Two short stories…

Keith's Ramblings

for Friday Fictioneers

I came up with two stories in resonse to this weeks prompt and couldn’t make up my mind which to use.  I hope you don’t mind but I’m using them both!

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“I’m an impressionist,” I said. 

“Me too,” he said, “I do a great Boris – ‘erm-aah-err-forgive me…” 

“Not that kind,” I said, “I’m an artiste moderne”.  I invited him to my shed studio. 

He watched as I brandished my brush. 

“Great self-portrait,” he said. 

“Hey,” I said, “it’s an elephant”.

“There’s more paint on your tee shirt than the canvas,” he said, “you should frame it!”

He had a point. I snipped, stretched and stapled it to a canvas.  It looked good.   I went through my rubbish and found some more. Snipped stretched and stapled them too. 

Guess what, I sold one – almost!

 

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hijrnotes-personal-use-only-01

 

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He stared at a blank canvas, his mind a vapid empty space.

He flung his easel across the room, stamped upon discarded paintings then crouched in a corner.

Through a broken window, a sunray permeated the gloom. He watched as shadows flickered upon the peeling wall, dancing, spinning. 

He unfurled his aching body, righted his easel, grabbed some paper and paints, then one by one pictures formed, two, three, more.

Many years later the abandoned studio was discovered. A glimpse of heaven one reporter wrote.  Inspirational artefacts said a critic.  Who was the creator?  Not a name, nor a signature.  Not a single clue. 

 

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brenda-cox-painterThanks to Rochelle for hosting and to Brenda Cox for the photo. 

 

Click the Froggies to find out what others have written!

 

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55 thoughts on “Two short stories…”

  1. Anita's avatar Anita Jan 5, 2022 / 16:39

    Great, Keith.
    Loved them both.
    The first one is a creative take. Every odd & novel item has takers!
    The second one is emotional. Wish artists are recognized during their lifetime.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Vartika's avatar Vartika Jan 5, 2022 / 17:41

    I like the idea of displaying t shirt.. 😀
    Both the stories are good and displaying different emotions of artists.

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. pennygadd51's avatar pennygadd51 Jan 5, 2022 / 17:46

    Two good stories. I can see why you couldn’t choose between them. I particularly enjoyed the humour of the first.

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. Sadje's avatar Sadje Jan 5, 2022 / 17:50

    I love both your stories. Both are a different tone and flavor from each other, but entertaining.

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. GHLearner's avatar GHLearner Jan 5, 2022 / 20:12

    I, too, like them both, the second more than the first because it shows the emotional struggle of the artist stronger.

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli Jan 5, 2022 / 21:19

    Bravo on your stories, Keith. The first one softened me up with laughter and the second one brought me shiny eyes. VanGogh came to mind on the 2nd one.

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  10. Bill's avatar Bill Jan 6, 2022 / 11:18

    Goodness, Keith. Well done x2. I’m glad you posted both because they are so different, yet both interesting in their own, independent way.

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. Sandra's avatar Sandra Jan 6, 2022 / 11:22

    I liked them both. Lucky is the Friday Fictioneer that has TWO stories to offer, says the one who struggles to produce even one.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings Jan 6, 2022 / 17:54

      Thanks, Sandra. I must say that your stories are on another level and well worth struggling over.

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    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings Jan 6, 2022 / 18:02

      Sadly neither of them actually sold one, not yet anyway. Can I interest you in one?

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  13. James McEwan's avatar James McEwan Jan 6, 2022 / 12:04

    “I’m an artiste moderne”. I think we all can use that phrase to sell our inspirations with water colour or other paints.

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. Dale's avatar Dale Jan 6, 2022 / 12:55

    So glad you didn’t bother to decide and shared both. They each had their own flavour. I love the attitude (transformed) in the first and I love the anonymity in the second. Makes you wonder how many are out there…

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  15. bearmkwa's avatar Bear Jan 6, 2022 / 14:20

    Oh, my, you’ve outdone yourself – twice this week. Loved both stories. Loved the first especially. I’ve done art for years, and it’s amazing what people will buy. They piece you spent hundreds of hours on doesn’t sell, yet someone buys you test paper. Go figure. Whatever sells, right? hehe!

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  16. Elizabeth Young's avatar Elizabeth Young Jan 6, 2022 / 15:40

    I found myself wondering if both artists are you, which either shows great perspicacity on my part, or vividly real writing on yours!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings Jan 7, 2022 / 12:29

      Thanks so much. Art was one of the only qualifications I left school with, but that’s where it stopped!

      Like

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  17. granonine's avatar granonine Jan 6, 2022 / 16:01

    I liked the first one; I was engrossed by the second. One wonders how many great talents just melted into oblivion.

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  18. rochellewisoff's avatar rochellewisoff Jan 6, 2022 / 17:31

    Dear Keith,

    I echo the words of others in saying I’m glad you didn’t choose between the two and posted them both. The first one made me laugh with delight. The second made my heart ache. Well done. Two golden stars this week.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings Jan 7, 2022 / 12:44

      What a lovely comment, thanks so much, Rochelle. I’ll display them with pride ✨✨

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  21. draliman's avatar draliman Jan 7, 2022 / 15:53

    Both great. I think I liked the comedy one more, as I probably always would! I had trouble thinking of even one story!

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  22. Na'ama Yehuda's avatar Na'ama Yehuda Jan 8, 2022 / 01:57

    I love the anonymity of this, Keith. The creation for the sake of doing, the struggle, the real breath of muse. Loved this!

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  24. plaridel's avatar plaridel Jan 8, 2022 / 18:40

    i like both stories. glad you posted them both. 🙂

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