it behind her. But it still maintains its interest in the suggesting that she isn’t human.
I like your attention to detail including the fungus and slime mold on the decaying slabs of stone. Very nice indeed. Always a pleasure to see your work.