Page 20 (1/2)

Madison found Sara Mignon in her studio on the third floor of Saddlewood Hall Her art teacher was clad in a paint-spattered deni exuberant splashes of acrylic onto a rough board the size of a sraduate students toiled away at the bottonored

When she saw Madison, Sara jumped down fro her sleeve, she wiped bright yellow from the tip of her nose Her curly hair spiraled out every which way, a rich, blue-black color that came from a bottle She looked like no teacher Madison had ever had before

"Hey, Maddie What do you think?"

"Well, it … it’s fine I like it" Madison was still startled when her professors asked her opinion Not that she didn’t have opinions, she just wasn’t used to anybody wanting to hear theone to schools where you called the teachers sir and ma’am As in, Yes, sir and Yes, h her teacher’s as really different from her own Sara’s art was tropical in its heat Madison’s painting was cool and smoky and subdued as dusk in the hollows

Sara (as she insisted on being called) studied the painting critically, hands on hips "That yellos the eye, doesn’t it? It ht be a little too assertive" She turned to Madison "Are you here to talk about your capstone?"

"Well, ah…"

"Let’s take a look at it, shall we?"

The capstone projects were displayed in a sunlit studio on the third floor of the art building Moody oils, languid watercolors, pushy acrylics Madison’s painting was secluded in a corner, covered by a drape

Sara swept the cloth away and they stood, side by side Sara studied the hile Madison stared at her toes

Why did I have to sub you’ve done, the flames laid over the stone, the blood splattered on the floor, the arrangement of the bodies, and the way the architecture of the piece carries the eye There’s a strong fantasy element here Even horror"

Madison nodded mutely

"This is really different from your other work," Sara said "More abstract, more raw emotion, more hot shades There’s a violence here I haven’t seen from you before Can you tell me about it?"

No, actually There was a lack of censure in Sara that invited confidences, but Madison knew better than to share this particular secret

"It’s…uht away froe, I think that’s i "So Will you be able to help me out next Friday?"

Madison stuffed her hands in her pockets Saying it made it real "I … ah … wanted to tell you I can’t be here for your opening next week I--I have to drop out I have to go hoency I’m really sorry" Tears welled up in her eyes and she turned away,serious, I hope"

"No," Madison said autoet it sorted out But I’ll probably have to stay ho back to those dreaift for an artist"

Sara had a knack of ood about yourself She was as sunny as her paintings "I guess so," Madison said, feeling a little better "But I was hoping to get another eight credit hours this se with you and the capstone In the fall, I have to pay for it o"

Sara frowned and tilted her head "I don’t knoe can’t still work together These aren’t lecture courses It’s not like I’d be looking over your shoulder even if you were here You can paint as well in--what is it--Coalville?--as you can here Maybe we can ive you a grade at the end of the sereat But… would we still work through Trinity High School, or would we…"

"Don’t worry," Sara said, reading her mind "I’ll handle Penworthy"

"I don’t knohat to say" Madison felt the burn in her face that said she was blushing

Sara studied her appraisingly "You know, Trinity’s a good school, but fine art is not their specialty Have you ever thought of coo?"

"To the Art Institute? Oh, no I … ah … I couldn’t afford that" Madison sed down her hopes It wouldn’t do to let theripped her shoulders and looked her in the eye "Madison Your landscapes are unique, totally refreshing, and you’re not even a college student yet Your voice is much older than your years Your work is Appalachian, but it doesn’t have a breath of folk art about it You see the supernatural in cos I would call it ethereal"

"Look, I really appreciate … everything But I can’t afford to live in Chicago, let alone pay tuition at AIC The free ride is over after this year I don’t want to graduate a oing to "