Chapter 2
The Eyes of the Future art exhibit was meant to introduce incoming Appalachian Art Institute students to the community, and let the art-loving residents of Hidden Springs discover up-and-coming talent before anyone else.
The most exciting aspect for Iris was choosing three of her true paintings to go along with the six her teachers suggested.
Other students and even the faculty warned Iris she’d likely be bored to tears and not sell a thing. She was pleasantly surprised to sell everything except the true paintings. She wasn’t surprised people barely glanced at those. Not one person asked about them until a soft, rich voice spoke from behind her.
“It’s a real shame these aren’t for sale.”
A small woman stood in front of a large canvas, one Iris had only painted a few days bef
