The Versatile Master Artist

Gu Weijing glanced at the virtual panel appearing on the screen—

[Title: Flowers on the Little Prince’s Planet]

[Painting Technique: Painting Knife Painting·Legendary Level]

[Emotion: Simple Works]

He saw the detailed description in small print on the system panel.

If the painting knife is used independently for painting, the system will classify it separately as a specialized art category, just like colored pencil drawing, spray painting, and abstract collage.

This sub-category of art classification is relatively broad.

Unlike the five major categories of painting, it does not use detailed Arab numeral levels to distinguish the proficiency of painting techniques.

Instead, like skill cards, it is divided into six major levels: Beginner, Ordinary, Fine, Name Family, Perfect, Legendary.

Legendary Level is the highest among them.

The painting insights from Menzel that Gu Weijing once received were Perfect Level skills, under which the sketch achieved a Level 9 Tier Three Grandmaster (restricted experience) evaluation.

If the Perfect Level skills are outstanding human limits, then Legendary Level slightly feels like it’s beyond this limit.

Although the same emotional evaluation only received [Simple Works].

At least the effect of this painting is far beyond the sketch he once drew for Mr. Hibernian.

Of course, generally speaking, oil paint itself is one level more expressive than colored pencil drawing.

Gu Weijing looked at the painting for a moment and nodded.

He was already very satisfied with the final effect of the painting.

Gu Weijing walked to the gallery backstage downstairs and turned on the second-hand German CRUSE art scanner at home.

Such professional equipment is only present in homes running galleries.

Galleries purchase this type of art-level non-contact scanner for handling special electronic albums or digitalizing collections to offer clients as a reference.

Some ancient paintings are as fragile as pastries due to age; using a regular contact scanner could cause them to shatter instantly.

Gu Weijing seldom uses this big machine because it is both precious and cumbersome to operate.

Even a second-hand item,

this imported scanner could buy a compact car, being one of the most valuable assets in the home gallery.

As for the art scanners used in the British Museum or the Louvre, which can handle enormous oil paintings over two meters in dimensions, depending on the model and manufacturer, the price varies between a Mercedes-Benz S-Class and a top-tier Rolls-Royce.

Commissioned online illustrations don’t have such demands, and using a student Canon printer by the computer is also feasible.

However,

the significance of this draft is noteworthy, and Gu Weijing is willing to take a bit of trouble.

Art-level equipment has its advantages.

Reflection on the surface of the painting, texture of brushstrokes, the layering of pigment mixing, and the moire pattern generated by linen texture, this professional art scanner can handle exceptionally well.

At least in the eyes of ordinary people, the scanned effect can achieve very high similarity to the original.

Although it’s slightly lacking compared to appreciating the original painting directly, an illustration is often reproduced and widely spread on paper, reaching this effect is already quite admirable.

Gu Weijing adjusted the device.

Because the scanner does not contact the oil painting itself, there’s no need to wait for the pigment to completely dry.

After waiting a few minutes, confirming the surface oil paint had preliminarily filmed, he converted it into an electronic version.

He did not rush to send the draft to the assistant of the Little Prince project group, but hesitated for a moment, opened his phone, and found Mr. Tree Sloth in the contacts.

”I received a draft contract from Scholastic Group for the Little Prince project, the theme is very suitable for painting knife painting.”

Gu Weijing clicked send.

”Congratulations, this is a great opportunity for an illustrator.”

A few minutes later, Mr. Tree Sloth replied.

”May I ask, was it your assistance...”

Gu Weijing silently typed.

There is no love without reason in the art circle, high-end illustration is even more of a one-on-one spot.

Large publishing groups have their own familiar illustration studios.

Some elder artists not retiring makes it difficult for newcomers to rise.

Some illustrators might be luckier,

but Gu Weijing is currently being targeted by Van Doorn and expelled by the magazine Oil Painting.

Under such circumstances, receiving attention from Scholastic Group cannot be explained by luck alone.

Moreover, the drafting requirements for the Little Prince this time perfectly match the painting knife painting task he once entrusted Mr. Tree Sloth to find.

”Just a little help, if you are not outstanding, Scholastic Group would not notice you.” Mr. Tree Sloth replied casually.

”Thank you.”

”Consider it a reward for providing me such an excellent episode of the podcast.”

”Mr. Tree Sloth?”

”What’s up.”

Gu Weijing thought for a bit and made up his mind.

”Mr. Tree Sloth, is the arrangement you mentioned before still valid? Can I... hire you as my agent?”

Having acquired the Legendary Level painting knife painting skill.

It’s time for him to hire a true art agent.

...

As a tourist city where the economy is supported by outside visitors.

Yangon does not lack interesting hotels.

The famous tourism giant, Aman International Group, spent a significant amount of money to buy an old imperial palace relic built upstream along the Yangon Riverfront during the feudal era of the Konbaung Dynasty, modernized it, and integrated it as part of a distinctive classic hotel.