"Just like the name of the system's series of tasks, is it really all-encompassing? Is the reward for this task actually a skill in the field of watercolor painting? In fact, it's not bad when you think about it."
Gu Weijing is not new to watercolor painting.
There are certain similarities between watercolor painting and colored pencil painting.
In fact, every time he uses Menzel's skills to draw colored pencils, even if the main improvement is sketching, he will gain about ten or twenty points of watercolor experience points.
Based on the commonality of the two painting methods,
It's like building muscles in the gym and doing squats on a Smith machine. Even if your original intention is to train your thighs specifically, the strength of your waist and abdomen will also increase.
It's hard to see any fitness enthusiast with a waist as slender as chopsticks but with the strength of Schwarzenegger's limbs.
Painting is a whole,
Your experience with color, line, and structure will also play a role in other categories, just to a greater or lesser extent.
but,
In Gu Weijing's current painting panel, he only reaches Level 2 [Basic (96/100)] for printmaking and Level 3 [Semi-Professional (219/1000) for watercolor). Compared with Chinese paintings, sketches, and oil paintings, In terms of the three major items, it is obviously a shortcoming.
It’s just that the printmaking experience value is lower and the proficiency level is lower.
Anyway, Gu Weijing believes that his focus will not be on printmaking for the time being.
It's not that the upper limit of printmaking is not high enough, but that this painting method is often prepared for engraving artworks on copper plates or wooden boards for large-scale reproduction and printing. It is often not too late to study printmaking until you are truly famous.
The heyday of pop art from the 1970s to around 2010,
Andy Warhol, Takashi Murakami and many other pop art painters all like to integrate printmaking techniques into their creative ideas in their later creative styles. They produce them in batches and each piece costs millions or tens of millions of dollars. In the art market The money earned online can buy a Ford-class aircraft carrier.
but,
For ordinary painters, printmaking still has the inherent shortcoming that the level of fineness is not high enough and there is no way to express delicate and colorful color layers.
If the craftsman's printing skills are not good enough, the work... can really only be said to be superficial.
Historically, during the Meiji Restoration period, for Japanese goods sold to Europe, a large number of ukiyo-e prints were used as the outer packaging of Japanese industrial products. In fact, the physical appearance was quite rough.
If you are not a top art master,
Whether participating in the art selection of art biennales or buying and selling paintings in the primary and secondary trading markets, collectors and judges will have concerns about art that can be mass-produced, and their enthusiasm is not too high.
Therefore, printmaking is actually a relatively unimportant technique in the entire painting genre.
For artists and art school students, printmaking is like a dessert on the table. If you can draw well, you will be awesome. If you don't know how to draw, it won't be a big problem.
Watercolor is different, it is a main course like steak and risotto.
The colors are bright and the brushwork is gorgeous.
Although the strokes of watercolor are not as varied as oil paints, the picture is smoother and more translucent, the look and feel is fresh and real, and the color ductility is worse than that of oil paints.
If oil painting is the king of Western painting, then the queen's throne must belong to watercolor painting.
Art students at Dulwich like Gu Weijing,
Printmaking classes and pen drawing classes are only half-semester elective courses that focus on understanding. However, watercolor, like sketching and oil painting, is a required course from elementary school to high school.
"Thinking about it, I'm quite looking forward to it. I wonder if Menzel's basic painting experience can be combined with this skill. This old man is also famous for his watercolor painting." Gu Weijing muttered in his heart.
Watercolor painting was invented in Germany and flourished in England.
In the field of Western painting, especially before the 20th century, if a painter was a great artist sought after by the upper class, there were only two possibilities.
Either he is an oil painter or he is a watercolor painter.
Other types of paintings, such as pen paintings and paper-cut paintings, are somewhat inferior.
In many cases, watercolor masters and oil painting masters are even the same people.
Oil painting and watercolor are the right and left hands of Western artists. Menzel, Turner, Picasso... these people are all great painters who master both oil painting and watercolor.
This reward really has a very good reinforcing effect on Gu Weijing's lack of watercolor painting experience.
"The last reward was Castiglione's painting techniques, and this reward is watercolor painting. The system arrangement is quite interesting, but I don't know what the next reward will be?"
Thinking of this, Gu Weijing suddenly became curious in his heart.
Castiglione not only created a new painting method that combined Chinese and Western oil paintings.
This missionary from Milan is often considered by later generations to be the first person to bring watercolor painting to the East.
He introduced watercolor painting to Eastern Xia in the middle of the Qing Dynasty, which was exactly 300 years ago, adding a new color to the oriental art that embraced all rivers.
The system rewards two consecutive tasks, which happens to follow the context of Eastern art history, which is quite elegant and interesting.
"Mr. Xiao Gu?"
Uncle Alai had just started the Elantra, and Gu Weijing was still staring at the system tasks, but the car suddenly slowed down again.
"Someone is greeting us. Do we need to stop?" The uncle asked, staring at the intersection ahead and putting his hands on the steering wheel.
A bald man with a cigarette in his mouth was leaning on the door of a champagne-colored BMW at the intersection, waving to where Gu Weijing was as if he was trying to stop a taxi.
He was obviously gesturing for them to come over.
"Why is it him? What's the matter?"
Gu Weijing recognized that it was Brother Hao's Da Ma Zai, and frowned slightly, "Uncle Alai, you'd better stop the car, you can't hide."
This guy is like a fly. If he ignores him, he might end up in his home shop.
The monk can't escape from the temple if he can escape by himself.
With Uncle Alai beside him, he might be safer now.
The car stopped next to the BMW.
The other party gently knocked on the back seat window and waited for Gu Weijing to roll down the back seat window, then a shiny bald head poked in.
"Mr. Gu, you are going to the orphanage to paint again! I heard that the children in the orphanage there like you very much. I never thought you could have such kindness. No wonder you look down on bad people like us."
The bald man licked the corner of his mouth and looked at Gu Weijing with a half-smile.
"Follow me?" Gu Weijing took a deep breath.
"Following you, no, there's no need, Mr. Gu. Everything that happens in this city, from the files on the table in the mayor's office to the mating of stray dogs on the roadside, is all whether Brother Hao wants to know or not. .”
The bald man chewed a cigarette and blew out a smoke ring, looking contented with himself.
He came with a mission, but he also didn't mind Xiao Xiao showing off Brother Hao's omnipotence in front of Gu Weijing.
"Anything Brother Hao wants, he can't get it, never." Baldhead said quietly.
Brother Hao's most trusted subordinate showed off a pun, looked at Gu Weijing, pointedly increased his tone, and repeated word for word: "Never."
Gu Weijing's brows twitched slightly, and his body felt a little chilly.
He knew what the words meant.
Brother Hao is omnipotent and will definitely get what he wants. This is the self-confidence of a gangster. His will is the law and the rules for city operation, which naturally includes pulling him into trouble.
Gu Weijing glanced worriedly at the driver's seat in front and found that Uncle Alai was also looking at him through the rearview mirror.
It was different from what he imagined.
Being entangled by the bald head,
On the face of this tall, dark-skinned janitor, there was neither the nervousness of having just started working for his employer but the trouble, nor the understatement of "I've seen a lot of storms in those days, just a gangster is nothing."
He was just very calm.
Alai's face was expressionless, his eyelids almost unblinking, and he was as calm as a deep pool as smooth as a mirror.
Looking into Uncle Alai's eyes made Gu Weijing feel at ease.
"No offense to Brother Hao, but I think there may be exceptions to everything." Gu Weijing calmed down and said softly: "What can I do for you?"
"I like your good nature. Has anyone ever told you that someone with such courage would have a bright future in the underworld?"
The bald man was surprised at the middle school student's calmness and gave a slight thumbs up.
"Are you just here to praise me? Or do you want to continue to persuade me to do things for Brother Hao? We shouldn't have discussed this issue many times. If I change my mind at any time, I think I will call Brother Hao." Gu. Weijing wants to end this conversation quickly.
"Don't be so nervous, Mr. Gu, I'm not here to cause trouble today." The bald man waved his hand, "Boss is worried that what happened to you and Miao scared you and affected your painting state, so he specifically asked me to apologize. .”
"Apologise?"
This answer was indeed beyond Gu Weijing's expectation.
The bald man scratched the back of his head: "Brother Hao's admiration for you makes me a little jealous. If I hadn't followed Brother Hao for so many years, I would have suspected that you were his illegitimate son or something."
"Brother Hao said that what happened to Miao Angwen was an accident. I hope you can prepare for the art exhibition with peace of mind. He thinks highly of you. Since it is an apology, I also brought you a calming souvenir as requested."
Just as Gu Weijing was about to refuse, he saw the bald man open the trunk and take out the apology gift, which was... a mango platter and a box of high-calcium milk.
It is indeed a gift that calms the nerves.
"Brother Hao, what do you mean? Sorry, I didn't bring anything to repay today."
Gu Weijing looked at the fruit and milk.
The gift was indeed not serious, but he still didn't want to have anything to do with Brother Hao and his gang.
"There's no need to return the favor."
The bald man seemed really helpless: "Mr. Xiao Gu, you can look down on me, but please consider my identity. To put it bluntly, even if I am a gangster, I am still a respectable gangster in the underworld. It would be too shameful to threaten others with a fruit plate as a favor."
"Please don't refuse. This is really just a gift and has no other meaning."
"Since Brother Hao specially ordered me to apologize to you, I have to prepare a gift. If you want a more expensive apology, then this is actually better."
The bald man smiled and took out another envelope from his arms.
"Look, I prepared a check for 75 million kyats from the Central Bank of Myanmar on the way here, but I guess you wouldn't want it, so I didn't take it out just now."
"Check or fruit, choose one."
The bald head said softly: "For the sake of my sincerity, Mr. Gu, please understand the difficulties of those of us who work for the boss. I have to go back and explain to Brother Hao. Even if you let me treat you to a cup of milk tea Woolen cloth?"
Gu Weijing looked at the envelope in the bald hand with a red seal stamped with the Central Bank's abbreviation CBM and sighed.
"How generous."
If it hadn't been for his tutor since childhood, Gu Weijing might have rushed up to hug Brother Hao's thigh.
The denomination of the check thrown out casually was about the same as the advance payment paid to him by a publishing giant like Scholastic Group for his first "The Little Prince."
This kind of underworld boss is really like the devil in a story, whispering in your ear at any time and showing you a beautiful illusion of endless wealth in gold, silver, and jewelry.
Even this wealth is not an illusion at all.
As long as you waver a little bit in your heart and obey the devil's promise, then these things are really yours, and the price is to exchange your soul and freedom.
Faced with a check of 75 million kyats, how many people can never say no?
The bald man tilted his head, expecting to see a trace of wavering in Gu Weijing's expression.
As long as the other party accepts the bank check that looks "unencumbered" this time, the bald head will be sure to let Gu Weijing accept the sports car next time, and next time he can let him start painting some small-sized works for Brother Hao...
That's how people are,
Just like Pavlov trained his dog, once there is a first time, there will be a second time, and slowly dependence will be formed.
Baldhead has not read any books and does not know that this situation is called a moral decline in philosophy. But Bald is a big gangster from the market, and he has his own "street wisdom".
Those who lost their wives and sold their organs to gamble all started playing slot machines for a few kyats. Those rotten and smelly hidden men who injected heroin into their veins all started smoking low-purity marijuana from the first sip. .
Fall has a gravity,
It will slowly make you tangled deeper and deeper in the mud.
Even Uncle Alai, who always seemed to be wearing a poker face mask, frowned slightly at this time.
"Take the check and give me 75 million kyats with an apology. I don't have such a big face. Brother Hao accepts his kindness, but I can't afford it."
Gu Weijing smiled in his heart.
People influence each other, and he brought changes to the Good Luck Orphanage.
The selfless female dean, the innocent children, and Uncle Alai who wants to be a good person...
These people also subtly changed Gu Weijing, making him believe that integrity can bring greater satisfaction than money.
Gu Weijing shook his head, not wanting to embarrass the other party by breaking out and saying, "If it's really difficult for you, just keep the fruit plate."
Uncle Alai breathed a sigh of relief.
The bald man was a little disappointed, but he didn't force it. He carried the fruit plate and milk and was about to open the trunk of the Elantra.
"Please sit in the front row." Uncle Alai knocked on the car window.
He was not in the habit of interjecting in the conversation of distinguished guests;
So he kept quiet when Gu Weijing was talking to the bald head, and the bald head thought he was an Uber driver.
Only then did the bald man notice this taciturn man.
He opened the passenger door of the Elantra, threw the fruit plate on the floor mat, and then picked up a carton of milk, but his bald head suddenly stopped.
"Brother, are you a gangster? You're a ruthless person. Which big brother are you with?"
The bald man asked with a frown, staring at the scars on the driver's face.
What really attracts the attention of the bald head is not the scars. There are so many people on the street who have had stitches on their faces for disfigurement, but the bald head never cares.
He felt that there was a vague power on the driver's head.
Not only do you have to be stained with blood, but you also have to be stained with a lot of blood to develop such a feeling.
People who roll out of blood are different from normal people, like monsters hiding under human skin.
Twenty years ago, he once saw an old man smoking in a heavily guarded mansion in Xihe District from a distance, but only took a vague look from a distance.
But with that Shura-like aura, Baldhead believed that he saw the legendary Kunsha who was imprisoned in the mansion.
That feeling, once you see it once, you will never forget it.
A truly scary person does not need to have a Buddha head tattooed on his neck to show his majesty and scare people like him. As long as people think about it and sit there motionless, you will start to feel awe unconsciously.
Baldhead has seen this feeling in Shura-like Kun Sha, he has seen it in Brother Hao, who is always gentle, and he also feels it vaguely in this silent driver.
(End of chapter)
