The Purpose Of Finding Love

Charcoal, Colours, Emotions and feelings

Ace crossed his arms as he gazed at Julie from behind. A sigh left his mouth as Julie worked on her canvas, the slight sunlight falling on her hair making it shine.

He can see the side of her left cheek as she concentrated on the portrait. A comfortable yet nostaglic feeling hits him in the heart. He smiled as he remembered how things are going in between them the way Blake has written in his story.

He shifted his gaze to the portrait that she is working on. He watched her fingers as she worked, she is passionate and serious about art.

The only thing that she is not mastering charcoal art is because she is seeing it as an enemy. She is not attached to the art of black as she got attached to the art of colours.

Ace only got attached to the art of black. He is not attached to the art of colours, he doesn't think he will be able to get attached to the art of colours.

Julie sighed pushing her hand back as she looked at the canvas. She turned back and looked at Ace who is looking at her.

"What happened?" Ace asked calmly.

"I don't think I will be able to finish this one," Julie said shaking her head.

"Why? You were doing good, what happened?" Ace asked.

"I don't know, my mind becomes blank in between. I don't know how to continue it," Julie said.

Ace didn't say anything. He looked at Julie, "nothing is running in your mind right now?"

"Nope."

"Then relax your mind and don't think of anything. Don't think of how you gonna finish it or if you gonna work on a new thing. Just leave everything and sit," Ace spoke.

Julie frowned her brows but didn't say anything. She took the seat before Ace, Ace brought the camping chairs too. They stayed silent for a while. "What you would do while working on some other project like oil paints or acrylic when you are stuck in between?" Ace asked.

"I look at the other colours that I have mixed, I will randomly pick one and my mind automatically starts working. Colours help me form thoughts and I get lost in the imagination," Julie spoke.

"You are comfortable with colours?"

"Yeah."

"What about charcoal?" Ace asked.

"I'm not comfortable with Charcoal. I can't properly think when I'm stuck because there are no colours," Julie said frustrated.

"The problem is not that there is no colour. The problem is you are seeing charcoal as your enemy. You are stuck on the thought that you can't work with charcoal, first make it your friend. Your work should be a space where you are you. Charcoal is the tool to feel yourself, you are not giving it a chance to become your friend."

Ace leaned closer as he looked Julie in the eye. "You are an artist, these are the tools that will bring peace to your mind and heart. Give it some special attention and see why would you get stuck in the middle. Charcoal art might not have colours but what makes it special is that it only consists of the artist's emotions and feelings. The one who would understand the charcoal art is the one who would understand the story the artist wants to convey," Ace spoke.

Julie looked into Ace's eyes. She can see how serious Ace is, whatever he spoke makes sense. She never tried to work with charcoal or practice the amount of practice she did with colours. She never showed interest in doing charcoal art, she ignored it and only did when she had to do the assignments.

"I will give special attention to charcoal and practise on it," Julie said.

Ace nodded his head. "Look around, you might get the ideas to finish your project," Ace said leaning back in his seat.

Julie looked around, she watched the birds fly by, the leaves, the branches, the flying butterflies.

Julie's gaze went to where the butterflies are flying. An idea of how to finish her assignment popped into her mind. Ace only gazed at Julie as her eyes followed whatever she found interesting.

Julie looked back at Ace. "I will finish my assignment," she said.

"Okay."

Julie stood up from her seat, went over to her canvas. She looked at the half finished potraite, she picked the charcoal and rolled lower lip into her mouth as she resumed working.

Ace observed Julie's fingers as she worked. A smile kept playing on Ace's face as he gazed at Julie. By the time Julie half finished her assignment Ace went to bring their lunch.

He wasn't sure of leaving Julie alone but its a safe place and no one would be coming over there nor there is any wildlife around.

"Hmm, I got you the red sauce pasta and the pepperoni pizza," Ace said.

"Perfect, I'm happy that there is red sauce pasta, I don't need anything else," Julie replied. She took the teatowel to dry her hands. She just washed her hands with water.

Ace looked at the half finished assignment, "You are good, I'm sure your assignment will give the satisfaction," he said.

Julie looked back at the work. "I hope so but I do have the feeling that I would love this assignment."

they ate their lunch talking about the charcoal art. Julie attentively listened to Ace. She used to have a doubt but now she is sure that Ace is an artist.

He knew so much about charcoal art that surprised her. "By the way, does the boys know that you have an interest in art?" Julie asked eating her pasta.

Ace stopped eating. "Hmm, I don't have any particular interest in art. They don't know," Ace said.

"But you do know a lot of things and you do understand art not on the viewer side but from the artist side," Julie said.

Ace didn't say anything nor he nodded his head. He stayed quiet, Julie understood the silence.