Burgundy Fireworks

Monique silently sighed to herself at the confused thread of feelings she observed floating around this small table – including her own. She mused it was like mixing bright pigments of paints together on her palette to see the effect of different color combinations.

There was Dylan, who was obviously taken with Jenny at the moment. Yet, he clearly had history and a strong unknown connection with Angela. There was Angela, who was now unknowingly perhaps, falling under Sara’s spell – but, still connected in some way to Dylan. Then, there was herself and … “well, better not to think of that now”, she thought – too much emotional confusion already.

Monique felt an unwanted raw emotion start to surge through her and she fought back the only way she knew how – she thought about painting. She would paint this scene first – starting with … starting with … Dylan – yes, of course. There was something about him – the way he leaned into Jenny perhaps. No, that wasn’t it.

It started with his hands – at least for her it did. He had delicate, yet commanding hands – she noticed Jenny stroking along the top of his hand with her fingers as they talked. He had his right hand lying just to the side of his glass – the one Jenny was caressing. He had his other hand lying on his open book – he appeared to trace the words on the page as if his hand were reading. She smiled at this thought.

As she sketched his hands and arms in her mind, her eyes slowly moved up to his face. He was sharply handsome she decided and his broad easy smile would be fun to draw. But, it was his eyes that kicked something alive within her – so sudden it surprised her. “Painting – think painting”, she whispered within herself.

She wondered if he knew the effect his eyes had on women – Jenny and Angela felt it – she felt it. Even Sara seemed to notice and she never paid much attention to guys. His eyes would especially be fun to paint. In her mind, she sketched the flowing hazel pattern that his eyes seemed to have. She felt a slow movement within and as if hearing an echo, “Angela said he is a writer” entered her mind.

“How did you know the working title of the book I’m writing?” Dylan asked her with a quizzical look – he seemed to be in the distance. It didn’t register at first, but Angela added, “Yes, however did you hear that title, Monique?” As if getting a push from someone else, she heard herself say again, “Burgundy Fireworks.”

“She must have overheard you say the words in the café before”, Sara said coming to her long-time friend’s aid. Jenny added, “How marvelous – you must tell me all about this Burgundy Fireworks story”, suddenly forgetting about Anna Karenina and Tolstoy. And with that, Sara and Angela returned to their private conversation while Jenny and Dylan returned to theirs.

Monique happily returned to her observer position – much more comfortable than being the observed. Although, she was certain she heard a mischievous inner giggle and began to follow the sound. As if chasing a shadow, she could never quite pin down where it came from and … painting – yes, think about painting.

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh; Author: Mike Evans

Cafe Glance

He quickly glances up and down the cobble stone street
Lost in thought, he absently traces the lip of his glass
She will walk by their café … any minute now

On such a perfect night, full moon in play
He’s reminded of her impossible beauty
He was lost in her swirling hazel eyes

He thinks of the rhythmic sway of her fingers
Her sensual private dance with the breeze
And she invited him to join her that night

He sees her dress as it flirts across her knees
Each step towards him takes his breath away
Finally, he reaches for her hand – electric

She will walk by their café … any minute now
He repeats the thought as he notices the shadow
Followed by her brilliant smile as he looks up

He’s completely in love with her
And from one café glance…

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh; Poet: Mike Evans

Cafe Glance

she walks by … full moon
her beauty … impossible
his love … is hers, now

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh; Haiku Poet: Mike Evans

Paintings

“Good it’s settled then”, Sara smiled as she gave Angela’s hand a squeeze.

Intrigued and slightly embolden by the fact that Jenny responded to Angela’s question directed to Dylan, Sara added with a mischievous grin to Dylan “As Jenny mentioned earlier, I’m Sara and this is Monique – I don’t believe we got your name.”

Her words snapped Dylan out of his daze and he felt his face flush. “I’m … um …Dylan. It’s nice to meet you”, he stated almost as a question. Sara gave him a curious smile that made him feel like he was missing a joke – and he wasn’t quite sure why.

Monique loved how it easy it was for Sara – to stir the pot – to engage – a lot like Jenny in many ways and yet, not. She quietly observed and noted the facial reactions of Angela, Jenny and Dylan … another painting she thought – yes. Now, she had three paintings framing themselves in her mind.

The first scene that caught her eye earlier was Angela and Dylan alone at this table – at the time she wasn’t sure why she felt compelled to paint them. Later, she started to visualize another painting of Dylan – with that trance-like look that took over his whole body as Jenny walked into the café. And now … this electrically charged scene … although, she wasn’t sure if she would include herself … she usually didn’t.

Angela spoke directly to Sara, “Dylan is my … um … very good friend – he is a writer and accompanied me here while I paint this summer.” Odd … she felt like she had to explain their relationship … or more exactly, their lack of a relationship … to Sara.

Monique saw the inward smile grow within Sara … and yes, a fourth painting began to form in her mind…

evolving short story…

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh; Author: Mike Evans

Monique

Even engaged in their on-going playful argument, Monique found herself looking past Sara. Something drew her eyes to the couple a few tables away. She had the urge to study them closely. She knew she would paint this scene later … it was already forming in her mind. Yet, there was something more to her interest in them – something she was missing, but couldn’t quite place. Whatever it was, she felt it would add a special nuance to the painting.

Sara’s familiar ending argument brought her back, “You have to paint with abandon to truly capture the essence. The more you study, the more you lose the essence – the magic.” With this final playful stab, Monique gave her friend her own familiar ending argument. “That’s why artists sketch … to capture the essence, Sara”, Monique smiled and followed with her infamous argument ending expression for Sara – sticking her tongue out. Sara couldn’t keep herself from laughing – it worked every time, Monique observed.

Still smiling, Monique’s attention was once again pulled to the couple – what was it that drew her so strongly to them she wondered? Adding to the puzzling thoughts in her mind, she noticed a vaguely familiar shaped shadow moving over them – looking up she saw Jenny in motion. Sara must have noticed as well – as she heard Sara call out, “Jenny, time for a drink?”

Then she felt it – the way the man locked onto Jenny … the essence.

Jenny was heading towards them, when she abruptly stopped … at the couple’s table … and now she was waving Sara and her over to join them. Monique didn’t know how to feel. She was much more comfortable observing, but not actually engaging – she couldn’t even look at the man. She awkwardly accompanied Sara to their table.

Noticing that the table was short one chair, Monique watched as Sara effortlessly pulled a chair from an adjoining table – so easy for her to engage. They sat near the woman, Angela as Jenny had introduced them – and an artist as well. This made Monique relax just a bit – but she let Sara do the talking. Of course, Sara relished in diving into another familiar argument – now that there was another participant.

Always the observer, Monique watched Angela intently through the sides of her eyes – all the while engaged in the familiar give and take with Sara. For some unknown reason, she instantly liked Angela – she realized that the man, whom Jenny forgot to introduce to them, and Angela were not a couple after all. But, she sensed confusion in Angela, a distracted introspective look in her eyes – something Monique could relate to given her current situation.

The words “Van Gogh” brought Angela into their conversation … and into Monique’s life…

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh; Author: Mike Evans

Jenny

Her instant reaction to Dylan surprised Jenny. She had simply glanced at him on her way to sit with her friends and something pulled her to him. It wasn’t like her at all – but, his eyes seemed to penetrate her – inviting her to him.

Forcing herself to expand beyond his gaze, she recognized Angela sitting with him. She also saw the Tolstoy book on the table – her favorite. How silly she must have sounded making such a fuss about the book – but his broad smile in response sent shivers through her.

She vaguely remembered acknowledging Angela and found herself waving her friends over as she sat as close as possible to Dylan. She unconsciously brushed his arm and felt electric … “where did that sensation come from?” she wondered. She found herself babbling about Anna Karenina, but started to sense Dylan was as entranced as she was … a warm feeling welled up in her.

She couldn’t look away from Dylan when Sara and Monique came up to the table. She just kept staring into his eyes as she introduced them to Angela – forgetting to introduce them to Dylan, as he pulled her deeper into him … how was he doing that?

She felt certain Angela and Dylan weren’t a couple – not the way Dylan was looking into her. She found it odd that Angela hadn’t mentioned Dylan to her. Though in honesty, she and Angela were just getting to know each other – having met when Angela saw her creating a painting of this café a couple of weeks ago.

Like so many other young artists, she and Angela – as well as Sara and Monique – came here to immerse themselves in the “Van Gogh” atmosphere. Typically, the artists bonded in a common spirit of creative searching – feeding off of each other’s energy. Yet, Jenny hadn’t quite connected with Angela – it was as if there was this strange negative field between them – maybe Dylan…

Angela’s voice sounded like an intrusion, until Jenny heard the words “will you be alright by yourself?” Without thinking, she replied for him, “Dylan can spend some time with me tomorrow – we can talk more about Tolstoy.” Yes, so unlike her – tomorrow she thought … and smiled.

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh; Author: Mike Evans

Tomorrow

Dylan’s arm was electric where Jenny had touched him. Yes, electric was a good way to describe the feeling he thought to himself. Jenny seemed to emit an electric field that pulled him into her – his eyes locked to hers. He was vaguely aware that her friends were at their table – odd that Jenny hadn’t introduced them to him.

Jenny’s words seemed to engulf Dylan. She said, “I can relate to Anna’s character – she follows her heart no matter the consequences.” Dylan smiled at this – he heard the same enthusiastic observation from Angela on several occasions.

The words “Van Gogh” momentarily pierced the field around him and Jenny. Dylan glanced over to Monique, Sara, and … Angela – she was looking directly at him in such an odd way. What was it? … He felt she was looking deep inside him – in a way he had hoped she would for a long time – actually, all the way back to when they first met in high school.

He knew she never thought of him as a boyfriend, but he always hoped that would eventually change. After all, she always confided in him and even asked him to accompany her for the summer in Arles – didn’t she. And she never went out with other boys as far as he knew. But, until this moment – she never gave him the slightest hint of any interest deeper than friendship … and now … and now, he saw it in her eyes. He found himself giving her a slightly inquisitive smile in return.

And yet … with a simple movement of her hand on top of his, Jenny pulled him back into her. Thoughts of Angela looking at him the way Jenny was looking at him right this moment seemed unlikely all of sudden … he must have projected onto Angela what he now saw while looking at Jenny … and Jenny was so intoxicating…

He didn’t actually hear Angela’s question to him, but he perked up when Jenny replied “Dylan can spend some time with me tomorrow – we can talk more about Tolstoy.” Was it possible? … he was going to see her again tomorrow … a warm sensation flooded through Dylan – tomorrow he thought – tomorrow…

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh; Author: Mike Evans

Sara

Dylan’s glance into Angela hit her full force. But with a simple touch on top of his hand, Jenny brought Dylan’s attention back to her and his eyes remained there. Angela felt … she felt … yes, what did she feel? It was an uncomfortable and unfamiliar sensation.

“What do you think Angela?” Sara smiled – and before Angela had a chance to fully recover her senses, Monique interjected “Come on Sara – you can’t be serious – Van Gogh’s ‘Café Terrace at Night’ is one of his best paintings by far – not ‘Starry Night’.” “But I love the movement in ‘Starry Night’ – ‘Café Terrace at Night’ is brilliant – but much too calm for me.” Sara replied.

Angela settled and smiled – happy to be pulled back onto familiar solid ground. “Of course there are so many beautiful ones, but I have a special love for ‘The Red Vineyards’.” Monique and Sara looked at each other and smiled. Sara moved closer to Angela, casually putting her left hand on the back of Angela’s chair and gave her a conspiratorial smile. Monique attempted to muffle a nervous laugh and quickly blushed – thoroughly confusing Angela – she was missing something. Sara whispered, “Monique and I are currently attempting to replicate that painting” and then winked.

“Why do you have a special love for ‘The Red Vineyard’?” Sara asked – almost laughing the words out. Still a bit confused, Angela answered, “I think it is one of the first pieces where you can clearly see the influence from Paul Gauguin – I love the broad perspective and bold thick colors.” Now it was Monique who moved closer to Angela – her right hand on Angela’s chair. “Exactly!” she laughed.

Monique and Sara gave Angela another appraising look and apparently decided … “Angela, you must come out with us tomorrow to paint” they said at almost the same time. Angela felt their excitement and laughed “Alright – sounds like fun.” Sara moved even closer – almost to her ear – as she whispered “We are experimenting with the two approaches – Monique is painting at a deliberate pace like Gauguin and I’m painting with abandon like Van Gogh.”

There was something in the way that Sara smiled at her – she couldn’t quite place the feeling, but she knew she liked Sara. She looked to Dylan and asked “I’m going out to paint with Monique and Sara tomorrow – will you be alright by yourself?” Jenny spoke for him, “Dylan can spend some time with me tomorrow – we can talk more about Tolstoy.” Angela felt a slight squeeze on her hand as Sara said “Good, it’s settled then.”

Her discomfort with Dylan momentarily forgotten, Angela felt another unfamiliar sensation – but this time she seemed to welcome it…

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh; Author: Mike Evans

Angela

As Jenny slid in close to Dylan, she innocently brushed her hand over his arm. “Tell me, what scene in the book are you reading – isn’t Anna’s character delicious?” Dylan was lost in her eyes – their hazel swirl pulled him in and he struggled to put a thought together in reply.

Jenny’s friends Monique and Sara approached the table – it was short one chair and the girls looked about – Sara spotted an empty chair from a table next to theirs and pulled it over as Angela made room for her. Meanwhile, Monique moved to the open chair on the other side of Angela.

For a moment, Angela, Monique, and Sara sat in uncomfortable silence. Then Jenny said without taking her eyes off of Dylan, “Angela, these are my dear friends Monique and Sara – they are artist spirits like us.” Sara and Monique smiled at Angela – not quite sure what to say. Then Sara decided to continue the conversation she and Monique were having prior to coming over and assumed Angela would join in.

But something odd was working its way through Angela’s mind – she only heard the surface of words floating her way – smiling politely and nodding occasionally. She found herself willing Dylan to look at her – not just look at her – but look at her the way he was looking into Jenny. It surprised her to feel this way – she and Dylan had known each other since they were in high school together – and she never saw him as a boyfriend.

She found herself searching back through her memory – scenes of their times together – and they were together a lot. She had convinced him to accompany her here while she immersed herself in Van Gogh’s world this summer. He was her best friend after all – and of course he agreed. She smiled at how simple and comfortable their relationship had been – why was her mind suddenly making it complicated?

The word “Van Gogh” brought her back into the flow of conversation floating around – and she suddenly realized Dylan was looking into her – a confused inquisitive smile on his face.

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh; Author: Mike Evans

Tolstoy

“Yes, she’s here for a while to follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps for painting inspiration – just like me. She’s quite good, actually” Angela said with the slightest hint of jealousy. Dylan had never looked at Angela that way, almost as if he were in a trance – and although Angela never really thought of him in that way, she suddenly realized it stung a bit to see his reaction to Jenny.

Jenny maneuvered up to their table on her way to her friends and was about to veer to the side of Angela’s seat when she abruptly stopped – eyes moving toward Dylan. He instantly crimsoned at the thought that she was about to admonish him for impolitely staring at her. Instead, looking at the book he had on the table she smiled “you’re reading Tolstoy? I love Tolstoy.” Then recognizing Angela she said “Hi Angela. How’s the painting going?”

Dylan froze with what must have been the goofiest smile of his life, while Angela answered “Hi Jenny – you know – it’s coming along.” A kick to his shin momentarily brought Dylan out of his daze – and he awkwardly rose to introduce himself. “Hi … um … Jenny is it? I’m Dylan” he beamed. “Hi Dylan – how do you like Anna Karenina?” Jenny asked. “Love it – about half way through so far” He replied.

She gave him a bright smile, which sent him over the edge and turning to Angela asked “Do you mind if me and my friends join you?” And without waiting for the reply, she waved her two friends over and pulled a seat close to Dylan.

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh; Author: Mike Evans