Vic could feel her whole body tingle with pride and excitement.
‘Really?’
‘Your seascapes are something else. The way you capture the light on the water and your use of colour on the riverboats in this one.’ He pointed to one that included Jake’s boat on the Thames at Windsor. ‘You’re a great artist, Vic.’ He had excitement in his voice. ‘Show me the smaller ones in there, too, please.’
Vic went to her case and reached for the book cover sketches she had worked on for Jerico and handed him a couple.
‘Wow, the girl does people, too. And look at those hands. I find hands so hard to paint well, and you’ve really nailed it here.’
Vic thought she would burst with pride. ‘Looking at the quality of the artists you have out front in the gallery, I don’t know what to say.’
‘You don’t have to say anything, Vic, but please know your worth. Don’t be giving any of this work away, now, will you?’ He looked at one more painting in her case. ‘Why’s this one still in here?’
‘Umm. I’m not sure about it. You like the others – let’s just leave it at that.’ Vic went to shut the case.
‘I’m intrigued now. Show me. There’s no right or wrong with art – you know that.’
Vic reluctantly lifted out the large picture. Danny immediately took it and placed it in front of one of her seascapes on aneasel. They both then stared at the colourful, dynamic piece in front of them. Danny was in awe. Vic thought it looked more vibrant somehow in this setting than when it was sitting on the easel in her kitchen in Wandsworth.
It was certainly very different from all the other work she had shown Danny. A completely abstract piece. At the centre, a burst of fiery orange and deep red radiated out in what looked like swirling waves. Surrounding the intense core were softer hues of lavender and sky-blue strokes suggesting a reflective calm body of water.
Vic broke the silence. ‘I painted it last week.’
Danny suddenly kissed her on the cheek. He had tears in his eyes. He moved away to stare at it again. ‘It’s dynamic and emotive. It’s chaos and tranquillity, all rolled into one. It invites multiple interpretations. I absolutely love it!’
Vic promptly burst into tears.
‘Darling girl, what’s the matter?’
‘They are happy tears. Honestly. I got back from my recent hospital appointment and suddenly I was taken over by an urge to drop everything else and just paint. I know you get that.’
‘I really do.’ Danny’s eyes were shining.
‘I feel that this painting is me now,’ Vic enthused. ‘And you could say the fire within is the virus, but also I think it’s my core. It’s my energy to make something of myself and use my creativity. The blue I feel is the love emanating from the people around me who really do care.’ Vic laughed. ‘And maybe even an element of peace, which sounds so fucked up, considering.’
‘I get that too. I’m so happy for you.’ Vic could tell Danny really meant it. ‘Do you think this could be a new style you work with moving forward?’
‘I don’t know. I enjoyed being so free with it.’
‘See what comes out of you, eh? But for now, I would like to make you an offer that you hopefully can’trefuse.’
The bright orange orb of the sun was slowly slipping down on the horizon as the pair of them sat cross-legged on the shingle beach.
‘Our bodies are supposed to be temples, Danny Miller.’ Vic finished up her plastic glass of wine and hiccupped. ‘Dr Anna will be furious.’
Danny smiled. ‘Dr Anna need never know, and we’re celebrating you being a celebrated artist in Brighton from July, aren’t we?’
‘I am so excited. To be exhibiting in an actual gallery. It is like a dream come true for me.’
‘And me, now I’ve seen what you can do. And I’m so glad the timing fits with you.’
‘Summer is perfect. I will have other work to do for Ray before that, but it will still give me time to create some new masterpieces. Are you sure it’s OK to leave my portfolio at yours until then?’
‘Of course. It makes sense. Shall we go and get another bottle, or not?’ Danny lit a cigarette and offered her his packet.
Vic shook her head. ‘That’s something I really must say no to from now on.’ She let out a contented sigh. ‘I was intending to get home tonight. Shit. Actually, I forgot, I’m going back to Windsor tonight, so I’d better check the train times.’ She burped. ‘Oh my God, excuse me.’
‘Intention requires action, Victoria Sharpe.’
