Painting from Life in Queereaders

Jul 14, 2009 Nancy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: e-books, favorites, fiction, short-stories

Painting From Life is not a love story in the traditional sense. It is the story of an artist in a suffocating marriage struggling to achieve perfection in his work. While strolling on the beach with his wife, he meets an old man he’d like to paint. After a brief conversation, the old man agrees to sit for a portrait. The more time they spend together, the more his model, Peter, inspires creativity and instills passion in his art.

The gorgeous and vivid prose captures the essence of the sea, the ...more

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Jul 17, 2009 Daisiemae rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-reviewed-in-2009, e-book, contemporary-romance, books-read-in-2009, may-december, recommended-to-me

Painting from Life by Anne Brooke is a very short story about an artist who becomes obsessed and then comes to love the subject he is painting. This is the first thing I’ve read by Anne Brooke, and it won’t be my last.

The story is told by the artist point of view. We never learn his name, nor do we really learn much about him in general. His marriage is in shambles and while he is on a weekend getaway with his wife to salvage what’s left of it, he spots an old man sitting at the beach and watch ...more

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Mar 08, 2010 Kassa rated it really liked it

This short story is haunting, intense, and unlikely. At just about 15 pages, the author has delivered a stunningly gripping story about an artist and his obsessions. From the hints of the past such as the history between the artist and his wife and the wife’s caustic comments, the author suggests that the unnamed artist may often find these unlikely muses and devote more time than is healthy to them. Similarly, the artist slowly and inevitably becomes the sole caretaker of an older man, Peter, w This short story is haunting, intense, and unlikely. At just about 15 pages, the author has delivered a stunningly gripping story about an artist and his obsessions. From the hints of the past such as the history between the artist and his wife and the wife’s caustic comments, the author suggests that the unnamed artist may often find these unlikely muses and devote more time than is healthy to them. Similarly, the artist slowly and inevitably becomes the sole caretaker of an older man, Peter, while using the man as a model for his work that is only now gaining success.

The author manages to use just a few words and descriptive phrases to convey intensity and emotion that is clearly felt. The impact of the artist’s need for Peter is surprising yet chilling in phrases such as "There's no need for him to see or speak to anyone else but me." The artist realizes that Peter fatigues easily while sitting for him, but the rush the artist feels is too addictive, too much to let go. He counters this by taking care of Peter yet knows he will paint the older man to his death.

This is not a love story or a romance. I would hesitate to even call a GLBT story as both men are heterosexual and the emotion between the men is not romantic love. There is something between the artist and Peter but it goes much deeper than love, it’s aptly named need or obsession. Peter needs the artist in a myriad of ways, depending upon the artist for his survival and independence. Whereas the artist needs Peter for his future, financial and artistic as only now are his paintings being sold. The selfish desire of the artist to see to his needs first and foremost is offset by his guilt in helping the older man but does not erase the motives behind such actions. Without a doubt, the artist will move on to his next obsession once Peter has died. He may mourn the older man, but likely not for long.

The implications and subtle meaning go far beyond the obvious and continue to resonate well after the short story is done. Crisp, vivid prose works incredibly well with vibrant characters all uninhibited by the short length. For those that enjoy a fabulous short story that truly makes you think and leaves you wondering well after it’s done, I highly suggest this tale. The themes of death, obsession, love, selfishness, art, and need are all played out beautifully in this complex and complicated story.
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