IAIN KELLY

GATHERING AT THE CAFE ROUGE

Typical.

Hours of practice on facial proportions, angles and shadows wasted.

She’d spent so long getting the nose and mouth just right on each person in the scene.

She sighed and mixed the colours. Plenty of medical light blue for most. A couple of brighter hues for the more imaginative people.

A small rectangle added to each face, two or three strokes enough to obliterate all her previous effort and detail.

Once all were festooned, she stepped back and looked at the scene.

It wasn’t pretty, but it was life.

A word added to the title: ‘Masked Gathering at the Cafe Rouge’.


palettes
Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above). Come on everyone, just wear a mask.

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.


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96 responses to “GATHERING AT THE CAFE ROUGE”

  1. ceayr Avatar

    This too shall pass, but art is timeless.
    Fun story, Iain

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks CE. There will be some interesting art that stems from this period of life.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. neilmacdon Avatar

    But she knows what brilliance lies beneath the paint of the masks, And perhaps, one day, an art restorer will find the faces

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      A lovely thought Neil

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Reena Saxena Avatar

    I love the idea of ‘masking’ imperfection 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Reena

      Liked by 1 person

  4. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    A painting for our times. Nicely rendered.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle

      Like

  5. Sandra Avatar

    There’s a world of nuances to be gleaned behind the masks. Topical take.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      As in life, so in art. Who knows what’s going on behind those masks.

      Like

  6. Anita Avatar

    She imagined the real faces of the masked people and her art actually unmasked them! Cool 🙂
    They can help the police.
    Masked thieves are many…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, thanks Anita

      Like

  7. Tannille Avatar

    Might be easier just to take a photograph. At any rate, she is capturing a moment in time. Hope there is enough blue in the pallet.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      A photograph! You heathen! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Tannille Avatar

        I know and there are apps that can make a photo look like a painting!

        Liked by 1 person

  8. wmqcolby Avatar

    That gave me a good chuckle, Iain. Like they always say, no work of art is ever completed, just abandoned.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Glad it got a chuckle 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Sadje Avatar

    Very apt.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje Avatar

        You’re welcome 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    I used to smile at folk in shops. No point now! I used to say ‘cheese’ when photographing people. Oh well …

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Just paint a smile on the outside of your mask Keith!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

        Why didn’t I think of that? Cheers Iain!

        Liked by 1 person

  11. pensitivity101 Avatar

    Great take Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Di

      Liked by 1 person

  12. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Funny ending to that. I’ve added beards and mustaches before.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, masks will be the new version!

      Like

  13. Tina Stewart Brakebill Avatar

    Love this. Imaging the smiles. 😬

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Nice idea that beneath the masks there are smiles:-)

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Susan A Eames Avatar

    Lovely! I could see her at work.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Susan

      Like

  15. granonine Avatar

    Everyone will look alike. They do say, though, that eyes don’t change much with age, so that’s a good feature to leave unmasked 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Also we need to see where we’re going 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  16. pennygadd51 Avatar

    Topical and entertaining – an excellent take on the prompt!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Penny

      Like

  17. Paula Sue Bryant, Writer Avatar
    Paula Sue Bryant, Writer

    A masque. Nice contemporary take on the prompt.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Paula

      Like

  18. EagleAye Avatar

    A story for our times. We’ve been hiding our imperfections behind masks of rhetoric and toothless legislation. At least that’s what I get from yours. I like it a lot.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      There are masks everywhere, literal and metaphorical. Thank you.

      Like

  19. Dale Avatar

    So much said in this, Iain. I really like it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Dale, much appreciated

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale Avatar
  20. msjadeli Avatar

    VERY inventive, Iain! Even art is impacted by C-19.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think it will have a big impact for a few years to come. Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. msjadeli Avatar

        You’re welcome.

        Liked by 1 person

  21. magickmermaid Avatar

    Great take on the photo!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  22. plaridel Avatar

    i think i could sense the hidden message. well-crafted story of our times.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

    A story for our times, for sure. There’s a certain underlying sadness in your words.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yep, here’s hoping the sadness will lift at some point…

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Bill Avatar

    Well done, Iain. What sort of faces lurk beneath the masks at the Rouge?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Now there’s a good source for some stories. Thanks Bill.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Nobbinmaug Avatar

    I think about that when I see videos or read stories or other ways wearing masks in public is being immortalized. Also, the contrast with people who don’t wear masks. With the unprecedented way things are document, it will be an odd, confusing time to look back on.

    The subtle melancholy is well painted in this story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, it will be a strange time to look back on. I wonder how history will view those that resisted mask wearing so much…

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Nobbinmaug Avatar

        I think history will view them as casualties.

        Liked by 1 person

  26. J.A. Prentice Avatar

    Excellent story. Love the last line.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. doodletllc Avatar

    Love the “medical light blue”…you painted the scene beautifully.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much

      Like

  28. Danny James Avatar

    Sign of the times!

    Liked by 1 person

  29. justjoyfulness Avatar

    100 years from now these paintings will be masterpieces for it documents such a strange and previously unimaginable scenario. Nice one Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      They certainly will capture a specific time. Thank you

      Like

  30. trishsplace Avatar

    Excellent! I didn’t get it immediately, but after a couple of reads. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Trish, glad it made sense!

      Like

  31. Vartikaforu Avatar

    First step to perfection.. great story..😊

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

  32. Liz Young Avatar

    Great topical story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Liz

      Like

  33. Bernadette Braganza Avatar

    A pity she had to paint over the details. Maybe another day.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      One day soon hopefully

      Like

  34. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

    Good stuff, topical and the correct message; wear a mask, doesn’t take much really does it?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s amazing how controversial something so simple has become.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

        I know, wear a f*****g mask, it’s not an issue is it

        Liked by 1 person

  35. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Fabulous!
    Nicely written. You captured the moment in the same way your artist does

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Laurie

      Like

  36. draliman Avatar

    Your artist could have left them alone and just added an angry staff member and some police officers coming through the door to enforce regulations!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  37. Natasha Avatar

    The eyes will smile from behind the masks.

    I loved how you spun around the tale. Didn’t know where this was going, till the last line.
    Lovely, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Natasha, much appreciated 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  38. ahtdoucette Avatar

    A lovely homage to a strange time. As others have said, this too shall pass. I love the descriptions and use of language.

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar

    Well painted! 🙂
    I hope they know the work she put into each one of them under their masks …
    Na’ama

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      She will know at least!

      Liked by 1 person

  40. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar

    Spot on, lain. I’ve always wanted to use that line. LOL
    Seriously, well done. I enjoyed it. It’s very true an artist (as a career artist)
    is never satisfied with their work even when it’s all done. Usually, selling
    the artwork gives the satisfaction. Have a super safe weekend …
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, hope you are well and safe too 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  41. michaelwynnauthor Avatar

    Ingenius Iain. This will be a plus side for all those artists that can’t do mouths, much like those that can’t do feet and have everyone standing in the long grass.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, definitely an upside 🙂

      Like

  42. subroto Avatar

    Ha! Ha! What a clever way to change the scene and keep a record for the future.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Got to stay relevant these days!

      Like

  43. Gabriella Avatar

    Your story is so relevant. I had to paint a self-portrait a few months ago. My being masked on the reference photo made my job easier.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, its the new style accessory!

      Like

  44. Woman walking Max Avatar

    very topical and touching.

    Liked by 1 person

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