Le Masque du Mystere

This is my entry for *whispersss's BEHIND THE MASK Contest

Animated GIF of the creation of this image and a close up of the Gentleman can be viewed here [link]

Companion poem

Masque du Mystère

It lies so tempting
There in his path
A new life waiting
Within his grasp

Let go the pain
He must move on
Up each step
Fear now gone

A new face to show
Behind the gold
A new man to be
What will unfold

No more the doubt
He feels the hook
He glances back
One last look

The decisions made
Leave the past
To find what lies
Behind the mask!

Story Form:

He pondered the Golden Mask lying discarded on the stairs. He wondered what was behind this one, why had it been left ...could he take it up and discover a new life? Would the world take on a new form; would changing what the world saw on the outside change his essence, his soul?

As he looked around to see if any claimant had appeared, he realized that he had made his decision. He would take it up; he would see what future lay Behind the Mask.

Thank you so much to AegeanPrince for the wonderful stock image "Paris 174O: l'Conde Mansion" [link]

I hope my French is correct ... English translation is "The Mask of Mystery" ... if my French is wrong PLEASE let me know

The rest of the image was created from my own photo's:

Mask on the ground is from New Orleans.

The Arches/Alley is a combo of one image from Italy.

The Lamp was created from a one I found on a wall outside a castle in Scotland; I drew the flames and smoke.

Please, absolutely no reproduction, copying or duplication of this image, in part or in whole, without my permission and written consent! My images are not Free Domain!