Her Portrait Is Black and White

The Projection Of Love

Bette watched as Tina's works were brought into the gallery. Tina was nervously stood to one side, watching as an expert team slowly put the pieces where they were to be displayed. In three day's it would be opening night and the place would be filled with the art press, critics and the public. Tina rubbed her arm as she stood to one side, her watching as one of her darker pieces was brought it. a black and white piece that was filled with dark emotions, that she'd called 'cloud of darkness.' Naming the pieces hadn't been as easy as she had thought. usually she had numbered them all but this was her first full solo show and she wanted to do this right.

Bette walked over and could see how nervous Tina was.

"Are you okay?" Bette asked, standing close not making contact with Tina, who still wasn't great with open public displays of affection.

"Nervous, you've made the space very open. I love the natural light in here. it's amazing."

"It will bring out the colours in your work better," Bette smiled as James walked over and passed her a piece of paper,

Yesterday they had started to list the paintings on the website and had put all of them apart from Naked up for sale. Tina had no idea how much each painting was worth. She had been too bothered about them being moved into the gallery to even ask Bette.

Bette grinned. I wide smile. she couldn't believe it.

"If I could jump up and down in these heels I would right now," Bette laughed.

"Why?" Tina looked at her through half closed eyes.

"Because 'the bloom of orgasm' has sold for $900,000.00." the painting was what she had painted after her first orgasm it was a colourful piece that had been all the colour she had seen when Bette had made love to her.

"What?" Tina's jaw dropped. She hadn't thought any of her pieces were worth that much. She had been selling pieces for years and getting no where near as much as this.

"I could ask for whatever I wanted. I can value your painting at whatever price I see fit, but Jonathan does that, it's not even the most expensive piece but it as sold, and the prints of it have already sold out. James," Bette turned to her assistant as Tina pushed her hands into her jeans pockets and shifted from one foot to the other. She couldn't believe this was happening. after all the crap in her life. even when she had found love she had never expected her art career to take off and here she was.

"Yes Bette,"

"We are going to need another batch of The Bloom of Orgasm printing up, we've already sold the 100 we had."

"Sure thing Bette. I will sort it now." James walked off picking up the work phone.

"How much do you...erm?" Tina shifted

"What?" Bette reached out and gently tucked a lose strand of hair behind Tina's ear. A calming gesture that made Tina a little calmer.

"How much are the prints?" Tina' voice was weak, how was her work making so much money already?

"Depends on the painting, they range from $125 to $750 depending on the size and painting."

"My goodness Bette, I'm a real artist now." Tina smiled softly

"Honey you already were a real artist you had joint shows your name is out there, a lot of my contacts already knew who you were from the New York show. People are looking forward to coming on Friday."

"No, what I mean is I can make money off this, I'm making money off this. I know, I know you will take a cut, because this is your place and you're doing the selling. But I'm making money from this for the first time. I've made a loss for the last three years. It will be nice to be in profit." Tina grinned.

Bette kissed her softly on the lips. Before looking around as the team started to hang the works.

"You're going to make this work, you've worked so hard. you're enjoying this. there are so hidden gems like you pencil and charcoal drawing and there are large scale master pieces. I know the art work is excited to see this all on Friday night. I really want this to work for you Ti, I do. you've had a horrible few months and I just want something to go write for you, for us."

Tina looked at her ring, on her left hand. a ring that had been refitted and now she and Bette wore. It was a sign of their relationship their togetherness. Their love for each other.

"I love you," Tina whispered. "I love that you're letting me express every emotion through my work from love, to lust, to anger, to hate. They are all present." Tina stopped. "I don't need to make a speech tomorrow do I?"

"No, I will be making the speech you don't' have too. You may have to talk to some press, and you might have to talk to some public who will want to meet you before they buy their pieces. Sometimes talking to the artist helps."

"Okay, I think I can deal with that." Tina, started playing with her jeans, she was suddenly nervous again. her ingrained shyness sometimes did this too her.

"Baby, it's okay. I'm going to be right here with you. If you want I will stand at your side all night. I'm going to support you."

Tina moved and gently lent her body on Bette as one of her team walked over.

"Ms Porter, I've just had a call from The Peabody Foundation, Peggy will be attending and she wants to know if she can meet the artist."

"Karl, let her know she can, and Karl tell her that she has to buy something and not just flirt with my staff."

"I don't think I can say that too her."

"You can and you will," Bette smiled.

Tina looked shocked as Karl walked away.

"Peggy is Helena's Mom right?"

"Yeah and she's a flirt. She always buys but she always tries to get at least one of my team into bed with her. she likes young men."

"How young?" Tina asked

"I think her latest man is 31 and she's in her seventies. I think. I've never asked her."

"Wow." Tina smiled. "Your friends are coming?"

"Yes, they will all be here, you will have some familiar faces too. You're going to be amazing."

Tina nodded. She knew that she wouldn't be. It was going to be hard for her not to stumble over her words and make a fool of herself. she took another look around the gallery as her paintings were being displayed. She couldn't believe that this was happening. this was her show. Her rules. Tina took a deep breath as she watched the leaflets for the show being put out, she had named the show. A show which meant more to her than she could admit. She had called it 'The Projection of Love' as most of the pieces were about love, hate and life.