The Versatile Master Artist

The young man’s expression was just like that of a western cowboy who had just drunk a quarter pint of tequila, full of excitement and energy.

”Cousin, the choice is still in your hands.”

He said triumphantly, ”Our earlier offer remains valid, the door is still open. As long as Cousin Anna gives a gentle nod, everything you don’t want to see will not happen.”

”The Krug Bank will still acquire enough shares of the magazine, but we will not be your enemies. All shareholders of the ’Oil Painting’ magazine will warmly welcome your joining. The name Elina will continue to be the banner for our art fund’s advancement.”

Ole tempted, ”What is suspension? Ha, cousin, you can immediately become the new head of the visual arts column at the magazine. No, no, no, not just a head... You hate Sir Brown, right? Then we can just get rid of him.”

Ole waved his hand dashing.

”Once the acquisition is complete, the shares between us will amount to more than half of the voting rights in the magazine. After half a century since your great-grandfather sold 80% of the shares for one Austrian shilling, his descendants will once again fully control this media.”

”Anna, you will become the new director of the magazine. Everything only requires you to take my hand.”

Ole confidently extended his hand, offering it generously in front of Anna.

For a long while.

Just when Ole was starting to feel impatient.

”Okay.”

Anna finally spoke softly.

The cousin did not react as he thought, not with reluctance and tears, grabbing his hand, which left Ole somewhat disappointed.

He was still fantasizing,

about the cousin sensibly apologizing for what just happened.

Then Ole would graciously respond with a famous quote from Caesar in the ’Gallic Wars’: ”It’s okay, we are all strong people, and the heart of the strong always looks forward.”

This would not only show his broad mind but also serve as a gentle irony to his cousin’s earlier rejection.

The young man was a bit regretful for not being able to show off.

But at the moment when Miss Ilina said ”okay,” he still felt an incredible joy and excitement.

The things he had been longing for in his youth just happened so realistically.

He succeeded!

Under the right strategic pressure, even if the other party was still unwilling, he, Ole, successfully conquered Miss Elina, this wild horse.

Wait?

Ole’s beautiful dream was abruptly halted, lasting only less than three seconds.

He saw Cousin Anna lift her head.

Although a tear was still hanging at the corner of the girl’s eye, Ole saw no weakness or sorrow in her eyes.

Miss Elina’s gaze held a meaning he couldn’t comprehend.

Somewhat indifferent, somewhat aloof, but without any sign of wanting to compromise, perfectly reflecting the heart of the strong.

Ole was stunned.

He did not know what Miss Elina had seen on the phone screen just now.

But at this moment,

no matter how slow his realization might be, he clearly understood that things were completely different from what Ole and his father had envisioned.

Miss Elina did not obediently give in.

That was not the expression someone would have after admitting defeat.

”You—” He furrowed his brows.

”Okay, since that’s the case, I can give you an answer now. I will attend the International Art Conference next month. And moreover...”

Anna’s tone was calm: ”I will publicly criticize Sir Brown’s negligence and inform every past reader who chose to trust the ’Oil Painting’ magazine because of the Ilyena family’s name that I believe ’Oil Painting’ is losing its credibility.”

”If this is what you want to see, then as you wish.”

The girl gripped her phone tightly.

She felt a peculiar sensation, as if courage was physically transmitting through her palm to her heart.

”Detective Cat Sister’s illustration is truly a wonderful gift.”

Anna thought to herself.

She not only received an illustration masterpiece that matched her heart but also held the hilt of a sharp sword to wield against her enemies.

What else,

could better prove her artistic vision than Detective Cat’s success?

Since the day she received the Batman illustration from Thomas, Anna had never doubted Detective Cat’s artistic ability.

She firmly believed that such a master, with the right stage and suitable inspiration, would one day leave her mark on the international art scene.

In the face of truly enduring and moving art.

Those who once defamed or slandered this lady, no matter how authoritative they were, will become a joke.

Anna just needed to hold on with enough patience, slowly guiding her, and wait for her growth in the lengthy wait.

As for how long this specific time would be—typically, it might be five years, ten years, or maybe ten to twenty years.

In the traditional art field.

For an artist to truly rise from obscurity to public recognition, it takes a very long time.

Even Picasso, successful as he was, spent his early years in Spain going through a melancholic and overshadowed, relatively impoverished and desolate Blue Period.

Anna suggested Detective Cat participate in the Singapore Art Biennale, wanting to use such an art competition to shorten this thorny road to fame.

As for illustration,

to put it bluntly, it’s ultimately just a side path.

In various artist forums and conferences, when someone mentions an illustrator background, people often have unexplained smiles on their faces.

Unless they can win some top art awards, the artistic and aesthetic value of illustrations in social perception still falls far short of serious, highbrow art.

Detective Cat’s previous illustrations for the Little Prince were certainly excellent enough.

But painting knife painting is not mainstream, and the book market is just a very niche segment of illustration art, and ’Little Prince’ is only an ordinary member among countless books published each year.

Under the influence of these multiple debuffs.

For the target audience of ’Oil Painting’—art collectors and art enthusiasts focused on serious art—she still wasn’t substantial enough.

Such a good illustration, still relying purely on beauty to attract the attention of some art enthusiasts, should not be a problem.

Stirring the art world, really thinking too much.

If Detective Cat Sister’s romanticism, Impressionism’s traditional oil painting level, and realistic watercolor painting technique were at this level, it might be achievable.

At least painting knife painting can’t do it.

In these small ponds of niche fields, no matter how well one swims,

Mainstream authorities like Sir Brown and Van Doorn, if they were willing, could easily mobilize public opinion to depict her as an especially annoying and over-exerting noisy toad.

However, upon seeing the new artwork sent by Detective Cat today, Anna suddenly changed her mind.

In Miss Elina’s heart, the evaluation of the original illustration draft that Detective Cat created for the Little Prince was deemed ’classic.’

In the past, only very few heartwarming and adorable card-style illustrations like ’Nils Holgersson’s Wonderful Journey Through Sweden’ and ’The Wind in the Willows’ could receive this evaluation from Anna.

The painting style is vivid and expressive, the visual sensation profound and lasting.

It is the best gift for a seasoned book lover like her.

As long as the publishing binding and printing quality is above the qualified line, any Little Prince story lover, even if they already have old editions at home, based solely on these delightful illustrations, would find it worth spending several pounds on a hardcover edition to place on the bookshelf for collection.

If the new translation is not high quality,

purely using it as a desk ornament is also very pleasant and worth considering a good deal.

And for the new cover illustration created by Detective Cat Sister, the only comment Anna could think of was ’miracle.’

Miraculously shocking, miraculously moving.

Such an illustration is truly an artwork, which is the meaningful existence of an illustrator with a soul.

Even if artificial intelligence AI is constantly evolving, capable in technique to possess Van Gogh’s splendor, Monet’s warmth, Holbein’s rigor, and Xu Beihong’s grandeur.

But computers that rely on keyword algorithms can never create such touching illustrations. Machines can’t use a warm and passionate human gaze to perceive the soul in the author’s words.

The cover created by Detective Cat, in Anna’s mind, has surpassed the realm of ordinary classics.

It is no longer an accessory of the ’Little Prince’ text but has evolved into a new, refined visual language.

No need to have read ’Little Prince’,

nor do you need any knowledge about Saint-Exupéry.

An illiterate old man accidentally sees the illustration of the ’Little Prince’ and can instantly grasp the essence of tens of thousands of words in the work.

This is the highest realm of illustration—where the painter uses rich and emotional brushwork to write poetry for the author.