By: Laura Lee Cochran 2022
Two canvases, two paint brushes and two lovers painting across from each other. I would like to say that creative minds think alike, because both of our lovers have chosen to paint the other. The man has chosen to paint his love in a cottage core style. Showing sunlight shining on to the subject showcasing glitter that resides in her eyelashes. He’s made her cheekbones defined with glistens of pink. Her pose is but a shy one, looking down to the floor below, but oh, a smile he has painted on her. One of elegance and joy. One that he himself can’t get enough of. He feels overjoyed to have captured such a sight in this still life painting.
The woman on the other hand has gone for a more extravagant and loud painting. One of color and dimension. The man is painted sitting on the floor with his legs spread out, showing off his large pants and the bottom of his shoes. A cat appears to be crawling over his leg and he sits with his arms laid back holding up his upper body. His hair is painted with shades of blue and his peachy skin holds orange that seeps from the underneath. He too, is smiling, though a soft smile.
Despite their creative choices, the smile seems to be the focus of the painting. For the two lovers enjoy the other’s happiness. Casually as they paint they look up to the other wondering “ah they have no clue what I am painting.” They smirk to themselves.
The man and woman continue to paint, dipping the brushes in their water and then drying them to take another stab at a new stroke to their painting. Countless breaks of stretching their backs and taking a sip of water, and occasionally, almost drinking their paint water. They are both in a rhythm. Synchronized. As the time goes by, and the rhythm fades, the window starts to showcase the changing of time through a golden light seeping through.
The woman takes the end of her brush and lays it between her teeth to examine her work. The man looks up to her and her extreme focus. His gaze shifts from his painting to the simple pose of the woman he loves doing what she loves. He smiles softly, to which she looks up. Ah, a smile slowly creeps on her face as she wonders what he could be thinking. She shakes her head and returns to her painting to which he does as well.
Later, the man scratches his forehead, and takes a step back, standing to admire what he’s made, and how he can make it better. The woman takes a peak. How entranced the man looks with his painting. She smiles lovingly, admiring the man she loves doing what he loves. He notices her, to which she quickly returns to her own painting. The man smiles, wondering what she could be thinking.
Time passes, the sunset is replaced by a night sky full of beautiful stars, and our lovers are finally finished with their paintings. They both put their brushes down and stand. To which they smirk at each other, waiting for the other's reaction as they switch sides to see the other’s masterpiece. It’s then when they both realize they were each other's muse. The woman and man stare at their lover’s painting, seeing how beautiful the one they love had captured them. “How elegant” she thinks. “How vibrant” he thinks.
For a moment, they meet each other's gaze after minutes of admiring each other's painting. They smile at each other and walk together for an embrace. The woman holds her hand up to the man’s face to move his hair, causing wet red paint on her hand to stroke his cheek. She laughs. He does too, and then puts his finger in his yellow paint and puts a dip on her nose. Again, they laugh. The man brings her face closer, with his eyes staring intently at her lips, almost admiring them as if they were a painting. The woman notices and smiles, bringing him in closer. Her hand falls into his hair and she leans into his lips. He holds her waist bringing her closer and closer. He feels like she can never be close enough.
Their kiss is passionate, much like their paintings. Taking time to bask in the art of each other. They release as the man backs away to look at his love. He then kisses her cheek, her forehead, and then yes, her yellow painted nose. And he tells her “my muse, how you shine brighter than any light” she smiles and replies “and how you spark warmth wherever you go.” They smile, staring into each others eyes. They’ve both captured each other so wonderfully I do believe. For it wasn’t just their love they captured, but how their love made them feel. Safe, warm, and cherished. Two lovers, two finished paintings and a sweet sweet romance that we all wish to have.