Create a new image, go to "Layers, Channels & Paths". Create a new path by clicking on

. Use

to modify the points.

Select a brush (Circle 07 should be good):

Select a color. Not too bright (R:127 G:31 B:0 gives a nice dark red). Click on

to stroke the path:

Select a fuzzy brush (in our case Cirle Fuzzy 07):

Select a brighter color (I used R:255 G:63 B:0). Stroke the path again:

Source:the Gimp User Group