Write a story about an artist whose work has magical properties.

Posted in Fantasy on Feb 23, 2024

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✍️ 99 stories

“3rd Period Band” by Jennifer Fremon

Submitted to Contest #239

On the end of a plain, unremarkable street in Queens sits JHS 212, a typical public school by NYC standards. Only at some point the very active PTA of this typical public school had decided to put a whole lot of fundraising money toward its music program, multiple classes, real instruments, the real deal. So if your kids went to school here, they would have the option to be in band, and not just any band, one of the most impressive middle school bands in the city, run by one of the best teachers your pre-teen could ever hope to have.********...

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“Vanity, and a Deal with the Devil” by Ty Warmbrodt

Submitted to Contest #239

TW: sexual and suicidal imagery.Jenny Murphy is gorgeous, just ask her. Her parents spoil her. Her friends admire her. Boys desire to be with her and girls want to be her, encouraging lust and envy wherever she goes. She’s dating the most popular boy in school and her teachers love her. Jenny feels the world is her oyster, spinning around her, set in motion specifically to give her everything she wants.“Ugh, here comes Jenny Murphy. Just keep your heads down. Maybe she’ll pass us by,” Melissa Carter tells her friends at the lunch table outsi...

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“Just A Pinch” by J.M. Maxim

Submitted to Contest #239

“OK people, you know the drill. Bigger the risk, bigger the reward.” Big Paul pushed his thin, greasy hair back off one side of his sweaty forehead. The air shimmered as he waved a pudgy hand towards the huge whiteboard on the back wall of the kitchen. Names, dates and the promised payment filled in. Sheila watched in awe, as every column and row appeared with text. Since starting as a sous chef three years ago, she had never seen a single week where the pledge board at Light Fantastic, the hottest restaurant on the north shore, wasn’t ...

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“Brushstrokes of Fate” by Kemz F

Submitted to Contest #239

The vibrant red of the paint looked violent against the bumpy white canvas surface. Xavier grimaced. He'd never intended to make the painting so violent. But art had a mind of its own and so did magick. He sat in the chair for hours ignoring the pain that cemented itself in the muscles of his bottom. For hours he did the slow work of creating something. And as was with all his art he had no idea what was going to be made when he'd first begun. He got up once. To turn on the small lantern that sat next to his easel. Then again, he retur...

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“Diorama” by Zain Deane

Submitted to Contest #239

The cars meet in a crumpled mess in the middle of the intersection. The passenger side of the white Audi has caved in completely, and broken glass litters the pavement like scattered diamonds on velvet. A burly firefighter, call him Travis, drags the driver out, negotiating his limp body through jagged metal and the tiny explosion of the airbag. There’s very little blood. Things are very different on the other side of the car. Blood polka-dots what’s left of the windshield and dashboard, smears the leather seats, and soaks the clothes of th...

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“Lady Bountiful” by Christine LW

Submitted to Contest #239

Rene Devine looked out to sea, from his small studio amid the rocks, he felt at peace to continue his art. People came from North and South to see his work transpire on canvas. The sea it self held many secrets and it could be calm or temperamental. He could paint a pleasant cottage scene. With flowers in the garden and smoke curling in blue in blue and grey hues from the chimney pot. Or if you wanted drama a lifeless body upon the cliff tops with pink grey sky with seagulls circling the air.It had been an inspirational idea to turn his aunt...

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“Please Don't Touch The Art” by Luca King Greek

Submitted to Contest #239

The last rays of sunlight sliced through the sweltering Bornean rainforest. The buzzsaw sound of cicadas, the flute-song of the barbet and the bark of an orangutan heralded the tropical dusk. Beth stumbled around in the swamp, hardly knowing which way to turn, or where to point her camera. So much to see, so little time.“Madam, we should go”, said Awang, the local guide, looking around nervously, “it will be dark soon”.“Just a couple more minutes, please”, said Beth, angling her camera lens into the mouth of the giant carrion ...

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“Water into wine” by Sophie Irish

Submitted to Contest #239

Wandering through the hospital halls running my fingers along the walls, the silence was calming, familiar. It was late and I was waiting for my mother to finish her rounds. It was boring, so I roamed, as I often did. I could hear the rhythmic beeping of machines and the shuffles of patients followed by the scurry of doctors and nurses. Every evening the same, a slight heaviness in the air and murmurs from loved ones. My mum worked on the ICU ward so the atmosphere was either chaotic and loud or layered with a strange and ominous serenity. ...

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“Stumpers Don't Have Hearts” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #239

"No, no, my Dear. You've got this all wrong," Lord Balister gave his most ingratiating smile. "It was never my intention for you to feel kidnapped." He approached Nimmo with his arms outstretched. "I regret you ever misunderstood my intentions," he glanced at his soldiers standing behind her. "I blame my men for being over-exuberant. They were only to deliver my invitation and escort you," he paused and raised a finger towards the nervous men in mild reproach, "After you accepted, of course."A little woman of indistinct age stood among Lord ...

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“Scratch and Sniff” by Denise Glickler

Submitted to Contest #239

In the heart of the bustling city, nestled between towering skyscrapers and bustling cafes, was a quaint little art studio. It belonged to a man named Raphael, an artist of extraordinary talent and peculiar abilities. Raphael was no ordinary artist; his work possessed a unique characteristic - it exuded an aroma that mirrored his emotions during its creation. Raphael discovered his unusual talent during his early years at the art academy. He was working on a sculpture, his hands molding the clay with a fervor that reflected his frustration...

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“The Artist and the Actor” by Delaney Howard

Submitted to Contest #239

I am Celestia, your narrator for this tale and fellow traveler in this unknowable universe. I am the epitome of midnight's grace, the silhouette that prowls in silence beneath the silvered glow of the moon—cloaked in obsidian velvet, my fur drinks in the essence of the night, each sleek strand a tribute to the darkness that dances in my veins. My eyes, twin orbs of shimmering emerald, gleam with the wisdom of ages untold, reflecting the secrets whispered by the stars. They are windows to a world beyond mortal comprehension, where magic weave...

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“Paper Beetles” by Violet Robbins

Submitted to Contest #239

The fire crackled and glimmered. Silas's eyes felt heavy as he gazed mesmerized at the dancing flames. What was this feeling in his stomach? It felt like something coiling around his heart, constricting him, and sucking all the life that he had once had out of him. He and his girlfriend of two-years had broken up a few months ago, and he still hadn't gotten over it. On nights like these, he found himself awake, unable to comprehend what he was really truly supposed to be doing with his life. He had just constantly felt so bitter and empty....

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“Dreamscapes” by Sara Potter

Submitted to Contest #239

“Thanks for doing this,” Maggie breathed as they hurried into the art gallery from the frigid night. “No worries. Anything for Jane.” Rob took Maggie’s coat, hat, and gloves and handed them with his winter gear to the coat check attendee. “It’s not every night that we get to be cool people that attend an art show premiere. Wine and passed hors d’oeuvres, what’s not to like?” Rob winked at Maggie and took her hand as they entered the gallery. “I just hope we’re not looking at a toilet in the middle of the room or three stripes on a can...

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“Life Giver” by Emily Pollan

Submitted to Contest #239

“Charlie!” Amanda called out, skipping her way over to the little boy under a tree. “Hi Amanda, did you sneak out again?” Charlie asked. “No! My mom said I could go out!” “Already? Weren’t you just grounded for sneaking out last time?” “Shush!” “Alright.” “Anyway, what are you drawing?” Amanda peerd over Charlie’s shoulder. “A butterfly. It’s almost done.” “It’s almost done?! Wow, this is the first time I’ll see it!” Amanda plopped down on the grass scattered with dandelions next to Charlie. Her eyes locked on to the delicate lines ...

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“Window to the Heart” by Jennifer Newton

Submitted to Contest #239

(Contains themes of depression and an instance of eye horror.) Forty-five degrees. A right angle. Inversion, and then reflection. Her fingers clutched the canvas and stained its spines in a panoply of hues as she twisted the angles, attempting to make sense of what she saw. She did it a hundred and one times, attempting to see every angle and every possible interpretation of her work. How long had she been here, held above and apart the world? Old projects sat abandoned against the walls by dust choked file cabinets and supplies. Her cloth...

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Write a story about an artist whose work has magical properties.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 99 stories

“3rd Period Band” by Jennifer Fremon

“Vanity, and a Deal with the Devil” by Ty Warmbrodt

“Just A Pinch” by J.M. Maxim

“Brushstrokes of Fate” by Kemz F

“Diorama” by Zain Deane

“Lady Bountiful” by Christine LW

“Please Don't Touch The Art” by Luca King Greek

“Water into wine” by Sophie Irish

“Stumpers Don't Have Hearts” by Daniel Rogers

“Scratch and Sniff” by Denise Glickler

“The Artist and the Actor” by Delaney Howard

“Paper Beetles” by Violet Robbins

“Dreamscapes” by Sara Potter

“Life Giver” by Emily Pollan

“Window to the Heart” by Jennifer Newton

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story where a regular household item becomes sentient.

Start your story with it raining… anything but rain (e.g. flowers, cutlery, seashells, running shoes).

Write a story where the laws of time and space begin to dissolve.

Write a story where your character is traveling a road that has no end.

Contest #239

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

515

Contest entries

132

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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