BXBX NOVEL Chapter 72 - 69: Self-Portrait i
On his way home from school in the evening, Lin Yuan was trying to sum up the new knowledge he had just acquired in his head.
What he had gained this time was professional level painting skills.
However, those who really understand painting know that describing such a level as ‘professional’ is much too broad.
Just by distinguishing based on genre, painting already becomes very complex.
This includes ink wash painting, oil painting, prints, watercolor painting, as well as gouache painting, sketching, and many more directions.
If we were to categorize them based on materials, it would be even more exaggerated.
So, let’s just distinguish the few major genres that wield the most influence on Blue Star.
These major genres, ranked in order, are traditional Chinese painting, oil painting, watercolor, gouache, and sketching.
On Earth, oil painting is internationally recognized as superior to traditional Chinese painting, but on Blue Star, where the main appreciation model is Eastern-oriented, traditional Chinese painting is at the top, followed by oil painting.
Watercolor, gouache, and sketching, being essential for art students’ entrance exams, have a relatively lower barrier to entry, and the mass audience can also follow along.
In comparison, traditional Chinese painting and oil painting have a relatively higher barrier to entry.
As for Lin Yuan’s professional level painting skills…
It’s not that the system’s description of Lin Yuan’s professional level painting skills is too generalized, but because Lin Yuan’s professional level painting skills cover all these popular genres!
Traditional Chinese painting, oil painting, gouache, watercolor, sketching, he now knows them all.
“Let’s test the effects tonight.”
When Lin Yuan passed a stationery store, an idea struck him and he stepped inside.
Paints…
Canvas…
Paintbrushes…
Art paper…
Professional painting is undoubtedly a big money drain. Lin Yuan only bought art tools and materials for watercolor, gouache, and sketching, and it already cost him over a thousand yuan!
“I’ll buy the materials for oil painting and ink wash painting later.”
Lin Yuan decided to practice the simpler styles first as sketching, as well as gouache and watercolor paintings, are more common in daily life.
Stepping out of the store, Lin Yuan hailed a cab.
He bought too much stuff. It was impossible for him to carry everything home by himself.
Back at home, Lin Yuan chose the balcony as his painting base, setting up his canvas stand there. Then, he began to sharpen his pencils —
He wanted to try sketching first.
Ordinary art students need to imitate certain sketches, but Lin Yuan, a painter at the professional level, doesn’t need to. He can complete several sketching works based on just his memory. The first sketching work of Lin Yuan’s life was a self-portrait.
Many sketching masters have drawn self-portraits.
However, sketching requires more than just one pencil, as different pencil types create different lines. Therefore, Lin Yuan sharpened more than ten pencils —
First was the common 2B pencil.
This type of pencil is commonly used in sketching. Lin Yuan used it to sketch out the main structure, based on the traditional rule of proportions (three parts for the forehead and eyes, five parts for the eyes, nose, and mouth).
But that’s not always the case.
Depending on the different habits of sketching artists, some people might also use other types of pencils for the structure.
After sketching the structure, Lin Yuan began to draw.
Sketching is about filling in the details within this big structure. Lin Yuan was clearly familiar with his own appearance, so he could easily draw the shapes of his eyes, nose, etc., quite expressively.
“Smooth line feel…”
Line is one of the most important elements in sketching. Many people’s sketches turn out not so good because they don’t have a good grasp of lines. Lin Yuan could easily create over ten lines that appear to be completely parallel and uniform in thickness and length, a feat an absolute beginner couldn’t achieve.
And then there’s light and shadow.
The direction of light determines light and shadow.
Whether it’s gouache or sketching, both emphasize the expression of light and shadow. The visual effect of three-dimensionality often mentioned by people is determined by light and shadow. However, the basis of light and shadow is still the lines; dense lines arranged together form the dark side of sketching.
“Phew…”
Painting is an activity that tests your patience. Lin Yuan toiled for two hours and finally completed this self-portrait!
He was able to finish at this pace because his skill level was high.
If you want to do your best to complete a sketch, even if you’re copying another image, it would take at least several hours.
The quick pencil sketches that can be completed within fifteen minutes to a half an hour are called ‘speed sketches.’
Although speed sketches are also a type of sketching, they differ greatly in detail compared to Lin Yuan’s work.
Stepping back to look at his self-portrait, Lin Yuan nodded in satisfaction.
Indeed, professional painting skills.
This self-portrait by Lin Yuan is a perfect combination of form and spirit. If he were to show it to others, he would definitely receive countless praises. Since sketches are mostly realistic, even those who don’t understand sketching can appreciate it.
“It looks really like me!”
These four words are probably the most common remarks by ordinary people when they comment on a sketch. Although it’s quite one-sided, they’re enough, since getting a drawing to feel ‘like’ the subject already contains the factors of light and shadow and lines.
“Time to wash up and sleep.”
Once he confirmed his capabilities, Lin Yuan headed to the bathroom to wash up, his hands had gotten quite dirty —
For artists, dirty hands are just the norm.
And this is just with sketching.
When Lin Yuan was sketching, he occasionally used his thumb to rub on the relatively dense lines, making the line effects softer (similar effects can be achieved with a piece of tissue).
If it were gouache or even oil painting, since you need to dip into the paint, some would inevitably drip onto your clothes or pants.
People with cleanliness issues might not stand it.
Those who have written with calligraphy brushes should understand.
After washing up, Lin Yuan lay in bed ready to close his eyes and sleep, when suddenly the system appeared again, “Congratulations, Host, on completing your first painting in life. Now, announcing a task: achieve a painting prestige value of over one thousand within three months!”
“Accept.”
Lin Yuan responded without hesitation.
Obviously, the system also knew that it isn’t easy to gain painting prestige, hence it set a relatively low target for Lin Yuan. It will be sufficient for the early stages if he can achieve a prestige value of one thousand.
[Task name: Path of a Painter]
[Task content: Within three months, have the painting prestige value break one thousand, method is unlimited]
[Task reward: a Silver Treasure Chest, a Bronze Treasure Chest]
Lin Yuan paused for a moment. Despite the task not being exceptionally difficult, the reward was quite generous, even including a Silver Treasure Chest. It appeared that he couldn’t afford to not complete this task!
“The system seems to hope that I will develop comprehensively.”
Faintly grasping the system’s task rules, Lin Yuan finally understood why the system was named “Art System.”
Painting, music, literature, they’re all important carriers of art.
“Tomorrow I’ll see what channels there are to gain prestige. And it seems like I need to learn some digital painting. Professional level painting skills combined with technology shouldn’t be too difficult, right?”
The system had given Lin Yuan professional painting skills.
However, some of the painting is done through digital tools, which is outside of the skills awarded to Lin Yuan by the system, and something he has to learn on his own..