Firstly, I want to say a huge thank you to Randi, who provided me with her wonderful editing and advice.
Looking out across the sea of busy faces, I couldn't help but stare. My newest pupil was a stunning looking woman. Not just because she was pretty... I suppose that's how many would see her. Yes, she had beautiful features, a face capable of launching a thousand ships.
There was more to it than that; she exuded a wonderfully inviting presence. She was a genuinely lovely person. For somebody so young, she had a very easy going nature. Not at all like many of her contemporaries.
Elegance, no, it was more than that; she was gracious, and humble without seeming slavish.
It was her eyes that drew me in, welcoming, warm, inviting. Yes, all of the above. Were I ten years younger, I would have been in love; she had that special magnetism...
I sighed softly to myself. "Silly woman, more like twenty years younger," I admonished myself. She must have been nothing more than twenty or so years old. Still, one could dream. I laughed to myself. "More a fantasy, my dear." As I admired her, I sighed again, I didn't even know if she was gay. At forty two, I was still hopeless at picking who was, and who wasn't.
I had been embarrassed enough over the years, and it still made me wonder. Never mind, in this case, it didn't matter. I watched her working on her canvas, brush swirling, paint flowing. She was lost in the moment. I understood that as well. Creating something from nothing more than a memory or an emotion, and creating an artistic masterpiece, it takes all of your focus...
I wandered around the class, offering a little guidance to all that needed, or wanted, advice. I stayed away from Leah. I still wasn't sure how much advice she required or wanted. For my other students, I had over time figured out who wanted words of advice, and who just wanted words of encouragement.
Leah appeared, at least on the outside, to be self motivated, and knew what she wanted. I would wait for her to ask...
The class was a mixture, some elderly retired members, who were there mostly for the company. A few self confessed twiddlers, people who didn't really know what they wanted. A couple of serious students, who were genuinely trying to improve, who wanted advice, not flattery.
I enjoyed working with them; they were the gems. A couple were actually very good, and were starting to show their work at art spaces around town.
As I leaned over Joseph's shoulder, I heard my name being called. "Audrey, if you have a moment, please."
I glanced over at Leah. With that smile, she didn't even have to ask. The room brightened, just from the effort. I wandered over to have a look.
"Good heavens, Leah. This is very good," I gushed.
She giggled. "You don't have to massage my ego, Audrey. I was just hoping to get some help with how to develop the reflection on the water."
I leaned in close, our shoulders rubbing together. "I wasn't being obsequious, Leah. I was being serious. This is very good. Obviously not your first time with brush in hand."
She giggled, and my heart raced a little. Her voice, it flowed easily, a wonderfully musical sound, as smooth and effortless as chocolate melting on hot cake. "I have been dabbling since I was a child. I love to paint, but with my studies, I haven't really had much time."
"Leah, you don't need to be in this class, you're already well advanced."
Her face lost the whimsical smile, and she became serious. "Audrey, I need this class more than you know. I live in a flat with several other girls. It's crowded, and there's no peace. Plus, I needed the push. Having paid for the class, I now have to attend... I hope it will keep me motivated."
"I can understand the crowded flat, but I don't see you as lacking motivation."
"Oh, I'm shockingly hopeless. Unless somebody is pushing me, I just run out of enthusiasm, and give up."
Enjoying her presence, I asked, "What are you studying?"
"Business." She sighed painfully.
"Not enjoying it?"
"Oh, god no. I hate it, but my parents pushed me into it. Daddy, in particular, was adamant I must get my degree. He wants me to join the firm."
"I take it you're not so keen?"
She shook her head vigorously. "Oh, god no... I wanted to study the arts, but father was aghast. He said, "Are you out of your mind? An arts degree is worth nothing, I doubt it's worth the paper it's written on. No, you are going to get a degree, and it must be something that will help you in the real world."
"Sorry to hear that. You have a talent, I can see already that you have an artists eye for the world."
"Thanks, but I thought the reflections I was trying for are terrible. Is there a better way?"
"It's more about what to leave out, rather than what to put in."
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Where you have fallen down, and this is not a criticism, you're trying to get an exact replication. Reflections should be imperfect, merely an impression of what the eye sees in the painting itself."
She scrunched up her face and nodded, as if she didn't believe, or perhaps agree. "Leah, you're not creating a photographic image, you are creating an image that your mind has created, let that out. Stop trying to be a camera, and let your hands be driven by your imagination."
From the scrunched up face, wondrous thing happened, the frown evaporated, and this beatific smile appeared. Her whole face changed, and I couldn't help but smile with her.
She nodded. "I think I get it. I loved the analogy about the camera. You are so right, that is me..."
I gave her a comforting pat on the back. "You don't need me to tell you that. I'm sure it's something you already knew."
"No, that is not true. I am always like that, trying to recreate exactly what you get in photos."
"Well, stop it. Artists don't produce perfect replications. We create emotional representations of what we feel when we see something. If people want photos, they buy them. When they buy art, they want to see what you saw..."
She sprang into my arms, and kissed me on the cheek. "Thank you, Audrey."
I walked away, my heart pounding in my chest. "Oh my," was all my befuddled mind could say. That girl aroused me so easily. I would have to be more careful around her.
The class was finishing, and most of the artists were finished and packing up. I also was in the midst of packing away the mess left behind. The church was generous enough to let me use the room, but they did expect it to be clean when we left. That meant pushing the broom around and picking up any mess left behind.
As always, a couple of the artists helped out. We usually had a chat while we worked. Gail, and her friend Maggie, who were retired. Loved to talk art.
I noticed Leah stayed and was helping pack away chairs. "You don't have to do that, love," I called out.
She smiled, there it was again. Blast, my heart skipped a beat. She was amazingly beautiful. A cherub. Well, she was in the right building at least.
Gail and Maggie said their goodbyes, and with their arms full, headed out the door.
Leah wandered over and picked up the bag I was holding, trying to pour the contents of a rubbish bin into it. She took the bag from my hands, saying, "Let me help with that."
I poured the rubbish, takeaway coffee cups and sandwich wrappers, into the bag. "Leah, you didn't have to stay and help."
