Zuo Yunshan once asked Ye Gang about their couple's income. Ye Gang's income is variable, roughly 5,000 yuan per month, but one-half of it is used for expenses. He transfers business to his acquaintances, socializes with friends, and often rides to units where business may be available to buy paints and painting supplies. Wait, half of the income will be spent.
He Zhi's monthly income from the bar in Shinjuku is about 7,000 yuan. Because I had no experience, I didn’t earn much at the beginning, but I finally reached my current level two years ago. The bar was relatively simple, so she saved money on clothing. She had been tempted by outsiders several times, but she always refused in disgust. Ye Gang also disapproved of her transfer to a luxurious bar.
Ye Gang is not good at living independently, so it would be much better for two people to live together. He Zhi is saving money desperately for the future, and Ye Gang also wants He Zhi to quit his job at the bar as soon as possible. The current life is certainly not his original intention. Currently, he hopes to find an ideal client and own a design office. This is what He Zhi is saving for. As a pattern designer, if you cannot stand on your own feet, you will not be able to develop.
When Zuo Yunshan moved into this apartment, Ye Gang was already living next door. Since they were neighbors, the relationship has been very good. Zuo Yunshan had no friends, and Ye Gang had no friends. Sometimes he would go to some friends for help.
Ye Gang also said that he was clumsy and socially awkward. He tried his best to flatter those acquaintances in the pattern design shop who had transferred their business to him. In order to entertain them, he spent a third of his budget just on meals and tea. He often returned to his apartment in a humiliating mood.
This mood prompted Ye Gang to have the belief to seek help from Zuo Yunshan. When He Zhi was not at home, he would work alone in the house until late at night, waiting for Zuo Yunshan in the neighboring room to come back from get off work.
Ye Gang's small room didn't even have room to intervene. The table with a small lamp on it is sloping like a design table, with small drawings on it, cut-out pieces of paper scattered around, four or five open reference books stacked on it, and a dozen or so on the side. There were only small pens and brush washers, paint boxes, large and small crow's-bill pens, compasses, dividers, etc., as well as some open paint bottles.
There was a drawing board lying across the living room, with drawing paper pasted with water on it, and newspapers underneath. The paint was scattered all over the room, and even the bed sheets were stained with color. There is a row of paint bottles next to the drawing board, and plates containing paint are placed on the floor. There are many brushes, hand pens, long-point pens, etc. used for painting large paintings in the house.
There are rolls of drawing paper, rules, drawing tools, etc. next to it. There is something like a car pump with a small can attached to it, which is a color sprayer. All around, some damaged paintings were torn, some were crumpled into balls and thrown across the room. Beside the wall, picture albums were piled high like several hills. These are concentrated in the open space outside old cabinets and other furniture, so people who come in from the outside have to stand upright and wait for the owner to make a space. The only place in the room where Ye Gang was sitting was empty.
"I'll make a place for you to sit."
Ye Gang bent over and hurriedly packed up the drawing paper and the opened picture album.
"Okay, I'll just sit there." Zuo Yunshan stood there and looked at the painting that was 80% done on the panel, "Oh, it's a poster!"
The picture shows three connected red mountains, with wavy clouds floating in the blue sky above, and little puppets painted on the corners below.
"Well, actually I called you here to ask you to take a look at this."
Ye Gang looked at the painting together next to Zuo Yunshan.
"This looks like an autumn scene in the north!"
After listening to Zuo Yunshan's words, Ye Gang said happily:
"Yes, this is a promotional poster for the railway in autumn. It is an open call for submissions. The first prize is 50,000 yuan..."
"Ah, it would be great if I could win the prize!"
"The prize of 50,000 yuan is not much, but the name of the winner will be widely known and published in the newspaper, which will be of great benefit to my business."
"Can the painting fee be increased?"
"I won't improve immediately, but my name will be known to some people in the design world. Even if it is a small type, it is not easy to be published in the corner of the central newspaper. It is not easy for ordinary people. It’s meaningful, but it’s a hot topic among our colleagues!”
"Yeah?"
In that case, there will be no problem in becoming a first-class designer. Oh, how I wish it would happen sooner! "
"You will make it happen, no one works as hard as you."
"No, everyone is doing it, and I wasted some time. There are many young and outstanding talents in Nanguang."
"I am also 26 years old, and I can no longer hang around."
Ye Ya's voice sounded in Zuo Yunshan's mind. I'm going to see the location of the new store tomorrow, and moving out of this apartment is just around the corner. The words to comfort Ye Gang gradually became boring.
"You are 5 years younger than me, so you can work for 5 more years, which is enviable!"
"The five-year age difference is nothing. It's not a problem for talented people."
"What talents do I have!" Ye Gang sighed, "Actually, I wanted to hear your opinion before you came back." Ye Gang changed the topic and pointed to the painting on the drawing board. He has a timid character, but he has a tenacity for painting.
"I'm a layman.
"No, your opinions are always correct and to the point. I think you have a good knowledge of styling."
"I really can't take it seriously when you say that."
"Really, I told He Zhi the same thing. How about it? What are your opinions after reading it? You are generally proficient in these."
Ye Gang stood aside and looked at Zuo Yunshan enthusiastically, looking very confident.
"Very good!"
"Really?" Ye Gang looked excited.
In fact, this painting gives people a sense of unrest. Where does this feeling come from? The three red mountains as the main subject are abstract, but the wavy clouds in the sky are painted realistically. It is this disharmony that makes people feel unsettled. The small puppet in the lower right corner was probably added as a symbol of the northern region, and this is more concrete, which further aggravates the disharmony and seems to be superfluous.
The depiction of the wavy clouds is very delicate, but lacks bold simplification, and is thus separated from the main subject, the mountains. Without unity, no matter how good your technique is, you will not be able to draw a good picture.
He often looks at Ye Gang's paintings, so he has some feelings about them. Ye Gang seems to be more skillful in details but does not add bold ideas. Just like the mixture of abstraction and concreteness, deformation and realism in this poster, he lacks the feeling of painting.
Zuo Yunshan thought so in his heart, but did not say it outright. Looking at Ye Gang's expression expecting him to express his feelings, he didn't want to disappoint him.
"Are there any shortcomings? You're welcome, just tell me! Ye Gang looked at the painting and then at Zuo Yunshan's face and said. Just the words "perfect" can't satisfy him. He wants to hear some analytical words. Opinion.
"No, there doesn't seem to be any obvious shortcomings."
If he pointed out the shortcomings, he would rework them all.
