Free Write - Glass Painting

 

Prompt: Painted glass windows

 Rick's Free Write

It was the 1st of December, and with it came the 1st serious cold snap of winter. No snow, but then Geneva didn’t often get snow. Just damp, damp cold. The kind of cold that made people layer up with thermal underwear, sweaters, heavy jackets, scarves and knit ski caps.

But the cold was no problem for elves, who were used to the weather at the North Pole.

Hoar Frost, Jack’s nephew, decided to take a ride on the Bise – the Swiss wind from the mountains – and landed in the Old Town, not far from the Mairie. There he spotted a large window, plucked his paint brushes from the brim of his cap, and set to work, decorating the glass with a flourish of frost.

Gracefully curved stone buildings. An electric tram. A café table and chairs. A bicycle. Familiar objects, which would melt away with the next sun.

“Where have you been?” Uncle Jack demanded when Hoar returned to the Pole.

“Painting Geneva white,” replied the smiling elf.

 Julia's Free Write

December when the lights are lower; the sun comes up late and goes down early. What I call the somber part of the year.

If there was ever a good reason to have Christmas, Noel, Weihnachten or whatever one celebrates at the end of December, this would be it. To lighten up. The dark.

Christmas lights seem to be going up earlier and earlier and I know, personally, how reluctant I am to taking them down in January.

In recent years, here where I live, I have noticed a new type of decoration.

Window painting.

White painting on any glass surface. One I saw was the profile of alps with a forest below, and in honor of the season, an elf in the corner.

This one was more intricate and perhaps meant to remain beyond the holiday period: a round facade of a building with flower boxes under the elaborate windows. Details of everyday life down to a bike leaning against the wall and even a garbage can by the door. On the other window, probably the entry to a coffee shop – to come? A chair already in place – how long will it last?

D-L's Free Write

Rachel ran from her law course to her art class. She arrived panting and to the scowls of the teacher. "See me after class," he said.

"You're always late."

"M-my law class."

"You told me you want to be an artist," he said. 

"My father wants me to be a legal assistant." She didn't say how disappointed he was she wasn't going to be a lawyer like her brother Kai.

Kai had confessed to her that he hated the 60-70 hour weeks. and how boring it was seeking facts for this or that case. He had wanted to be a scientist, a biologist. 

The teacher looked at Rachel. "You have one life to live. Don't give it to your father. He has one of his own." He paused, "Can you find a few hours a week?"

He didn't charge her for his class but had her create small white paintings on glass. He shared an exhibition with her and from that they won a contract to do a store window.

Rachel fought with her father - and won. At least he didn't throw her out of the house.

About the three Free writers:

Rick Adams is an aviation journalist and publisher of www.aviationvoices.com, a weekly newsletter reporting the top stories about the airline industry. He is the author of The Robot in the Simulator. AI in Aviation Training.  

Visit D-L.'s website  https://dlnelsonwriter.com, She is the author of 15 fiction and three non fiction books. Her 300 Unsung Women, bios of women who battled gender limitations, can be purchased  at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/300-unsung-women-d-l-nelson/1147305797?ean=9798990385504 

Visit Julia's blog. She has written and taken photos and loves syncing up with friends.  Her blog can be found: https://viewsfromeverywhere.blogspot.com/ 

 

 

 

AD