The Versatile Master Artist

”On the first asteroid lived a king, wearing a purple-trimmed white glazed leather robe, sitting solemnly on a simple yet majestic throne...”

On the stone table, the old-fashioned gas lamp flickered with flames. Anna, wearing headphones, held a fairy tale book with yellowed pages and read softly.

In front of her, the sunset was slowly descending into the mountain valleys of Austria.

The northern tower was the highest point of the Ilyena family manor, built with thick and sturdy coarse stonework, possessing a centuries-old history.

It is said that before the Ilyena family acquired this land, it belonged to a Holy Roman Empire duke’s fief.

The watchtower was originally built to guard against the cavalry of the Great Khan of Mongolia, these nomads from the grasslands raided like fire, historically sweeping from Central Asia to the banks of the Danube River.

Extremely keen-eyed guards would stand on the tower day and night, anxiously watching the distant horizon. When they first saw the dust raised by the galloping cavalry, they would sound the warning horn, if their throats hadn’t already been pierced by the scouts’ arrows.

Century after century passed, and all traces of medieval history in the manor had long been eroded by time, except this solid and sturdy spire.

When Anna’s aunt took over the manor, she did not make massive renovations to this monument. Her aunt just hired craftsmen to build wheelchair-accessible ramps on the stairs of the watchtower, then handed the key to the watchtower and a book to her.

”Saint-Exupéry says every child needs a place away from adults, to quietly watch the sunset and stars,” her aunt said.

That book was ”Little Prince”.

Anna was a literary girl, and ”Little Prince” was the book that accompanied her the most from childhood to adulthood.

The curious and kind Little Prince, the sensitive rose with character flaws yearning for love, the smart and romantic fox, the vain king...

These fairy tale characters accompanied her through one solitary sunset after another seated in a wheelchair during her childhood.

When Detective Cat suggested she find a Painting Knife Painting commission with a fairy tale aura.

Anna first thought of the new version of ”Little Prince” that Scholastic was working on.

She knew this book too well.

Detective Cat delivered a beautiful Painting Knife Painting, but it lacked soul.

From an illustration’s standard, it was qualified.

Not just qualified, but outstandingly so.

Just a small blemish—it’s a very pretty illustration, but not one that matched the image of ”Little Prince” in her heart.

Or rather, Anna believed—it lacked a bit of magic power that could create a miraculous sales figure.

Illustration is the type of painting art students encounter most, and it is in the highest demand daily in the market.

Globally, there are tens of millions of art students; how many among them manage to become professional artists that galleries and art museums take note of, earning millions annually?

The vast majority still opt for roles like game concept artists, graphic advertising, fashion design, and publishing illustration, wherein the most drawn works are those with practicality as the priority.

The lower limit of illustration is low, while the upper limit is high.

All are publishing illustrations.

Low-end illustrators create ”usable” works, while high-end illustrators aim to become ”classic.”

The same set of illustrations, high-end artist works can increase a publisher’s sales by 10%, 20%, or even 30%; the posters hanging by the street attract more audiences to walk into cinemas proactively.

Low-end artist works are just book accessories, while a major illustrator who wins the Andersen Award might receive newspaper coverage from renowned outlets like the New York Book Review, enhancing exposure.

This is why the latter’s value is hundreds or thousands of times that of the former.

To touch audiences and create sales miracles, the art not only needs to be beautifully depicted but also infused with soul.

Lady Detective Cat’s Painting Knife Painting, is like an exquisite doll.

Every facial feature is beautiful, the body curves alluring.

Regrettably, it lacks warmth.

Readers may marvel at such artworks, but might not necessarily purchase them in the absence of an initial need.

A truly magical illustration,

should be able to make a weary office worker strolling past a bookshop window during a dusky afternoon glance at the beautiful new book inside.

Then, he suddenly stops and gazes longingly at the book through the glass, seemingly touched by something inside, leading him into the shop to make a purchase.

Begins with astonishment, ends in heartfelt attraction.

Detective Cat’s painting lacks the heart-touching connection that truly moves readers.

Anna even felt she was being overly critical.

Worldwide, works like ”Nils Holgersson’s Wonderful Journey Through Sweden” and ”The Wind in the Willows” becoming everlasting classic masterpieces are rare indeed.

Even Scholastic Group doesn’t harbor unrealistic expectations when commissioning such pieces.

Yet, Anna remains unsatisfied.

The art is already so well-executed... just a slight distance from being classic, she believes as a manager, she ought to assist Detective Cat further.

Classic fairy tales like ”Little Prince,” are analyzed in numerous long reviews and expert interpretations online.

Anna doesn’t believe that shoving these critics’ ”pre-digested bread” to Detective Cat, who is not very familiar with this fairy tale, will have effective results.