The Versatile Master Artist

There are also differences in the brush strokes of different slant angles, centric strokes, and reverse strokes.

It almost encompasses most of the techniques needed in flower painting.

Mastering the wisteria painting is like mastering a dozen different line-drawing techniques. Just like calligraphy enthusiasts practicing the ”Yong” character with its Eight Principles, once you master ”Yong,” you’ve simultaneously mastered horizontal, vertical, left-falling, dot, hook, and other strokes.

Thinking of Professor Lin Tao’s guidance over the phone, Gu Weijing turned a page in the book in the auditorium.

Good birds find shelter in branches, fallen flowers turn into poems on the water’s surface.

Today, Gu Weijing happens to be reading Chapter Nine of ”Heavenly Rain Flowing Fragrance,” which is about flower-and-bird paintings and the sentiments of literati.

He is engrossed in Mr. Li Linchan’s talk about Song dynasty realism, Tang dynasty freehand, how to use one’s heart to resonate with nature, and how the ancients drew the fern leaves under their brush’s caress, depicting weeds and wildflowers with affection and charm.

Gu Weijing’s finger instinctively began sketching on the fabric armrest of the auditorium seat.

[Chinese Painting Techniques Experience Points +11!]

[Chinese Painting Techniques Experience Points +15!]

[Chinese Painting Techniques Experience Points +12!]

[Chinese Painting Techniques Experience Points +9!]

...

A series of prompt messages continuously appeared on the system’s virtual panel.

The experience bar began progressing toward the Tier One Professional endpoint at a slow yet perceptible pace.

Even though the content he read had no direct correlation with painting techniques, Gu Weijing could still feel a subtle change and sublimation occurring in the invisible lines sketched by his fingers.

”Having a grandfather on the phone is really convenient.”

Gu Weijing now can feel the painstaking effort that Professor Lin Tao puts into the practice tasks assigned to him every day.

Drawing nourishment from others’ literary essence to cultivate one’s own stylistic charm with brush and ink.

Especially when he read about Xu Wenzhang, one of the Ming Dynasty’s three great talents, whose life was fraught with misfortunes and unrealized aspirations, finding solace in painting mountain landscapes. In ”Wisteria Flower Painting” by Xu Wenzhang, he inscribes with wild grass script: ”Thrown into the wild vines!”

Using this to metaphorically express how he, like a pearl, was discarded by the ruthless world and the corrupt literary-bureaucratic system of the late Ming, akin to being mixed with weeds.

The silk painting of wisteria vines in the book, though merely a printed illustration photo rather than the physical work itself, is rendered with exquisite skill yet exudes a profound solitude.

Even though it’s just a picture in the book and not the original, the mineral pigments on the silk brocade have faded over the three-hundred-year span into a darkened inkblot.

Gu Weijing had a deeper understanding of the flower language and emotional expression behind the four words ”Purple Qi from the East” associated with wisteria.

”Thrown into the wild vines, thrown...into...the wild vines.”

Gu Weijing murmured this phrase in his mouth, unsparing in the resentment and helplessness it might contain.

His fingertips sometimes made broad ink washes, sometimes fine brush stains, envisioning clumps of wisteria on the imaginary rice paper in his mind.

Gu Weijing’s eyes narrowed slightly, wandering far beyond the noisy, agitating school auditorium.

He felt like he was strolling amidst a sea of wisteria, surrounded by fluttering petals, with a faint fragrance pervading the air near his nose.

The shadows of flowers swayed like a purple waterfall.

Just as Gu Weijing was getting closer to the essence of painting wisteria, he noticed someone standing in front of him.

”Not interested, I have a girlfriend, find someone else.”

He directly uttered a few words without even lifting his head.

Don’t blame Gu Weijing for the slightly impolite tone.

He was reveling in the rare sense of satisfaction from the naturally fast-growing painting experience bar and didn’t want to be disturbed by any seductive distractions.

Not interested?

Previously standing in front of Gu Weijing, Miao Angwen, with a borderline cool outlook, was slightly taken aback.

What is ”not interested”?

Ever since Xiaomiao clung to Brother Hao, whose assets are in the nine-figure US dollar range, he too had completely transformed.

The school social night doesn’t require wearing standardized school uniforms.

Miao Angwen, who used to scrimp and save or work part-time to rent a formal suit, now exudes opulence.

Wearing a Rolex Daytona watch on his wrist.

The strap is made of pure gold.

He’s dressed in a dark Armani suit, with gold collar stays, and even the cufflinks are pure gold.

With a jade Buddha pendant with golden inlays hanging on his arm, even the dancing shoes he wears are from the longstanding Italian handmade shoe brand Tony.

Once, he stood like an ant at the ballroom.

But now.

He, Miao Angwen, is genuinely flourishing!

Only choosing the wrong name, never calling the wrong nickname.

Though Brother Hao seems gentle and slim, he’s a kind-hearted person who enjoys burning incense and paying respect to Buddha.

If this heroic figure lived in ancient feudal dynasties, he would undoubtedly be the kind of bandit leader in the Loyalty Hall, who feasts on meat, drinks from large bowls, divides gold by the scale, and whose followers either thrive or fall by opposing him.

He is decisive yet extremely generous with his subordinates, not only making his own fortune but also willing to help them get rich alongside him.

Although Xiaomiao’s current attire conspicuously radiates the nouveau riche aura of Guo Degang dressed in Versace style.

But to put it another way,

In mainstream public opinion, true artists rarely care about clothes; it’s about who wears them.

A great artist wearing a torn vest is lauded for being uninhibited.

Damien Hirst frequently donned large leather jackets with nail-studded shoulders, thick silver chains. Under the spotlight, he had the look of a rebellious biker ready to hit the streets for wild rides at any moment.

That doesn’t stop him from having once been valued as the world’s top artist.

”Haha, Brother Miao, your classmate is kind of funny.”

The flirtatious girl with earrings, leaning on his shoulder, teased.

She’s a student from another private school locally.

Fitz has inter-campus cooperation agreements with several local sister private schools.

The social nights don’t just include students from Fitz; there are several others as well.

Clothes make the man, and Miao Angwen’s expensive ensemble drew the attention of gold-digging girls.

”Alright, you go wait over there, I have something to discuss with him.”

Miao Angwen patted the girl’s face, gesturing her to step aside, as he turned his gaze to Gu Weijing seated in front.

For this peer, what could Xiaomiao say?

Three parts envy, three parts sarcasm, two parts fear, and a part disdain.

Those sketch artworks on the campus notice board, Miao Angwen had seen them.

The artworks are indeed commendable, and thinking earnestly, he likely couldn’t produce such works.

He didn’t expect that Gu even collaborated with Mr. Cao Xuan.

No wonder Brother Hao holds him in high regard.

But what does it count for anyway?

For an artist to become renowned, destiny ranks first, followed by fortune, environment, influential connections, and finance.

Painting skills come far down the line. Countless talented individuals remain unacknowledged; Gu’s few sketches really aren’t significant.

With the five million dollar gallstone cup, ten million dollar NFT blockchain pixel art, twenty million dollar shark specimen.

The history of art speculation in humanity is extensive.

Viewed in a century-long perspective, most artistic works simply fade away in the tide of time, beautified as Ponzi schemes, are merely passing flowers in an elaborate game of musical chairs.

Having mingled with Brother Hao, Miao Angwen comprehended everything clearly.

As for a standing in art history.

Please, why fret over such trivial matters when less than a fraction of one percent of artists ever reach that pinnacle? Only the money earned is reliable and tangible.

”Gu Weijing, do you think you’re quite in the limelight now, quite formidable, is that it?”

Miao Angwen grinned sinisterly.

Gu Weijing, boy, you don’t know what you are missing out on.

Reflecting on the bright future ahead— the pre-signed contract for a year’s term at Korea Art College and the special path to the Venice Art Exhibition.

Miao Angwen now walked with the wind beneath his feet.