The Versatile Master Artist

”...Besides focusing on the portfolio, pay attention to what you submit to the interviewer at the university admissions fair. Also, include a sketchbook that records your thoughts and reflections while creating your daily sketches.”

”Don’t ignore the latter, students! This is crucial evidence for proving to interviewers that your creative work was done independently, not outsourced. I will explain the specific guidelines for the sketchbook in detail in future classes...”

Even though Professor Walter was passionately lecturing on the Fitz sketch class platform, chalk clattering on the blackboard with endless ”bang bang bang!”

However, on this warm mid-March afternoon, the students in the advanced class looked uninspired.

Those who could afford Fitz but weren’t selected for Mrs. Sakai’s genius class.

In fact, most of the students sitting here had already settled their future paths.

Foreign art academies, besides having higher tuition fees, are no different from ordinary Western comprehensive universities, with lenient admissions but strict graduations.

Especially the larger and smaller art academies in Milan, Italy, and Florence, because of the Italian Ministry of Culture’s policies, are relatively easy to apply to.

Of course, whether one can graduate smoothly is another matter.

The application itself is not too difficult.

Considering the ordinary grades of students in Walter’s class, applying to top art schools ranked in the top 100 is a faint hope, regardless of effort.

But after paying such high fees to private schools for so many years.

They still have confidence in applying to some lower-ranked ordinary foreign art academies affiliated with the Fitz Education Group and obtaining a small offer at the admissions fair.

At worst, they can still pick a university in Yangon.

Many even understand that they have no talent for painting and have long given up the unrealistic dream of becoming a gallery-signed artist.

Even their parents had planned since school days to use their child’s identity as an art student as a stepping stone.

Planning to have them switch to more lucrative professions like interior design, animation, game interaction, or civil engineering after entering university.

Even though the sketch professor on stage is known for his sternness and formality among Fitz teachers.

After the initial excitement in the advanced class faded, the students in the large classroom couldn’t help but slack off.

A sleepy atmosphere pervaded the air, with many nodding off, struggling against heavy eyelids.

A girl with braided pigtails rested her arm under her chin, pen clutched in hand, tilting her head back in struggle, though her eyelids had long been glued shut, softly snoring.

A few boys, finding the course dull, simply gathered at the back of the classroom, playing ”Fortnite” on their phones.

”Hmph!”

Professor Walter, with naturally curly hair resembling the Golden Lion King from Jin Yong’s martial arts novels, scanned the room unsatisfied.

He realized that if he continued droning on, he’d put everyone in the class to sleep.

”Such important information about the university admissions fair, and you’re not paying attention!”

Professor Walter was a little riled.

He originally planned to use the Lion’s Roar Skill to snap these kids out of it but sighed instead.

”Forget it.”

It’s already the thirteenth-year graduation season, and many students present were already adults.

If they don’t want to put in the effort, there’s no point in him being the bad guy.

”Good advice hardly persuades a dead horse.”

Except for a few good kids in the classroom, Professor Walter didn’t expect these students to achieve outstanding applications, earning him a bonus as an excellent teacher.

In just over a hundred days, they would be gone from school.

If they don’t want to listen, then good luck to them!

Thinking this,

Professor Walter, a responsible teacher with sound ethics, hesitated for a moment and decided to stop droning on about portfolio details, preparing to switch to more engaging content.

”Alright, let’s talk about the interviews at the university admissions fair. Past examiners would ask art history questions during interviews, such as giving you a painting and asking you to recount its history, creative background, collection history, or talk about works of your favorite artists.”

Professor Walter opened his laptop and switched on the projector.

”These questions can’t be crammed last minute. They rely on daily accumulation. With a few months left, aim to memorize a painting each morning and evening.”

”Everyone here is a professional art student, not an ordinary person, so don’t expect simple questions like ’Mona Lisa’ or ’Night Patrol’ from the examiners.”

”Let’s practice a few questions to familiarize and test your knowledge. These are classic paintings previously taught at school. Let’s see how much you remember.”

Professor Walter opened the e-album on his laptop using the touchpad and scrolled through the abundant art illustrations.

Finally, he selected a portrait of a woman wearing a red silk coat, adorned with a ring-shaped necklace, and holding a golden floral ornament at the center of her forehead with a fine hairband.

”Alright, who can tell me the specific information about this painting, the more detailed, the better?”

”Miss Koukou?”

Professor Walter stepped down from the podium and gently tapped the desk of the sleeping braided-haired girl with a chalk end.