Re: A Work of Art [F]

[victoriousscarf]

Memphis started fiddling with his tie, already getting jittery with sitting in one place for as long as he had. "How often do those work?" he asked, tilting his head.

[meadowlark]

"Which? The afternoon sketches? Once in a while. If they don't I'll change some details and set it up as one of my free time projects."

[victoriousscarf]

Memphis nodded, finally giving into his fidgeting urge, and getting a pack of cards out, shuffling through them a couple times.

[meadowlark]

Corinth turned the page in his sketchbook, starting to work on a new sketch. He watched the other out of the corner of his eye, "I don't think I got your name."

[victoriousscarf]

"Memphis," he replied, not bothering with a last name. "Didn't get yours either if I'm not mistaken, and you have mine now so it's only fair."

[meadowlark]

"Corinth," came the reply, also not bothering with a last name. "What do you do besides wander the park and accost people?"

[victoriousscarf]

"But wandering the park and accosting people is just so much fun!" Memphis protested and considered for almost a moment too long. "Acquisitions."

[meadowlark]

Cor's brow rose at that, "Acquisitions? What of?"

[victoriousscarf]

Mentally Memphis started swearing up a storm at the furthering of the question. "Works of art," he replied, a bit glibly. Well, it was technically true from a certain point of view. Each soul was sorta it's own work of art.

[meadowlark]

Corinth nodded very slightly, not pursuing that any further as he continued to work on his next sketch, "I see. So you've an eye for art then?"

[victoriousscarf]

"One could say that," Memphis all but purred, looking the other over and returning his attention to the drawing.

[meadowlark]

The artist managed not to draw away at that, doing his best to concentrate on his drawing, making general notations for possible finishing later. "Oh? Any particular art you specialize in?" It took sheer force of will to keep his voice steady at that.

[victoriousscarf]

Memphis grinned, though he noticed the complete aversion in the other's body language. "Ancient works if I can find them, but those are pretty rare on markets. Big fan of the surrealist movement, but it's been suffering, as most movements do the longer they're around. You seem a pretty traditional sort of artist."

[meadowlark]

Cor nodded again, "I prefer a slightly more realistic approach, back when art was aimed more at looking like a picture for memory than something someone had scattered on the canvas."

[victoriousscarf]

That got a chuckle out of Memphis, as he continued fiddling with the card deck. "But does art capture the world or just a memory?"

[meadowlark]

"I would say it captures the artist's view of the world. That world may fade into memory, but the point of the art is to last."

[victoriousscarf]

"Sure, until it gets destroyed," Memphis said.

[meadowlark]

Corinth turned to look at him, "That's awfully bitter."

[victoriousscarf]

Memphis stared at him for a moment and shrugged. "Well, think about it. Canvases get destroyed some way or another, or wall murals get defaced. I mean, aside from examples through out history like in... Egypt with grave robbers, just think about the thirties. Huge mural in Rockefeller Center got chipped off right after it was done. Art isn't a memory that always lasts. Those that do are the exceptions."

[meadowlark]

"I'm not saying it is. I'm saying it's a way to attempt to make the memory last. After all, canvases last longer--if treated correctly--than photographs. It's why we still have paintings from the Renaissance while photographs and films from 60 years ago are already beginning to fade."

[victoriousscarf]

The smaller paused and considered before nodding. "True enough I suppose. So I can presume you treat your canvases correctly?"

[meadowlark]

"As much as I'm able. It's also the sort of paints you get if that's what you work with," he shrugged, "it really is all in the media and treatment of them."

[victoriousscarf]

Memphis tilted his head. "So you usually paint then?"

[meadowlark]

"I paint off of my sketches, yes. If it's a commissioned portrait I might have the person sit in initially to get the color right," He looked around, "I prefer portraits, there's something about capturing a person when they are as they are that is indescribable."

[victoriousscarf]

For a moment Memphis just looked at him, a little unsure. "So, what do you usually manage to capture then?"

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