nexus_crossings | The Beauty of Inspiration

There is a large canvas set up in the Plaza today. The majority of the canvas, which is five feet in height and close to seven feet in length, is currently blank. But there is an artist who is working on the first portion of his project.

Hunter has a very unique appearance. A network of vine-themed tattoos cover his face and neck (and since he is wearing a tank top today, those same tattoos are also visible on his arms). There is a large rose bush tattoo on his left forearm that seems to be connected to the vines that run up his arm. He is completely bald. A large silver tree is prominently placed on his forehead, which trails down to a nose-bridge piercing. He has no eyebrows, instead Arabic writing is tattooed along his brow line. And along the right side of his cheek is a deep red scar.

At his side is a large trolley, that currently holds a multitude of paint jars. There is also a large container of rose petals, which every now and then Hunter uses to dip into the paint and place onto the canvas to create a multi-dimensional appearance to his creation.

He also has a few cloths available, so every now and then he can clean his hands, step back and look at the piece. It is during one of those moments, that Hunter asks his question. "Where do you find your inspiration?"

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Martha is a new arrival to the Nexus, and while her traveling companion is no stranger to the place she is strolling around. The amount of non-human life isn't a big surprise to a veteran traveler, and she walks around like she almost belongs there.

She comes to a stop and she looks at the gentleman with a gazillion tattoos, and it isn't the canvas of flesh that catches her eye. It is the canvas and the paint jars, and the question that have her walk closer to him. She looks at the piece, and she tries to figure out what it is that he is painting.

"My folks. But my inspiration comes from..." Martha looks up at the sky in the plaza, and she points a finger towards the stars. "The stars up above." She's used to seeing a sky that doesn't look like Earth's.

It appears that Hunter is capturing the essence of the Plaza itself on his canvas. The parts that he has completed so far mimic some of the images that lay behind the canvas.

He smiles, glancing up at the sky the same time she does. "Yeah? Have you had the opportunity to explore those stars?"

If this were Earth or somewhere else, Martha might be a bit more reluctant to speak of her travels. A smile crosses her face as she looks at the painting of the plaza.

"I have. But still being on the ground puts everything back into perspective. Or well mine has been changed when I've been so close to them." Never mind having been nearly cooked to a crisp by a sentient star.

"Thanks to a friend of mine, I had one opportunity to see Earth from orbit. It was an amazing experience."

Hunter smiles. "And it did inspire a few paintings."

"How long have you been back on ground?"

"I've been on the ground for a few years now. But I just happened to reconnect with an old friend of mine, and he brought me here."

Martha continues to admire the painting, and she's using it as a way to learn about the different places in the plaza.

"This same friend is the one who took me to see those very same stars."

He smiles at the way she is admire the painting. "He must trust you every much."

"Did you want to paint a section?" He offers.

Martha looks shocked when he asks her if she wants to paint a section of his painting. And she soon begins to look a little flustered as she looks at what to her appears to be a work of art.

"Are you sure? I'm afraid I don't got an artistic bone in me."

But it isn't like her to not want to try, as she goes to stand besides him and she eyes the numerous brushes and paints.

"And the most I've drawn are stick figures."

"I can help you, if you like." Hunter smiles. "And why not? The piece could be a collection of artwork done by anyone who stops by, and it would make it more of a representation of the Nexus itself."

Hunter smiles again. He selects a brush and holds it out to her. "It doesn't have to be just my work."

"I'm not sure if any amount of helping will help."

Martha reaches for the brush, and she takes a good look around her to see if there is something, she can add without botching up the painting.

"But if you want to try, I think we can try painting that tree with the neon blue flowers."

Martha points the brush in the direction of the alien tree, the teacup like flowers almost seem to glow as the light hits them. And a small butterfly winged humming bird is buzzing around them looking to take a sip of the sweet nectar the flowers have to offer.

"Great choice." And Hunter mixed a couple of colors together, to match the neon blue of those flowers.

"Start with the trunk and then the branches, and then start creating the flowers themselves."

Hunter watches the butterfly winged humming bird, and smiles. "And I can add the humming bird into the picture."

With a steady hand, Martha dips the brush into some light brown paint, and she makes a few strokes on the canvas. The larger base of the trunk, and the thicker branches aren't going to be her problem. And for someone who has the steady hand of a doctor, the lines are nice and crisp.

"This was the easy part." Now comes the more challenging part, as Martha looks at all of the tiny limbs and the lush palm like leaves. "And perhaps, I bit off a little more than I can chew. Do you have any suggestions on how to make the tiny limbs and leaves?"

Hunter watches her for a moment, smiled at hos steady her work is, despite her nervousness. He nods at her question.

"Here..." He picks out a smaller, more thin brush. "Use this brush. Let the brush gently touch the canvas, to make the tiny limbs."

"Then for the leaves themselves, would you like to use the rose petals?" He nods towards the jar of rose petals.

Martha takes the brush from his hand, and she does her best to make the branches more than just straight lines on the tree. There are bends, knocks, and twists. She looks at her piece of art, and she turns around to look at Hunter.

"...Sure." The leaves of the tree were a soft greenish yellow, and while the rose petals didn't exactly match, Martha knew that not all things have to be perfect. "I take you don't happen to have any glue lying around here."

"I don't use glue..." Hunter moves over to stand by her, as he demonstrates.

"You take the rose petals, dip in them in the paint color, and then place the rose petal onto the canvas."

"The paint acts as a adhesives, until I am able to finish with a finishing adhesive spray that keeps everything where it was placed."

"Ah!" Martha blushes, and she feels a little silly to think that glue would even be used for the painting. She looks at the paint, and she reaches a free hand for one of the petals and she dips it in the green paint.

"Alright then. I think this will do."

She looks at the green rose petal, and she carefully places it on one of the branches of the tree.

"Very nicely done." Hunter smiles. The painting gets a textured look once the rose petals are put into place.

Martha is having fun dipping petals and putting them on the canvas. The smile on her face has grown, and she looks over her shoulder.

"Thanks. And I don't believe we introduced each other. Name's Martha."

"I'm Hunter." He smiles even wider, himself. It is nice to see Martha enjoying herself.

"What brings you to the Nexus, Martha?"

"A pleasure, Hunter." Martha dips another petal into the paint, and she plops it on the canvas along with the rest.

"I came here with a close friend of mine. Though I don't exactly know where he got off to, but I should be good on my own. And what about you?"

"I was so caught up in a painting, that I didn't realize where I was the first day I was here. But I have made some great friends."

"And now I stay here, more than my own home dimension."

The Beauty of Inspiration

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