Getting the Brush Off

Getting the Brush Off — page 5 — my head and wiggle them in the air so I know the people watching me can see Then I bring them down to the small table set up next to my easel where I keep my supply of paints I waste no time dipping my fingertips into several different blobs of bluish color the paint warmed from the midsummer Halifax sun This is my favorite part I lift my fingers paint dripping off my nails I twirl around in a flurried double turn before I push my hands onto the picture smearing the paint until I’ve got the colors just right A couple of people applaud my dance and one person laughs when I start using my fingers on the canvas But their curiosity soon makes them quiet again The boardwalk around us is busy but I don’t hear the bustle over the beat of my music I slide my fingers from the center of the painting outward to the edge and then wipe my hands on my shirt I step back from the painting taking a few seconds to consider the work as I lip-synch along to the music and play some beats on a set of air drums Then I prance forward snatch up a final brush and attack the canvas with short strokes of white paint 4 MERE JOYCE

Getting the Brush Off — page 6 — When I’m done I crouch into a low squat before I pop up into the air throwing my arms and legs out like a starfish On my way back down I grab the painting off its easel I slide into a side split no easy task in my tight jeans and place the canvas on the ground before me I dig my red lipstick out of my pocket coat my lips and lean my face right down to the bottom edge of the canvas I kiss the still-wet paint planting a rim of sticky lipstick in the corner Signed with a kiss Now the painting’s done I draw my legs in and pull myself up just as the song ends I wipe paint and lipstick from my mouth and give the crowd a grin I place the work back on the easel so everyone can see the finished product It takes several seconds before the clapping begins It always does The people around me don’t know what to expect from my performance but the pretty painting of what they can now see is the Halifax Harbour with its glistening water docked tall ships and glowing sunset still manages to surprise them It’s lovely a woman says and soon the others agree Their hands come together to 5 GETTING THE BRUSH OFF

Getting the Brush Off — page 7 — applaud my performance or reach into their pockets for some spare change Yes I smile modestly like I’ve created this painting just for the fun of it and didn’t even know anyone was watching I just manage to graciously accept my first coins jangling into the can beneath the hand-painted hand-painted sign reading Art by hArt when I look up to see the blue suits of two police officers breaking through the crowd Miss Sydney Hart one of them asks Yeah that’s me I reply giving the pair my sweetest smile The first officer glances at my painting then fixes me with a steady look There have been some complaints Oh great So much for my tips 6 MERE JOYCE

Getting the Brush Off — page 8 — Two All right everyone if you could just step aside The two officers a doughy young man with kind eyes and a stern woman with graying hair push their way toward me It’s like I can see all the money I was about to make dropping back into the pockets and purses of each onlooker I try not to let my face crumple in disappointment as I watch my admirers slink uncomfortably away from the scene Complaints I ask looking at the man who first spoke to me I’m not doing anything wrong I’m allowed to busk here on the boardwalk I’m away from all storefronts and I’m far enough off the main walkway that I’m not blocking pedestrian pedestrian traffic 7

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