Lara Bergen: Disney Fairies : Art Lessons by Bess

“Look at him,” Fawn giggled. “He’s flattered!”

The little skunk had fluffed his tail. He turned his head this way and that, trying to look more handsome.

“Perfect,” Scarlett said. “Hold it just there! You look great.”

The tiny skunk preened.

Bess got to work right away. She sat at her easel, and Scarlett sat at hers, a few feet away. Fawn hovered several steps behind them, watching them work and keeping the baby skunk company.

Soon Bess was too absorbed in her painting to notice what the others were doing.

A few shadows here — maybe a little white there — Bess stuck the tip of her tongue out of her mouth, the way she often did when concentrating. Then hurriedly she pulled it back in. She didn’t want to appear silly in front of the others!

“Scarlett?” Bess said, still looking at her own canvas. “How are you doing?”

“Um.” Scarlett paused, then repeated, “Um.”

Bess turned from her painting to look at Scarlett’s. Her heart sank.

Although Bess’ painting was hardly more than a few lines on the canvas, the shape was clearly that of a skunk. Scarlett’s painting didn’t look like a skunk. It didn’t look like much of anything. All Scarlett could paint was a scribble. And not even a black and white scribble!

Fawn flew a little closer and frowned. “Is that supposed to be a dragonfly? I can bring one here, if you want.”

“That’s all right, Fawn. We’re fine,” Bess said quickly. She was worried about the disappointed look on Scarlett’s face. Thinking fast, she suggested, “Maybe you should try something abstract. Like the painting of mine you liked so much.”

Scarlett brightened. “That’s a good idea. I can just — swirl the paint around.”

Bess felt more hopeful as she turned back to her own work. The little skunk was still posing perfectly. She said to Fawn, “Tell your friend that he’s a wonderful model.”

Fawn spoke to the skunk. What she said sounded like so much chirping and humming to Bess. The baby skunk brightened and arched his tail to look even prettier.

Scarlett smiled

The skunk’s face smiled back from Bess’s canvas. She still had much to do, but this was progress. Bess called, “How does yours look, Scarlett?”

“I’m not sure,” Scarlett said weakly.

Bess turned to see Scarlett’s canvas. She had smeared paint all over it, but it didn’t look anything like Bess’ abstract work. Instead, the painting looked like a big blur.

Scarlett said, “I think I’m not a painter.”

“You can’t be sure yet,” Bess insisted. “Let your feelings go. Express yourself! Go wild! Get lost in emotion!”

“Okay.” Scarlett squeezed a large blob of yellow paint onto her palette. She took a deep breath as she scooped it up in her fingers. “Emotion. Wild. Right — now!”

Scarlett threw the yellow paint toward the canvas. It spattered brightly.

“Well,” Fawn said, “I guess that looks cheerful.”

“Cheerful!” Scarlett bounced up and down, getting excited. “So now some — blue!”

Blue paint went splat onto the canvas. This, too, looked cheerful — but it clashed with the yellow, in Bess’ opinion.

Scarlett frowned. She’d seen it too. “I need something to tie the colors together, don’t I? What about — green?”

“It’s worth a try,” Bess said.

Quickly Scarlett grabbed a tube of green and squeezed a huge goop of it into her hand. She swirled her hand around and closed her eyes, muttering, “Be wild. Wild. Wild!”

Without opening her eyes, Scarlett threw the green paint as hard as she could.

Except that she missed the canvas.

Bess gasped as paint splattered all over the baby skunk. The skunk, startled, lifted his tail and—

“Oh, no!” all three fairies cried as skunk-stink filled the studio. Bess and Scarlett ran outside for fresh air, coughing. Fawn remained inside to calm the little skunk.

“Is he okay?” Scarlett cried to Fawn. “I didn’t mean to scare him!”

“He’ll be fine,” Fawn said. Through the window, Bess could see Fawn petting the skunk’s head. “He’s mostly embarrassed.”

Bess sighed. “Don’t feel bad, Scarlett. That could have happened to anyone.”

“At least we know one thing,” Scarlett said. “We know I’m not a painter.”

AFTER FAWN HAD taken the baby skunk back home, Bess and Scarlett hovered outside the studio, unsure what to do. The entire tangerine create stank of skunk.

“What will I tell everyone?” Bess said. The other fairies were sure to think this was ridiculous.

Scarlett said, “Tell them the truth, of course — that I frightened the skunk. I’d fly backwards if I could, Bess. I know this leaves you without a place to work.”

“That’s all right,” Bess said. She felt like she could use a couple of days to recover. “I just wish I knew when I could use my studio again.”

“Only a couple of days,” cried a voice from overhead, “if you let me help you!”

Bess and Scarlett looked up. Above them, Lily hovered in the air, holding a tomato so plump her arms could hardly fit around it. “Why do you have a tomato?” Bess said in surprise.

“The best way to remove skunk-stink is with tomato juice.” Lily nodded firmly. “Trust me. This is exactly what your studio needs.”

Scarlett smiled in delight. “Really? How does it work?”

Lily explained, “We’re going to squash tomatoes in Bess’ studio. We’ll make a big mess, but the juice will take the smell away. Then Rani has promised to rinse everything clean with some water charms.”

“It’s that simple?” Bess felt relieved. “Are you sure you both have time to help?”

“It’s the least I can do, after frightening the skunk,” Scarlett said.

Lily giggled. “I’m glad to help, but really, I just think squashing tomatoes is fun. Watch!”

With that, Lily flew to the door of Bess’ studio, dropped the tomato at the open doorway and jumped down upon it. Brilliant red juice sprayed in every direction — and all over Lily.

Everyone began to laugh. Lily looked so silly, with tomato juice dripping from her hair and her nose.

Oh, dear — will I look like that, too? Bess didn’t like looking ridiculous in front of her friends. Yet she realized that already the smell wasn’t so bad. It was going to work!

If it would make her studio usable again, Bess was willing to do anything, even look silly.

For the next couple of hours, Bess, Lily and Scarlett worked together. They would fly to Lily’s garden to gather tomatoes, then back to the tangerine-crate studio. Each fairy would put a tomato on the floor, fly up to the ceiling, and then — SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!

They squashed each tomato, flying downward in belly-flops and swan dives.

The smell improved bit by bit.

Scarlett and Lily seemed to be having the time of their lives. Neither one paid any attention to the red juice and pulp all over their clothes and skin. Bess couldn’t relax, knowing that she was the messiest she’d ever been in her life. But she kept working hard.

After they’d squashed the last tomato, Scarlett said, “Is that it?” She sounded disappointed that the fun ever had to stop.

“Afraid so,” Lily said. “You’ll want to let the studio air out for the rest of the day, Bess.”