Artbeat

Chapter XXV

- CARSON -

As I walked to Kayden's studio, the crisp Saturday morning air filled my lungs, and the sun cast a warm glow over the streets. The familiar route stretched out before me, twice as long as my usual commute to school, but I didn't mind. I had left early, at 10 am, to ensure I arrived on time, and I felt a sense of excitement building in my chest.

I wore my trusty black shirt and overalls, my go-to painting outfit, and had hastily tied my hair into a bun, and let the stray strands fall loose not bothering to secure them. The simplicity of my attire allowed me to focus on the task at hand - creating art. I felt comfortable and confident, ready to tackle whatever projects Kayden had in store for me.

As I approached the studio, I could feel my heart beating slightly faster, a mix of anticipation and nerves. What would Kayden have me working on today? Would it be another challenging piece, pushing me to grow as an artist? I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and pushed open the door, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

__________

"What?"
I wasn't ready for this.

Kayden sat on the couch at the other side of the room, scrolling through his phone, realizing he had to repeat himself, "I said you can work on those before we start. You only have an hour and a half"

I turned back to the table, taking in the array of supplies laid out before me. Pencils, pens, eraser, ruler, and even a calculator - all the tools I needed to tackle the surprise math test.

I felt a surge of frustration and surprise, my mind racing with thoughts of protest. "Well, you could have at least told me I had a math test on a Saturday waiting for me. I could have-"

"Time's running out, Maeve," Kayden's voice cut through my thoughts, his tone firm but detached. "You need all those minutes that you're spending complaining."

I glared at Kayden, who remained seemingly unbothered, his eyes fixed on his phone.
I felt a sense of annoyance wash over me; I had been prepared for a day of painting, not a math exam.

I shot him a side-eye, but he didn't flinch, his gaze still fixed on his phone. I huffed, feeling a sense of resignation wash over me.
Is this why he needed me here early?
I should have just slept in.

This was not what I had signed up for. But, with a sigh, I reluctantly began to focus on the task at hand, my mind racing with calculations and formulas.

An hour and forty five minutes later,
Kayden handed my paper back to me. I stared at the paper in disbelief, my eyes fixed on the stark red numbers; 19 out of 50. My mind raced with thoughts of disappointment and frustration. All my efforts, and this was the result?

Kayden's question snapped me back to reality. "What do you have to say about your mark?" he asked, his tone neutral, but with a hint of expectation.

I shook my head, feeling a mix of emotions. "It's Saturday," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. It was a weak excuse, and I knew it.

Kayden raised an eyebrow, his expression unimpressed. "Your brain shouldn't shut down just because it's Saturday, Maeve," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "Math doesn't take a break, and neither should your thinking."

Kayden gestured for me to follow him, leading me to a new canvas in his studio. He began to sketch a intricate pattern of shapes and lines, his movements swift and confident. The pencil marks danced across the canvas, creating a hypnotic rhythm. I watched, transfixed, as the design began to take shape.

"What are you doing?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Wait and see," he replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

As he continued to draw, I noticed something strange - the shapes and lines seemed to be repeating, but in a way that was both symmetrical and asymmetrical at the same time. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. The pattern seemed to pulse with a life of its own, drawing me in.

"Mr. Pierce, this is... amazing," I breathed, my eyes fixed on the canvas.

He stepped back, nodding. "Math and art, Maeve. The patterns and structures of math can create beauty and wonder. And art can help us see the beauty in math."

I stared at the canvas, my mind racing with the possibilities. Kayden wasn't just telling me about the connection between math and art - he was showing me, in a way that was both stunning and thought-provoking.

Kayden handed me the brush, and I felt a surge of excitement mixed with a hint of nervousness. He gestured to the canvas, indicating that I should take over.

"You try it now, Maeve," he said, stepping back. "Remember, it's not just about recreating the pattern, but understanding the math behind it."

I nodded, taking a deep breath. I began to paint, carefully attempting to replicate the intricate design. Kayden didn't offer any guidance or corrections; he simply observed, his eyes fixed on my work.

At first, I felt uncertain, my strokes hesitant and uneven. But as I continued to paint, something strange happened. I started to see the math in the art, the patterns and structures emerging from the colors and shapes. My brush strokes grew more confident, my movements more fluid.

Kayden didn't interrupt me, even when I made mistakes. He let me learn from them, letting me figure out how to correct my errors and improve my technique. And when I finally finished, he nodded in approval.

"Look at that" he said, his voice laced with a hint of pride. "You've created something beautiful and more importantly, you've understood the math behind it."

I stepped back, gazing at my work, feeling a sense of accomplishment and wonder. Kayden had shown me the connection between math and art, but he had also let me discover it for myself.
I felt the excitement of continuing as Kayden left me to it.

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