When Art Speaks, Stories Are Born

olgafurmanart

10 months ago

A single painting can hold a thousand emotions. But what happens when those emotions are transformed into words?

For our Love Stories auction, we invited our community to write stories inspired by the paintings that our amazing artists have created for this special event. What happened next was pure magic — we’ve received touching, passionate, and beautifully written tales. Each one is unique, yet all of them prove how art and storytelling are deeply intertwined.

We’re honored to share these stories with you. As you read them, take a moment to look at the paintings that inspired them. Who knows? Maybe one will speak to you, too…

All the “stories” below are copywrited by the authors,
for any questions and offers please contact them directly.

Connection in Stillness

By Rebecca Foster-Rife Inspired by
original painting by Saskia Van Drunen-de Jong “Connection in Stillness” from Auction: “Love Stories”

A black cat sits, a steady gaze,
His eyes sparkle in the soft haze.
He watches her, with quiet grace,
As she brings color to ignite the space.

Her brush moves quick, a thought in flight,
Each stroke a flash of pure delight.
The canvas blooms with every hue,
A mirror of the bond they first knew.

He stays beside her, still and near,
His purrs the only sound to hear.
In each new color, bright and true,
He sees the world she paints for two.

She swirls the brush, and in its wake,
A world of joy begins to shape.
The cat, content, with head held high,
Feels every stroke, both low and spry.

Their friendship found in quiet ways,
In colors bold, in peaceful stays.
The painting tells the story clear—
A bond they both hold quite dear.

No need for words, no need for sound,
In stillness, their connection’s found.
A black cat and his human friend,
Together, their world will never end.

(BID on original painting by Saskia Van Drunen-de Jong “Connection in Stillness” )

Faraway Dreams

By Kyle Ingrid Johnson inspired by
original painting by Kat Hamilton “Faraway Dreams” from Auction: “Love Stories”

Did I ever tell you how important you are to me as a friend? I know we have spent hours together over the years, gossiping and giggling, having lunch, walking our dogs, and drinking lemonade on the beach. Maybe once in a while we put a little something in our lemonade. That only made us laugh all the more.

But still, it has been years since we met, and I don’t think I have ever told you how much you mean to me. Why is that? I don’t want to take you for granted. You’ve always been there for me, always had my back. Sure, I love my husband, love my kids, but you are the only one I tell my secrets to.

The world is a funny place. We work. We worry. We wish. We want. But how often do we remember to tell our closest friends what they mean to us? We forget because we think those closest to us will always be there.

But will you? Always be there, I mean. How many years have we been friends? How many tears have we shared? How many whispers? How many more years will we be here on earth?

Tell me a secret. When we live in heaven, will you still be there to listen to my words? Will you always reassure me with a hug?

Please know you are my best friend. That is the highest honor. I want to give you a crown.”

(BID on original painting by Kat Hamilton “Faraway Dreams” )

Glowing Heart

By Leslie A. Zukor inspired by
original painting by Mary Swift “Glowing Heart” from Auction: “Love Stories”

Sassy the Eastern Grey Squirrel’s Love for Cupcakes

My name is Sassy the Squirrel, I live in Seattle, and I love cupcakes. I devoured my first cupcake for my fourth birthday, and I’ve eaten one once a week ever since – on Saturdays, the same day I was born. I love nothing more than devouring every morsel of cupcakes. My favorites are the ones with chocolate frosting and sprinkles. Occasionally, I will enjoy the luscious taste of a vanilla cupcake with white frosting, but that’s only when I’m on a diet – which I typically go on every other year when my doctor, Dr. Eleanor Tufty-Ears says that my squirrel physique has gotten too chunky. I’m currently on the chunky side, which is why I am heeding a medical professional’s advice – at least I’d like to believe I am.
The most difficult thing about being a squirrel is coming to terms with my identity. I was born an Eastern Grey Squirrel, but I have had a predilection for Eastern Fox Squirrels ever since I first saw a picture of one in a magazine. They are the largest tree squirrels native to North America, and I love them almost as much as I like cupcakes. Even though my doctor cautions me about my weight, I have always wanted to be the largest squirrel on Mother Earth and be entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. I thought that it would give me an advantage to be born to a larger species of squirrel, but my religious adviser, Mother Superior Squirrel, has been working with me on loving myself just as the beautiful squirrel I am.
Working on my self-confidence has been the most difficult battle any eight-year-old female squirrel can face. Along with Mother Superior Squirrel, I am also seeing a psychologist about improving my self-image, as lately, I sneak an extra cupcake when I’m feeling insecure. My psychologist’s name is Dr. Frieda Fluffball, and she has an enormous bushy tail that is almost larger than mine. During our first session, the two of us got into a tail-measuring contest. The rub is that it almost ruined our working relationship, but we have learned to coexist. To assuage my insecurities, Dr. Fluffball has agreed to tie a bow on the end of her tail during our sessions so it doesn’t look so long and bushy. That helps, but I wouldn’t be a squirrel if I didn’t deal with the occasional insecurity – whether about weight, tail size, or anything else.
Even though I am heavy, my main source of income is modeling for squirrel paintings. I like to pose doing all sorts of activities – but posing with cupcakes is my favorite of all. The more bushy-tailed art connoisseurs hire me for freelance work, the more money I have to afford luxury nuts such as cashews and pistachios. Did I tell you that my favorite thing is to add cashew slices to my cupcakes while neglecting to tell Dr. Tufty-Ears? The only problem is that she weighs me monthly, so even though she does not know that I add extra nuts to my cupcakes, I must admit that she does notice a difference when she weighs me. I’m trying to figure out a workaround, but Dr. Tufty-Ears, whom I must confess isn’t so skinny herself, is telling me that I must go on SquirrelZempic if I don’t lose at least a pound by my March 5 doctor’s appointment. She has told me to cut out the cupcakes, but I don’t think she knows what’s good for her.
After having the distinction of being the youngest squirrel to graduate college – I was only six years old – I started my freelance modeling business, Sassy the Squirrel’s Sartorial Sexiness. Squirrels don’t openly talk about their careers too much – everyone thinks that we just spend our afternoons reading magazines and foraging for food – but the truth is much more complicated. Like humans, if we want anything special in our lives, we have to pay for it. Thus, for the past two years, I have been modeling with the express purpose of ameliorating my nut collection. In the pantry of my nuthouse, I have cashews, pistachios, and walnuts – and I slice them up to put on my cupcakes. After my next modeling session, I am endeavoring to buy some hazelnuts for a special chocolate-frosted cupcake – Dr. Tufty-Ears be damned! Will you hire me to be the subject of your next painting? I am amenable to posing however you would like me to – just so long as I don’t have to put my dignity on the line. Let me be your cover squirrel. I’m taking appointments starting tomorrow morning, and I’m hoping to have some customers soon. If you own a bakery, I am willing to cut you a deal and model with a cupcake for a discount. Truthfully, the bills for Dr. Fluffball are piling up, so I hope you will help with Sassy the Squirrel’s Sartorial Sexiness by booking me post haste so I may afford my next luxury cupcake.

(BID on original painting by Mary Swift “Glowing Heart” )

Glowing Hearts

by Jamie Bistricky

There once was a dark forest full of grim and the unknown. Nobody dared to go into the forest, until a squirrel changed that.
Now this wasn’t an ordinary squirrel.
This squirrel learned to use something the sun always gave, light.
At first he learned to maneuver light by just shaking branches from the trees.
He would jump on the branches so the light would move all around the ground.
Ladybugs and critters of all sorts would dance and follow the light with glee.
Bringing joy and laughter amongst the dark forest.
However the tree wasn’t ordinary either.
The branches he was shaking belonged to a tree nymph. The tree nymph yawned from its slumber, the yawn so loud all of the branches shook.
Other trees around her began to awaken with a mystical glow in a color no animal ever seen before.
The ladybugs and critters fled the scene, but the squirrel was frozen and couldn’t move.
All he could do was stare at the giant tree nymph in-front of him.
The tree nymph rubbed one of its eyes with a tree leaf and with a slow, booming voice said,
“Squirrel, I have been watching you bring joy to others for a while now. I shall give you a gift so you no longer need to use my branches or the light in the sky any longer.”
The tree nymph blew a pink puff of mist to the Squirrel, still frozen in fear with unblinking eyes.
The Nymph ignored this, smiling proudly that their work was done.
The squirrel slowly blinked, twitching his nose and looked down at his hands with widened eyes. His hands were glowing pink and out came…hearts?
“What is this, and what do I with it?”
The Tree Nymph chuckled, birds started flying up into the sky and squawking at the tree nymph.
“I have gifted you light and love. Do what you have always done before and see what happens, dear squirrel.”
The Tree Nymph yawned and went to sleep, its face slowly disappearing into the wood.
Becoming just like every other tree once more.
Little by little, the squirrel began to use this powerful light to glow all over the forest.
The love that spread throughout the forest made it less grim, more inviting.
More animals became present, flowers began to bloom. Wind nymphs and fairies began to sing and dance.
The Squirrel had always loved the forest and now so many others are starting to love it too.
Know that the gifts that you bring to this earth, no matter how small can make a difference. Shine your light, just like the squirrel

The Lion’s Oath

By Sean Bee inspired by
original painting by Jacqui Haksever from Auction: “Love Stories” (SOLD)

She had walked through fire,
barefoot on embers,
her skin a map of battles won,
her heart a ruin of whispered prayers
that no one had answered.
She was tired—so tired.
The weight of all she had survived
pressed against her ribs,
threatening to break her
the way the world once had.
But she was not alone.
He came to her as a shadow first,
golden eyes in the dark,
a quiet presence beside her
when she had forgotten
how to stand.
A lion.
A guardian.
A force of nature,
woven of sun and fire,
fierce love and endless patience.
He walked beside her,
silent when she needed silence,
roaring when she needed to remember
that she, too,
was something wild and indestructible.
He fought with her,
for her,
until she learned to fight for herself.
Until the moment came—
the moment she saw herself clearly,
not as a broken girl,
but as a warrior,
as an artist who loved the world
with such tenderness
that even pain became poetry.
She was fire,
and she was light.
And in that moment,
he changed.
The lion’s body shimmered,
faded,
shifted into the form
he had always been beneath the spell—
a man.
She knew him at once.
Not by name, not by sight,
but by the way his soul called to hers.
The fire between them burned bright,
not the kind that destroys,
but the kind that ignites,
that creates,
that loves without fear.
“You were always strong,” he told her.
“You just had to remember.”
She touched his face,
traced the line of his jaw,
and whispered the only truth
that had ever mattered:
“I was never alone, was I?”
He smiled.
“You never will be.”

Soul Tied

By Anna Leda

Elaurie was a well-known maiden who lived in a serene village nestled between rolling hills and emerald forests. She had sparkling blue eyes clear as bright summer skies and flowing blonde hair that shimmered like sunlight through golden leaves. Her soft lips — eager rose petals often bloomed into the most radiant smile. And her skin, brilliant and soft as silk, was fair and as pristine as freshly fallen snow. No one could deny her beauty, but Elaurie was an orphan who grew wild in the forests and valleys and the village people as they thought her marred in some way avoided her, just as much as she avoided them.

Elaurie did not miss human contact, but she was forced to trade nuts, mushrooms, and berries she gathered with some of the villagers for things she needed. She had deep connection with nature, and found solace amongst the tranquility of the forest, drinking from pure streams, sustaining herself from nature’s bounty.

Animals were unafraid of her and all she had to do was spread her arms and call to the birds for them to rush in a gust of wings and cover her arms and shoulders. Her laughter echoing through the deep woods, alerted deer, and rabbit to run to her with excitement. She planted a garden and shared its fruits with animals, birds, and an old woman who lived in a small hut in the forest. The old woman deemed a witch by the ignorant villagers had never uttered a word to another human being. But Elaurie did not judge her and often left gifts of berries, mushrooms, and nuts at her doorstep. The old woman in return left a wooden bowl with cooked meals for Elaurie to find. Kindness did not need words to be expressed.

Children hid in the forest and secretly observed “the wild girl.” Word quickly spread, and Elaurie became known in the village as a girl who talked to herself, when in fact she frequently spoke to her spirit guide, who was invisible to others but visible to her. Her spirit totem was a lion with wise and kind eyes, whose rich mane mirrored her own cascading locks.

One tranquil evening as the sun dipped behind the horizon, Elaurie’s earthly journey came to an end. Her spirit, free from the confines of mortal form, began a new adventure in the ethereal realms. The old woman found Elaurie in the forest — beautiful as if in rest, but unable to awake her of her everlasting sleep, she spoke for the first time in many years. Only animals and birds gathered around Elaurie heard her when the old lady whispered, “She was too perfect of a soul for this world.” The birds did not sing and the animals lie near Elaurie refused to leave her lifeless body.

Her spirit, free from the confines of mortal form, began a new adventure in the ethereal realms. As she took her first steps into her afterlife, she was greeted by a familiar presence. It was her Lion, his mane glowing with a celestial light. The lion’s eyes filled with ancient wisdom and love met Elaurie’s gaze.

“Do not fear Elaurie! The lion spoke no words, but she clearly heard him as his voice resonated with strength and kindness in her heart. I’m here to guide you,” he added.

With the lion by her side Elaurie traversed the forests where ancient trees whispered the secrets of cosmos. The air was filled with sweet fragrance of blooming flowers and the harmonious song of birds creating a symphony that echoed through the enchanted woods. Each step they took was a dance of unity and trust.

As they journeyed deeper into the afterlife Elaurie witnessed realms of unparalleled beauty. Crystal-clear rivers flowed with melodies like laughter, and iridescent flowers swayed in a gentle breeze. Elaurie marveled at the vibrant landscapes which seemed to be painted with the very essence of joy and wonder.

In these realms the lion continued to guide Elaurie offering her strength and unwavering love. The bond they shared, was a connection that transcended the boundaries of life and death.

In time, through their journey Elaurie discovered the true depth of her own spirit. She embraced her inner strength and found a profound sense of peace. And so Elaurie and her spirit lion continued their timeless journey, united in a bond that would forever guide them through the wonders of the afterlife realms. Their love and devotion illuminated the path ahead, shining bright for all eternity.

A Dream of Love

By Linda Flopsy Maher inspired by original painting “Reverie” by Jacqui Haksever from Auction “Love Stories”

Sarah sat by the window, staring out into nothingness, her fingers tracing the line of the windowsill, her eyes distant yet focused. The world outside bustled with its usual business, but to Sarah, all was a quiet hum. The sky was blue, and a soft, spring breeze gently rustled her hair. It had been raining that day, which left a beautiful fresh scent in the air.
She wasn’t thinking about anything in particular. In fact, her mind had wandered far from anything concrete, simply lost in an abstract world of emotions. The warm air left her drifting between the present and the possibilities of dreams. Her thoughts swirled and flowed like a river, curving and twisting with no real direction, but always returning to one common theme: love.
What was love anyway? To Sarah, it wasn’t just the stories in the many books she had read, but it was those little moments – a touch, a greeting, a smile – brief threads of time that formed connections that could never be unbroken. She thought of the red thread – the theory that somewhere out there is someone to whom she was eternally connected. She imagined a love that was not overly passionate or fleeting, but one which simply ‘was’- like the beating of your heart.
Sarah sighed, longing for that moment when she would find that connection. Maybe it was the way the light danced across the room, or perhaps it was the warmth of the sun, but her heart felt the weight of the longing for love. Now and again, she could almost feel someone with her in this space; someone who existed only in her dreams, yet he was her quiet companion and was with her always.
Often, she would imagine what it would be like to find him. Would they walk in the garden? Swim in the ocean? Travel? She could almost hear their shared laughter, which lingered in the air long afterwards, like a favourite song. Sometimes they would sit silently, without the need for words, as each knew what the other was thinking and feeling.
The longing swelled in her heart, but so did a peaceful calm. She knew that love existed, even if it was not yet discovered. Someday, somewhere, love would find her as quietly as it had drifted into her mind today. For now, being pleasantly lost in her own thoughts was enough.

(BID on original painting by Jacqui Hacksever “Reverie )

Nature’s Heart.

By Jamie Bistricky inspired by original painting “Nature’s Heart” by Jacqui Haksever from Auction “Love Stories”

She has always had flowers grow all around her since she was a child.
Children her age and grown adults alike would make fun of her and point and laugh.
She tried everything to get rid of the flowers.
She plucked, yanked, burned them to the ground, but nevertheless they grew back. They always came back.
She eventually grew numb to all the people who reacted to her hair covered in flowers. There was nothing she could do after all.
One day, she walked down a path that she always took, but this day was different.
She looked up at the sunrays glimmering in the trees and noticed a beam of light pointing to another path she had never noticed before.
It called to her and slowly, she followed the light which led her towards a vast field of flowers.
She plopped herself down in the grass to stare at them for a bit.
The bright yellow petals made her hands grip the grass nearby her feet.
Those flowers, they’re the reason for why she stuck out and had been bullied for years.
Why did the flowers chose her and not someone else? Why her?
She closed her eyes and couldn’t stand looking at the flowers any longer.
The leaves from the trees swayed against the wind, the bright light began hitting her closed eyes. She groaned and opened them, staring down at the flowers once more.
She gasped at the sight before her.
The flower field had blossomed into a shape of a heart.
Tears began pouring down her face, hitting the flowers on the ground.
The tears caused the flowers to magically grow taller and taller, almost touching her face.
All this time, nature has loved her through it all.
Even when she couldn’t see it or hated herself for the flowers in her hair, nature was always there to love her.
She has finally seen who she truly is
Nature’s Heart.

(BID on original painting by Jacqui Hacksever “Nature’s Heart”)

Make a Wish!

By Rebecca Foster-Rife inspired by original painting Make A Wish (Sold) by Mary Swift from Auction “Love Stories”

Inspired by Mary Swift’s painting of the same title:
A mama squirrel, so gentle and kind,
Baked a cupcake, with love in her mind.
Fluffy and warm, it rose just right,
A birthday treat for her daughter’s delight.
She swirled on frosting, soft and sweet,
A mountain of cream, a delicious feat.
On top – a candle – glowing bright,
Casting a soft and flickering light.
Her little one, so full of cheer,
Has reached the milestone of her first year.
From tiny paws and a first small crawl,
To giggles and laughter, so full and tall.
The first steps taken, the first word said,
The days of wonder, so joyfully spread.
The mother smiled, her heart full of cheer,
“Make a wish, little one, the magic is here.”
The flame danced high, as wishes took flight,
Filling the air with dreams so bright.
The little squirrel giggled, eyes sparkled with glee,
Full of the joy of her first birthday, pure as can be.