((Artworks we are imagining in the next room:
https://whitney.org/collection/works/6864
https://whitney.org/collection/works/6834
https://whitney.org/collection/works/5860
https://whitney.org/collection/works/5908
https://whitney.org/collection/works/6076
https://whitney.org/collection/works/6086))
Juniper walked with a mild spring in his step as he exited the sitting room, deciding that, though the punch certainly wasn't perfect, he wouldn't mind another glass. He traded out his and Cory's glasses for new ones and, that done, started in the direction of the third room. Juniper had been to a number of showings at this gallery, and he always enjoyed seeing the curator's use of space. The rooms lent themselves well to particular themes within even one artist's collection. They were, in a sense, little poems made of the artist's works.
Just as he was about to enter, however, he heard a small group of women giggling as they came out of the fourth room. When Juniper turned to look, his curiosity getting the better of him, their male companions looked grim-faced. One of them approached the man serving punch, saying gruffly, "You really should warn a person before letting someone walk into all that. Could get you shut down for something like that."
The man serving punch smiled and tilted his head in amusement, pointing casually at a sign that read, The artwork in this room may contain adult subject matter that may be sensitive to some audiences. Viewer discretion advised. The man looked at the sign, raised his eyebrows, muttered something and wandered off, the women in the group set off in their giggling again. Juniper blushed. He hadn't been to this exhibit yet, and there was only one other time he had seen that sign--when there were nudes among the artwork shown. He looked at Cory, raising his eyebrows. They didn't need to decide if they wanted to go down that road just yet. He hoped Cory wouldn't think that was the reason Juniper had brought him here. For now, though, there was other artwork to see.
Edward Hopper's Art Show
Re: Edward Hopper's Art Show
Cory was delighted by what he was sure was a slight spring in Juniper's step as he walked. This was going well, wasn't it? Cory still hadn't entirely discerned what that meant, exactly, but, really, it was all right for the rest to remain a mystery for now. A small spring in Juniper's step was more than enough.
Juniper led them back to the drink table--they were both ready for another glass, and while Cory was so-so on the drink itself, it was nice to have something to hold and to sip and to roll across his tongue. He smiled to the drink server, and raised his glass subtly to express his appreciation.
Then, Juniper began to lead them toward the next room to explore, though he paused near the threshold. The soft giggling in the soundscape entered Cory's awareness, then, and his gaze turned to Juniper, and then shyly followed Juniper's eyes toward a couple of woman near another room, their male companion gruffly approaching the drink server to complain about the room's contents. The man brought attention to a sign outside the room to answer the guest's complaints, and Cory's eyesbrows raised as he read it.
The artwork in this room may contain adult subject matter that may be sensitive to some audiences. Viewer discretion advised.
Perhaps Cory hadn't been fair to Hopper at all. A little color entered Cory's cheeks, his heartbeat thumping softly into his attention. He wanted to go into that room before he left this place, that much he knew. Suddenly, a passingly teasing comment of Amelia's also made sense, and he smiled crookedly in a bashful amusement. Then, Cory felt Juniper's gaze on him--or perhaps he'd just begun to shift his attention to Juniper at that very moment himself--and his eyes locked on Juniper's, elation rushing through him as Cory took in the note of patient, hopeful curiosity lighting the man's eyes. If Cory wasn't mistaken, Juniper also wanted to go into that room before leaving this place.
Cory raised his own eyebrows, his smile widening subtly--it might have done more, but Cory was feeling awfully shy about letting too much eagerness show in his expression--and he gave Juniper a soft nod, hoping it would adequately convey that, yes, he was interested in venturing that direction with Juniper. For now, though, he was quite content to continue following Juniper's lead, and he followed without protest when Juniper went ahead and led them into the room before them, saving the adult content for later. Cory tucked the anticipation pleasantly away, and brought forth curiosity about what this next room would offer.
A watercolor of a woman on the beach--herself drawing or sketching, Cory realized with delight--was the first to catch Cory's attention. The watercolor held a fond familiarity for him, and he felt a gentle kinship with Hopper in seeing it. A fantasy flashed through Cory's mind of painting Hopper as Hopper had painted this woman--or being painted by Hopper in a similar fashion. He let the fantasy drift away just as soon as it had come, though, and moved his attention to other works in the room. The watercolor was pleasant, but did not call to Cory for deeper reflection.
The next to catch Cory's eye was a woman's bare shoulders--a close-up in a room, her back to the viewer as she stiched something together in her lap. The second work of Hopper's they'd seen today depicting a woman sewing. Cory thought fondly of Amelia. He would encourage her to come see the exhibit, he decided--if not invite her himself. Cory stepped up close to this painting, wanting to see the brush strokes Hopper used to render the woman's skin. Cory's fingers fantasized about touching the canvas, but he satiated the impulse by cupping both hands around his drink as his eyes caressed the textures instead.
Juniper led them back to the drink table--they were both ready for another glass, and while Cory was so-so on the drink itself, it was nice to have something to hold and to sip and to roll across his tongue. He smiled to the drink server, and raised his glass subtly to express his appreciation.
Then, Juniper began to lead them toward the next room to explore, though he paused near the threshold. The soft giggling in the soundscape entered Cory's awareness, then, and his gaze turned to Juniper, and then shyly followed Juniper's eyes toward a couple of woman near another room, their male companion gruffly approaching the drink server to complain about the room's contents. The man brought attention to a sign outside the room to answer the guest's complaints, and Cory's eyesbrows raised as he read it.
The artwork in this room may contain adult subject matter that may be sensitive to some audiences. Viewer discretion advised.
Perhaps Cory hadn't been fair to Hopper at all. A little color entered Cory's cheeks, his heartbeat thumping softly into his attention. He wanted to go into that room before he left this place, that much he knew. Suddenly, a passingly teasing comment of Amelia's also made sense, and he smiled crookedly in a bashful amusement. Then, Cory felt Juniper's gaze on him--or perhaps he'd just begun to shift his attention to Juniper at that very moment himself--and his eyes locked on Juniper's, elation rushing through him as Cory took in the note of patient, hopeful curiosity lighting the man's eyes. If Cory wasn't mistaken, Juniper also wanted to go into that room before leaving this place.
Cory raised his own eyebrows, his smile widening subtly--it might have done more, but Cory was feeling awfully shy about letting too much eagerness show in his expression--and he gave Juniper a soft nod, hoping it would adequately convey that, yes, he was interested in venturing that direction with Juniper. For now, though, he was quite content to continue following Juniper's lead, and he followed without protest when Juniper went ahead and led them into the room before them, saving the adult content for later. Cory tucked the anticipation pleasantly away, and brought forth curiosity about what this next room would offer.
A watercolor of a woman on the beach--herself drawing or sketching, Cory realized with delight--was the first to catch Cory's attention. The watercolor held a fond familiarity for him, and he felt a gentle kinship with Hopper in seeing it. A fantasy flashed through Cory's mind of painting Hopper as Hopper had painted this woman--or being painted by Hopper in a similar fashion. He let the fantasy drift away just as soon as it had come, though, and moved his attention to other works in the room. The watercolor was pleasant, but did not call to Cory for deeper reflection.
The next to catch Cory's eye was a woman's bare shoulders--a close-up in a room, her back to the viewer as she stiched something together in her lap. The second work of Hopper's they'd seen today depicting a woman sewing. Cory thought fondly of Amelia. He would encourage her to come see the exhibit, he decided--if not invite her himself. Cory stepped up close to this painting, wanting to see the brush strokes Hopper used to render the woman's skin. Cory's fingers fantasized about touching the canvas, but he satiated the impulse by cupping both hands around his drink as his eyes caressed the textures instead.
Re: Edward Hopper's Art Show
Juniper studied Cory's face briefly--a light brushing of pink on the man's cheeks. Cory then raised his own eyebrows, smile widening slightly as it edged toward a shyness that Cory managed to head off enough to keep looking at Juniper. Cory nodded, then, and it was the last cue Juniper needed to confirm that, yes, Cory would want to go in there later. Perhaps it would be, like it had been at other gallery showings, primarily nude women. Juniper could certainly maintain an artistic appreciation for the female form. But, in his stomach, he hoped deeply that there would be more than that awaiting them.
For now, however, they attended the third room, full of what was sure to be less titillating pieces.
Once they had fully entered the room, Juniper paused for a few beats, interested to see what Cory might gravitate toward first. The artist spent some time looking at a pleasant painting of a woman with a sketchbook at the beach, and Juniper took at step as though to meet Cory in admiring it, but Cory soon moved on. Juniper smiled, watching the artist walk up toward another painting of a woman with her back to the viewer--shoulders bare--as she attended to something in her lap. At last, Juniper himself attended the painting, taking several steps forward, although he could not help himself from sneaking glances at the way Cory was leaning forward, examining the individual brushstrokes that Hopper made.
And, upon inspection, Juniper appreciated the thought that Hopper's hands had once been here, guiding the brush across the canvas. Juniper shivered, his body seemingly having a mind of its own as he imagined how it might feel to have a brush sliding gently across his own skin. He glanced at Cory, wondering if the artist had noticed.
For now, however, they attended the third room, full of what was sure to be less titillating pieces.
Once they had fully entered the room, Juniper paused for a few beats, interested to see what Cory might gravitate toward first. The artist spent some time looking at a pleasant painting of a woman with a sketchbook at the beach, and Juniper took at step as though to meet Cory in admiring it, but Cory soon moved on. Juniper smiled, watching the artist walk up toward another painting of a woman with her back to the viewer--shoulders bare--as she attended to something in her lap. At last, Juniper himself attended the painting, taking several steps forward, although he could not help himself from sneaking glances at the way Cory was leaning forward, examining the individual brushstrokes that Hopper made.
And, upon inspection, Juniper appreciated the thought that Hopper's hands had once been here, guiding the brush across the canvas. Juniper shivered, his body seemingly having a mind of its own as he imagined how it might feel to have a brush sliding gently across his own skin. He glanced at Cory, wondering if the artist had noticed.
Re: Edward Hopper's Art Show
Cory felt the presense of Juniper's body next to him, admiring the painting alongside him. Somehow, it felt more intimate than when they'd stood together in the first room. Cory felt his mind tempted toward wondering why, but instead he refocused on the painting, his eyes still drinking up the almost scribbley brush strokes, the plays of blues and whites and yellows and pinks dancing with each other over the woman's skin.
And then, the crispness of the woman's shoulder blade stole his attention, and directed it toward her bicep, her deltoid, and then back to her shoulder blade again. And it reminded Cory of the drawing of the men in the boat, and he grew suddenly aware of Juniper's body standing beside him again. A flash of a thought wondered what musculature hid beneath the man's suit. Cory sipped at his drink instinctively, hiding before he even had the wherewithal to move his gaze over to Juniper--and found Juniper's eyes already on him.
Nervous, Cory's eyes turned quickly back to the painting, sure that his cheeks were gaining some color. Nervousness was starting to flutter within him a little more intensely than was pleasant, but Cory reminded himself again of their conversation about Colleen and Amelia--whatever it meant, it meant they had already spoken fairly candidly with each other. And, they had both expressed interest in viewing the room with adult content later, however subtly.
Cory lowered his drink just a little, giving Juniper a view of a soft, crooked smile as his eyes remained glued to the painting.
"Hopper does have a way with muscles," Cory finally said, and then, bravely, offered Juniper a shy but perhaps subtly mischievous sidelong glance. If nothing else, he was positively excited for what muscles he might see in the adult content room.
And then, the crispness of the woman's shoulder blade stole his attention, and directed it toward her bicep, her deltoid, and then back to her shoulder blade again. And it reminded Cory of the drawing of the men in the boat, and he grew suddenly aware of Juniper's body standing beside him again. A flash of a thought wondered what musculature hid beneath the man's suit. Cory sipped at his drink instinctively, hiding before he even had the wherewithal to move his gaze over to Juniper--and found Juniper's eyes already on him.
Nervous, Cory's eyes turned quickly back to the painting, sure that his cheeks were gaining some color. Nervousness was starting to flutter within him a little more intensely than was pleasant, but Cory reminded himself again of their conversation about Colleen and Amelia--whatever it meant, it meant they had already spoken fairly candidly with each other. And, they had both expressed interest in viewing the room with adult content later, however subtly.
Cory lowered his drink just a little, giving Juniper a view of a soft, crooked smile as his eyes remained glued to the painting.
"Hopper does have a way with muscles," Cory finally said, and then, bravely, offered Juniper a shy but perhaps subtly mischievous sidelong glance. If nothing else, he was positively excited for what muscles he might see in the adult content room.
Re: Edward Hopper's Art Show
Cory did not appear to have noticed. Instead, he sipped his drink, his gaze on the painting as his eyes tracing the woman's arms with an intensity Juniper found himself craving. Juniper took a deep breath and looked around the room to remind himself that they were in public, but no one else was in this room with them, at least for the moment. Sure, people mingled outside the room, still in view, but Cory and Juniper had more privacy here than they'd had anywhere else, however briefly. It didn't help Juniper feel any less bold.
Finally, Cory seemed to clock that Juniper had been spending more time looking at Cory, watching exactly what caught his attention, than look at the painting himself. Cory quickly returned to the painting, however, the color in his face deepening significantly. But, then again, it was warm in the room, and they were both wearing suits.
Juniper looked at the painting in earnest, then, as Cory lowered his drink away from his face. Out of his periphery, Juniper caught a small smile on Cory's lips that made Juniper's chest ache.
"Hopper does have a way with muscles," Cory said, looking sidelong at Juniper. Immediately, Juniper thought again of the sketch of the two men in the boat, and he wondered if Cory was trying to drop Juniper a subtle hint. It was risky, though, to read into it, and anyway, what would Juniper do if he were truly to respond to it, anyway? Leave the gallery altogether? Not without visiting the fourth room, surely. But Juniper began to think about how it might feel to press Cory up against the wall beside the painting, breathing gently onto his neck.
Juniper let out a long, slow breath, trying to calm himself down.
"You're not wrong about that," Juniper offered breathlessly. Very, very tentatively, Juniper set a casual hand on Cory's shoulder. Harmless, surely. Just a friendly gesture. "I find myself appreciating your eye for detail. It caught my eye when I saw you at the Black Butterfly lounge as well." Juniper then removed his hand, stepping toward the next painting, one of a statue in the middle of a park, finding it easy to lose himself in the mass of trees behind it.
Finally, Cory seemed to clock that Juniper had been spending more time looking at Cory, watching exactly what caught his attention, than look at the painting himself. Cory quickly returned to the painting, however, the color in his face deepening significantly. But, then again, it was warm in the room, and they were both wearing suits.
Juniper looked at the painting in earnest, then, as Cory lowered his drink away from his face. Out of his periphery, Juniper caught a small smile on Cory's lips that made Juniper's chest ache.
"Hopper does have a way with muscles," Cory said, looking sidelong at Juniper. Immediately, Juniper thought again of the sketch of the two men in the boat, and he wondered if Cory was trying to drop Juniper a subtle hint. It was risky, though, to read into it, and anyway, what would Juniper do if he were truly to respond to it, anyway? Leave the gallery altogether? Not without visiting the fourth room, surely. But Juniper began to think about how it might feel to press Cory up against the wall beside the painting, breathing gently onto his neck.
Juniper let out a long, slow breath, trying to calm himself down.
"You're not wrong about that," Juniper offered breathlessly. Very, very tentatively, Juniper set a casual hand on Cory's shoulder. Harmless, surely. Just a friendly gesture. "I find myself appreciating your eye for detail. It caught my eye when I saw you at the Black Butterfly lounge as well." Juniper then removed his hand, stepping toward the next painting, one of a statue in the middle of a park, finding it easy to lose himself in the mass of trees behind it.
Re: Edward Hopper's Art Show
Juniper let out a long, slow breath, and Cory couldn't deny that he found it so be sensual, and exciting. A moment he'd undoubtedly replay after their time together--so long as he didn't get stuck in more anxious thoughts, anyhow. Cory let out a soft breath himself and returned his eyes to the painting, shyness overcoming him.
"You're not wrong about that," Juniper said a bit breathlessly, and a shiver danced across the back of Cory's neck. He might have hummed, pleased with the sound of Juniper's voice and the sight of the woman's deltoid and the luscious whims of Hopper's brushstrokes. But, his throat closed around the sound, sure that this was an inappropriate place for it, even if Juniper appreciated muscles in precisely the same way that Cory did.
Then, Juniper placed a hand on Cory's shoulder, bringing a sudden distinct awareness to Cory's own musculature, his very own deltoid beneath the light pressure of Juniper's hand, albeit hidden away in a stiff suit.
"I find myself appreciating your eye for detail," Juniper added. "It caught my eye when I saw you at the Black Butterfly lounge as well."
Cory himself felt breathless as Juniper pulled his hand away. Cory finally turned his gaze back to the man, though he was terrifyingly sure his expression entirely too obvious for the space they were in. To both his relief and chagrin, Juniper's gaze was already locked on a different painting as he strolled that direction. Cory took a sip of his drink, unable to bid his feet to move while his mind caught up with Juniper's words. Cory had caught the man's eye that very first night? But, how, why? Had Cory said something insightful to him? That night had admittedly been quite a blur. He'd met so many people, seen so many things.
Finally, Cory swallowed the sip of liquid his tongue had rolled around in his mouth while he'd thought, and he was able to will his feet to move. He stepped over beside Juniper and grasped his glass with both hands, lest an impulse to lightly brush the man in some way overtake him. He settled in to behold this new painting, though something intimidated Cory about it. He identified that it was the swirling in the sky and the trees, and he moved his eyes down to the people walking about and enjoying their day on the pavement instead, which felt more settled to him. And then, all at once, he remembered looking at art in the Black Butterfly. That part of the night had been more like a pleasant stroll, with much of the rest of the night feeling more like the swirling above. Fun, vast, lovely, but ungrounded.
Cory drew in a deep breath and let it out without really realizing--his body just needed to take the moment to relax a bit. He had half a mind to wonder whether the punch was in fact 'hitting him', but of course, this wasn't a place where that would be a concern. Imagine the indignation from guests already complaining about adult content even with a sign plainly forewarning them. No, if Cory was perhaps a bit tipsy in a way, it wasn't the punch's doing.
He wanted Juniper to touch him again, and he wanted to touch Juniper.
In lieu of indulging that desire, Cory instead asked, "What catches your eye about this one?" If nothing else, he might indulge in a little more of Juniper's point of view.
"You're not wrong about that," Juniper said a bit breathlessly, and a shiver danced across the back of Cory's neck. He might have hummed, pleased with the sound of Juniper's voice and the sight of the woman's deltoid and the luscious whims of Hopper's brushstrokes. But, his throat closed around the sound, sure that this was an inappropriate place for it, even if Juniper appreciated muscles in precisely the same way that Cory did.
Then, Juniper placed a hand on Cory's shoulder, bringing a sudden distinct awareness to Cory's own musculature, his very own deltoid beneath the light pressure of Juniper's hand, albeit hidden away in a stiff suit.
"I find myself appreciating your eye for detail," Juniper added. "It caught my eye when I saw you at the Black Butterfly lounge as well."
Cory himself felt breathless as Juniper pulled his hand away. Cory finally turned his gaze back to the man, though he was terrifyingly sure his expression entirely too obvious for the space they were in. To both his relief and chagrin, Juniper's gaze was already locked on a different painting as he strolled that direction. Cory took a sip of his drink, unable to bid his feet to move while his mind caught up with Juniper's words. Cory had caught the man's eye that very first night? But, how, why? Had Cory said something insightful to him? That night had admittedly been quite a blur. He'd met so many people, seen so many things.
Finally, Cory swallowed the sip of liquid his tongue had rolled around in his mouth while he'd thought, and he was able to will his feet to move. He stepped over beside Juniper and grasped his glass with both hands, lest an impulse to lightly brush the man in some way overtake him. He settled in to behold this new painting, though something intimidated Cory about it. He identified that it was the swirling in the sky and the trees, and he moved his eyes down to the people walking about and enjoying their day on the pavement instead, which felt more settled to him. And then, all at once, he remembered looking at art in the Black Butterfly. That part of the night had been more like a pleasant stroll, with much of the rest of the night feeling more like the swirling above. Fun, vast, lovely, but ungrounded.
Cory drew in a deep breath and let it out without really realizing--his body just needed to take the moment to relax a bit. He had half a mind to wonder whether the punch was in fact 'hitting him', but of course, this wasn't a place where that would be a concern. Imagine the indignation from guests already complaining about adult content even with a sign plainly forewarning them. No, if Cory was perhaps a bit tipsy in a way, it wasn't the punch's doing.
He wanted Juniper to touch him again, and he wanted to touch Juniper.
In lieu of indulging that desire, Cory instead asked, "What catches your eye about this one?" If nothing else, he might indulge in a little more of Juniper's point of view.
Re: Edward Hopper's Art Show
((OOC: https://whitney.org/collection/works/6076))
It was an effort to stay focused on the painting at hand. Juniper wanted to turn and look at Cory, see if the man had been in any way affected by the casual touch Juniper had offered him. But, Juniper still wasn't wholly prepared to admit--even to himself--that it wasn't casual, that something beyond casual had pushed him that direction. So, instead, he stared straight ahead, his attention swallowed by the mass of greens in the trees, blurred as they were into themselves and each other.
He heard Cory take a deep breath--perhaps preparing to let Juniper down easy? But, as Cory stepped up to match where Juniper stood, the energy between them still seemed anticipatory--as much as Juniper ever knew how to read into such things.
"What catches your eye about this one?" Cory asked, sidestepping Juniper's admission altogether. Juniper frowned slightly, worry creasing his brow. Cory was repurposing a phrase Juniper had said, so the man had heard him. But... nothing? No comment at all?
He still probably thinks I'm talking about business. About purchasing his art, Juniper thought, taking a deep breath himself. He recentered himself around the idea that he could, truly, just enjoy Cory's company. No escalation needed. Nothing needed to be done. They could stay here and enjoy this, comment on artwork into eternity. Or, at least, for the rest of the evening.
When, then. He owed Cory an answer.
Something about the statue in the painting gave Juniper the sensation that he ought to know where it was from, but he couldn't place it. "The point of view, for one thing," Juniper said after his indulgent silence. "If painted from reference, the artist would need to be in a building across the street, up several floors. If painted from memory or imagination, why this perspective, I wonder?" He hoped he was buying himself some time to better appraise the artwork rather than just escape into its colors.
"The angle makes the people--and even the statue--look small and insignificant in comparison to the vast, unending, unifying nature of the trees. They almost become the foreground in this painting, given that they disappear in the horizon line."
At his next thought, Juniper smiled crookedly, glancing at Cory, "Ah, but here, too, I crave to know what's down the path that none of the people are travelling, as it goes off the canvas." He took a breath. "I'm sure some psychologist or other would have something to say about me for that," Juniper added, chuckling to himself and shaking his head slightly.
It was an effort to stay focused on the painting at hand. Juniper wanted to turn and look at Cory, see if the man had been in any way affected by the casual touch Juniper had offered him. But, Juniper still wasn't wholly prepared to admit--even to himself--that it wasn't casual, that something beyond casual had pushed him that direction. So, instead, he stared straight ahead, his attention swallowed by the mass of greens in the trees, blurred as they were into themselves and each other.
He heard Cory take a deep breath--perhaps preparing to let Juniper down easy? But, as Cory stepped up to match where Juniper stood, the energy between them still seemed anticipatory--as much as Juniper ever knew how to read into such things.
"What catches your eye about this one?" Cory asked, sidestepping Juniper's admission altogether. Juniper frowned slightly, worry creasing his brow. Cory was repurposing a phrase Juniper had said, so the man had heard him. But... nothing? No comment at all?
He still probably thinks I'm talking about business. About purchasing his art, Juniper thought, taking a deep breath himself. He recentered himself around the idea that he could, truly, just enjoy Cory's company. No escalation needed. Nothing needed to be done. They could stay here and enjoy this, comment on artwork into eternity. Or, at least, for the rest of the evening.
When, then. He owed Cory an answer.
Something about the statue in the painting gave Juniper the sensation that he ought to know where it was from, but he couldn't place it. "The point of view, for one thing," Juniper said after his indulgent silence. "If painted from reference, the artist would need to be in a building across the street, up several floors. If painted from memory or imagination, why this perspective, I wonder?" He hoped he was buying himself some time to better appraise the artwork rather than just escape into its colors.
"The angle makes the people--and even the statue--look small and insignificant in comparison to the vast, unending, unifying nature of the trees. They almost become the foreground in this painting, given that they disappear in the horizon line."
At his next thought, Juniper smiled crookedly, glancing at Cory, "Ah, but here, too, I crave to know what's down the path that none of the people are travelling, as it goes off the canvas." He took a breath. "I'm sure some psychologist or other would have something to say about me for that," Juniper added, chuckling to himself and shaking his head slightly.
Re: Edward Hopper's Art Show
Juniper frowned in response to Cory's question, and Cory's stomach dropped. Oh, no, he shouldn't have brushed past Juniper's comment, perhaps? But, hadn't Juniper himself brushed past it?
Juniper drew in a deep breath, and Cory took another sip of his drink, turning his eyes nervously back to the painting. His cheeks were hot, and he wanted badly to undo his tie altogether. He held his glass against his chest, nearly hugging it with both hands clasping it tightly.
"The point of view, for one thing," Juniper said after a long silence, and Cory let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His eyes refocused on the painting in front of him, and he nodded thoughtfully. It was quite an angle, wasn't it?
"If painted from reference, the artist would need to be in a building across the street, up several floors. If painted from memory or imagination, why this perspective, I wonder?"
Cory squinted his eyes a little, contemplating. It was rather something to be looking down at a statue, upon the tops of trees. In hindsight, that had been part of Cory's initial discombobulation looking at the painting, too. Of course it had been ungrounding; the vantage point wasn't on the ground.
"The angle makes the people--and even the statue--look small and insignificant in comparison to the vast, unending, unifying nature of the trees. They almost become the foreground in this painting, given that they disappear in the horizon line."
Cory relaxed his grip on his glass a little, his fingers drumming softly along the side of it with the impulse to touch canvas again, to feel the strokes that would lead to the horizon line.
"Ah, but here, too, I crave to know what's down the path that none of the people are travelling, as it goes off the canvas. I'm sure some psychologist or other would have something to say about me for that."
Cory let out a soft breath of a chuckle, relaxing further as he tossed a crooked smile to Juniper, though his gaze returned quickly to the canvas.
"It seems to go uphill, I think." One hand finally released his grip on his glass altogether, and gestured lightly in the air up and to the right, following the curve of the path in question. Then, circling back to touch his own chest, his other hand moving the glass out of the way.
"Perhaps the artist is up on a hillside, himself."
This thought seemed to settle some of Cory's uneasiness about the painting, and he let out a small contented sigh.
Juniper drew in a deep breath, and Cory took another sip of his drink, turning his eyes nervously back to the painting. His cheeks were hot, and he wanted badly to undo his tie altogether. He held his glass against his chest, nearly hugging it with both hands clasping it tightly.
"The point of view, for one thing," Juniper said after a long silence, and Cory let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His eyes refocused on the painting in front of him, and he nodded thoughtfully. It was quite an angle, wasn't it?
"If painted from reference, the artist would need to be in a building across the street, up several floors. If painted from memory or imagination, why this perspective, I wonder?"
Cory squinted his eyes a little, contemplating. It was rather something to be looking down at a statue, upon the tops of trees. In hindsight, that had been part of Cory's initial discombobulation looking at the painting, too. Of course it had been ungrounding; the vantage point wasn't on the ground.
"The angle makes the people--and even the statue--look small and insignificant in comparison to the vast, unending, unifying nature of the trees. They almost become the foreground in this painting, given that they disappear in the horizon line."
Cory relaxed his grip on his glass a little, his fingers drumming softly along the side of it with the impulse to touch canvas again, to feel the strokes that would lead to the horizon line.
"Ah, but here, too, I crave to know what's down the path that none of the people are travelling, as it goes off the canvas. I'm sure some psychologist or other would have something to say about me for that."
Cory let out a soft breath of a chuckle, relaxing further as he tossed a crooked smile to Juniper, though his gaze returned quickly to the canvas.
"It seems to go uphill, I think." One hand finally released his grip on his glass altogether, and gestured lightly in the air up and to the right, following the curve of the path in question. Then, circling back to touch his own chest, his other hand moving the glass out of the way.
"Perhaps the artist is up on a hillside, himself."
This thought seemed to settle some of Cory's uneasiness about the painting, and he let out a small contented sigh.
Re: Edward Hopper's Art Show
Cory laughed under his breath, and Juniper smiled, happy to have given the man some amusement.
"It seems to go uphill, I think," Cory said, gesturing at the path Juniper had mentioned. "Perhaps the artist is up on a hillside, himself." Juniper took a closer look and decided he agreed with Cory's assessment--complete with an airy sigh as though that conclusion had settled something for Cory. Continuing to look at the painting, Juniper wondered if that uphill path might curve around all the way up to where the artist rested himself, giving him the vantage point he would need. There was a delicious circularity to such an idea--Juniper was grateful Cory had pointed it out.
Certainly better than simply escaping into the mass of trees, to be sure.
"Astute," Juniper said quietly, impressed. He wondered if that was redundant, though, given that Juniper had only just complimented the man's attention to detail.
He decided to take things in a different direction. "If you had all the paints at hand, what's something you would enjoy changing about the painting?" Juniper turned to face Cory fully, eager to watch the artist assess.
"It seems to go uphill, I think," Cory said, gesturing at the path Juniper had mentioned. "Perhaps the artist is up on a hillside, himself." Juniper took a closer look and decided he agreed with Cory's assessment--complete with an airy sigh as though that conclusion had settled something for Cory. Continuing to look at the painting, Juniper wondered if that uphill path might curve around all the way up to where the artist rested himself, giving him the vantage point he would need. There was a delicious circularity to such an idea--Juniper was grateful Cory had pointed it out.
Certainly better than simply escaping into the mass of trees, to be sure.
"Astute," Juniper said quietly, impressed. He wondered if that was redundant, though, given that Juniper had only just complimented the man's attention to detail.
He decided to take things in a different direction. "If you had all the paints at hand, what's something you would enjoy changing about the painting?" Juniper turned to face Cory fully, eager to watch the artist assess.
Re: Edward Hopper's Art Show
"Astute," Juniper said, and Cory flashed the man a bashful smile before he could quite stop himself. His eyes drifted quickly back to the painting, his grin unable to reel itself in and his cheeks surely flush. He felt absolutely absurd, and a little bit like a puppy who'd just been praised.
"If you had all the paints at hand," Juniper said, "what's something you would enjoy changing about the painting?"
Cory raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to Juniper from the side, a little bit shy and perhaps even skeptical. He was sure that in some circles it would be blasphemy to talk of altering another artist's painting, but it only took the briefest of glances to Juniper to assure himself that the man's question was genuine and not somehow a trap. Setting down that concern, Cory turned his gaze back to the painting, and it only took a brief moment for excitement to glint into his eyes.
"I want to add more details to the trees," Cory said easily once he set down his guard, his hand once again gesturing toward the painting, a finger briefly tracing in the air along one of the subtle zigzags of lighter green amidst a tree's leaves. He thought on that a moment afterward, though, his eyes searching out what detail was already there of the trees, mapping out all the places that felt unfinished to his taste.
"And the path, too," he added after a moment, his head spreading to caress his palm subtly through the air, tracing the path from left to right along the bottom. "Although I'm less sure what that would look like." He took a sip of his drink in thought, slipping his free hand into his picket to fidget his fingers where they were cozy. Then, resting his glass to his chest again, Cory nodded with a gentle resoluteness.
"I might allow myself to get a little bit abstract with the colors. If there's not variance the eye could see... surely there's at least something emotional to convey." Oh, but a sudden flare of bashfulness tugged at his smile, and he tossed Juniper a brief, almost apologetic glance.
"Recognizing, of course, that Hopper himself found completion here..." Oh, and then even more embarassment flared--he was being quite ridiculous, really. He and Juniper had been playing critique games this whole time--why was he getting worried about the etiquette of it all of a sudden now? He shook his head a little, closing his eyes and bringing his free hand out of his pocket to brush back his hair and collect himself.
"This painting would be unfinished, coming from me," he finally said with a shrug, offering Juniper a bashful smile before returning his eyes to the painting again. "I like a little more to be going on. Colors, textures, movement, something. The sky is pretty good, and the middle section--" he gestured again in the air, light as a feather, "the people, the statue. There's enough to interact with. But the trees and the path are practically blank canvases." He nearly left it there, but couldn't quite stop himself from adding, "For me."
"If you had all the paints at hand," Juniper said, "what's something you would enjoy changing about the painting?"
Cory raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to Juniper from the side, a little bit shy and perhaps even skeptical. He was sure that in some circles it would be blasphemy to talk of altering another artist's painting, but it only took the briefest of glances to Juniper to assure himself that the man's question was genuine and not somehow a trap. Setting down that concern, Cory turned his gaze back to the painting, and it only took a brief moment for excitement to glint into his eyes.
"I want to add more details to the trees," Cory said easily once he set down his guard, his hand once again gesturing toward the painting, a finger briefly tracing in the air along one of the subtle zigzags of lighter green amidst a tree's leaves. He thought on that a moment afterward, though, his eyes searching out what detail was already there of the trees, mapping out all the places that felt unfinished to his taste.
"And the path, too," he added after a moment, his head spreading to caress his palm subtly through the air, tracing the path from left to right along the bottom. "Although I'm less sure what that would look like." He took a sip of his drink in thought, slipping his free hand into his picket to fidget his fingers where they were cozy. Then, resting his glass to his chest again, Cory nodded with a gentle resoluteness.
"I might allow myself to get a little bit abstract with the colors. If there's not variance the eye could see... surely there's at least something emotional to convey." Oh, but a sudden flare of bashfulness tugged at his smile, and he tossed Juniper a brief, almost apologetic glance.
"Recognizing, of course, that Hopper himself found completion here..." Oh, and then even more embarassment flared--he was being quite ridiculous, really. He and Juniper had been playing critique games this whole time--why was he getting worried about the etiquette of it all of a sudden now? He shook his head a little, closing his eyes and bringing his free hand out of his pocket to brush back his hair and collect himself.
"This painting would be unfinished, coming from me," he finally said with a shrug, offering Juniper a bashful smile before returning his eyes to the painting again. "I like a little more to be going on. Colors, textures, movement, something. The sky is pretty good, and the middle section--" he gestured again in the air, light as a feather, "the people, the statue. There's enough to interact with. But the trees and the path are practically blank canvases." He nearly left it there, but couldn't quite stop himself from adding, "For me."