PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot
“It was a beautiful day – almost perfect in its serenity. It demanded to be remembered, memorized. I set down my easel on the bank of the river, near the bend, at sunset. Glorious orange hues bounced and reflected off innumerable surfaces.
I never realized that one of those surfaces was the knife; never knew I had been present at the time of the murder. I realized it only the next day while watching the news.”
“Oh! What did you do then?”
“I went to the police station immediately. They now say it takes an artist’s observations to catch criminals!”
Flash fiction in response to Friday Fictioneers hosted by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff.
Thought trail 
I like the idea of being present at the scene of a crime and not noticing it
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Thank you so much!
I wondered. Can artists be so involved with the art that they notice the scene but not the event?
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I’m sure the artist could be that involved. The question in my mind, is could a murderer be so involved in murder that he didn’t notice an artist painting nearby? Never mind – it’s a great story anyway! It really is a fascinating scenario!
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I would think he felt a false sense of security. An artist’s eye doesn’t miss much. The criminal underestimates. Perhaps?! 🙂
Thanks for the praise, Penny! Appreciate it.
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I don’t think your artist is going to be much help to the police. “I saw nothing but the sky; I heard nothing but the river current.”
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Hahahaha! Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Dear FP,
Artists are observant people, aren’t they? 😉 I wonder how much this artist actually saw concerning the murder. Love your descriptions.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Thank you, for the kind comments!
Shalom,
Fluid Phrase
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Interesting idea, seeing the bigger picture and missing the details. Nice thought.
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Thank you, Iain!
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Shame he didn’t see what was going on, he could have fought off the villain with his paintbrush!
Click to read my FriFic!
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Hahaha!
Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
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oooh, wonder if the artist now needs to worry about the killer thinking he/she had witnessed something!
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The criminal has been caught! Hope the artist can live in peace. 🙂
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That’s a really interesting take – that observer’s eye could be really useful, you’re right. Well done on a great tale
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Than you for such kind words, Lynn!
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My pleasure 🙂
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Maybe this artist can help find the invisible box the mime dumped in the swamp.
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🙂
Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Oh, what an interesting take on the prompt. I like the idea of light bouncing off different surfaces and not noticing the knife.
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Thank you so much for the kind words, Alicia!
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To be present at the scene of a crime, but not notice it, not feel it, while immersing oneself in the surroundings, must be every artists’ nightmare. I fear being wrapped up in our own world is not limited to artists, though. I am thinking about the state of poverty and famine and war throughout the world and most people, choose to turn a blind eye to it, while focussing on their own lives.
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Very true Kelvin. I like how you have extended the story into a grim reality that is so true…. Thank you for the comment.
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That feels as though it is the bigger picture of your story, Fluid Phrases.
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An eye for detail coupled with a retentive memory–valuable not only to the artist. Great story.
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Thank you so much!
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An interesting take on the prompt.
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Thank you!
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Loved the vivid descriptions
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He wasn’t particularly observant at the time.
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🙂
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