Natures' Beauty RT Shores

"The Artist Goes to Town"

Patrick headed down the mountain and into the city. He shuddered, for he hated the city. He was determined to find a patch of nature in the city that could rival the mountains.

He drove around and around and finally settled for the downtown city park. It was full, an unusually warm Spring day had the citizens half garbed and playing. As he looked for a spot at the edge of stylized shrubbery, he decided to just perch near the periphery and wait.

He painted the background and made the foliage more wild looking. Animals drew his attention and he thought he might draw a dog at play, but was interrupted by something much more beautiful.

The woman caught his eye, but she didn't know. She seemed oblivious to the people and animals. A ragged quilt was spread and then she just flopped down on it, stretching out full length and then sighing audibly.  She looked at the sky and smiled. He wondered what cloud animals she had spied.

She was from another time. He could imagine her at Woodstock or another festival. Her skirt was long and made from some flimsy floral fabric. Her hair was long and salt and pepper, more pepper and he noticed the salt made interesting streaks. Her top was an old peasant blouse and she finished off the look with Birkenstock's. 

He donned sunglasses so she wouldn't feel his appraising looks. Here was beauty in nature!

Taking a quick photo for reference after he left the city, he began to place her on the canvas. Her position was supine with her head on her arms crossed under her head. Her eyes were open and he hoped he could see the color before he left.  

She could have been forty to over sixty. He just couldn't tell. He would just paint. She never moved. Did she know he was painting her?

After her form was laid, he began to work on her face: prominent nose with a slight  hump, fine brow, small chin and a small mouth. There was no jewelry, but he may add some. 

The sun was getting lower and he decided to approach her. He stood slowly and made sure to make noise, so not to alarm her.

She turned and he saw here eyes, dark blue. He held them and continued his approach with a smile.

"Excuse me, Ma'am. May I sit and speak with you?" She smiled and rose to a sitting position.

"Sure! Have a seat." She opened a picnic basket and pulled out wine and two glasses. "Wine?"  He nodded, just realizing how thirsty he was.

She was amazing to look at, rather a Rembrandt in a field of Warhol's; Classic beauty.

"My name is Patrick and I am an artist up the mountain. I have been painting you today." He blushed. She didn't.

"I know and I am so glad you decided to approach, for I was freezing up!" She gave a hearty laugh.

"How did you know?"

"I could feel it." She smiled again. "I haven't been painted in quite awhile. Thank you. May I see it?"

He nodded and helped her up, wincing when she did as she straightened fully. "That ground grew cold!" She chuckled, but limped so he offered an arm.

"It is rough, but I also took this, to be honest." She glanced at the photo and nodded and then the painting and said, "Oh my!  She have painted me young!"

"I have? This is how I see you."  He smiled and wondered how she felt about May-December relationships...

"Are you in love, Patrick?" She smiled softly.

"I think so... wait!  What is your name?"

She looked up into his eyes. "Bellejoy, but most call me Belle or Bella. I am fifty-three years old." 

"Cool! I am thirty-two!" He grinned like a kid and she cupped his face.

"How many young women do you have lying beside the road with broken hearts?"

He shook his head. "I am the dumped one. I spend too much time on "art"."

She nodded. "I spent too much time on everything but them."

"The sun is setting and I would love to have some photos of you as it sets. Game?"

"Game! Where do you want me?"

"On the stool, right here?" He positioned it and her. She smelled of roses and sunshine. She was soft, but firm underneath. 

He pulled out his real camera and shot a whole roll, stopping only when it was dark and the park lights came on.

"May I take you to dinner, Bella?"

"No, but you can take me home and we can make dinner together." He gulped. She giggled like a girl and gathered up her outing supplies.

She was too close in the car and he felt he couldn't draw a full breath.

Her home was as she was, soft warm and inviting. She kept her eyes on him as she turned on lights and music. He couldn't move.

"Patrick? Come with me and let's get rid of this tension or we will have a stunted evening."

She was beautiful in the moonlight, like a snowscape in the Spring...