The Versatile Master Artist

The painter chooses illustration tasks, and good illustration tasks only choose suitable masters for them.

Participating in the production of animated films and collaborating with trendy brand producers for co-branding.

These are almost the two most successful paths for illustrators today to generate social buzz, break boundaries, and reach the hearts of major collectors.

Both paths require illustrators to not only have social recognition but also a certain personal brand image to attract the attention of cooperating companies.

The direction must be accurate from the start.

For example, The Walt Disney Company’s brand tone means they are unlikely to associate with illustrators who create adult content.

If Takashi Murakami or KAWS had created low-quality works, fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and Uniqlo would not choose their artistic design elements for global promotion.

Of course,

It must be stated that the illustration tasks for romance novels are fundamentally different from those of adult comics illustrators.

The illustration commission from the Scholastic Group is not considered low-end. It’s much more high-end compared to the tasks Detective Cat previously took on Nutshell.

However,

Anna still finds it somewhat unsatisfactory, too lacking in artistry.

Collaborating with the Scholastic Group implies a new beginning in one’s career; since ’Little Prince’ managed to raise the tone, it’s best not to lower it easily again.

But as the full-fledged agent trusted by Detective Cat at the publisher, Miss Elina cannot reject such a large contract without consulting her older sister.

”The subject matter is quite revealing? Emmm... I trust your judgment.”

Lady Detective Cat across the line seems quite persuadable, but she looks a bit curious, ”But I heard that Van Doorn also painted a lot of such themed content?”

”Both about lovers, Madam Pompadour and the streetwalkers in Paris represent two different lifestyles. The status of this book does not deserve your pen. Strictly speaking, Van Doorn painted numerous erotic illustrations but never a single pornographic illustration. Many illustrators have painted revealing illustrations, but this difference is what makes Van Doorn smarter than others.”

Anna explained the very subtle yet crucial difference to Detective Cat.

Still the same issue.

’Blue Moon’ lacks artistry and sophistication.

The lack of artistry is not due to scale issues, but depth issues.

The scale has never been an obstacle to serious painting art—according to the aesthetic philosophy of the West from the ancient Greek era, the body curves of strong men and charming women are the most beautiful arcs bestowed upon people by the gods.

Many great artists who painted nude women for a lifetime in the grand official salons of the past existed.

Jerome, Rubens, and late works of Ray Noa were much more exaggerated in scale than today’s average online erotic artwork authors.

Klimt was even proud of his reputation as an erotic painter.

However, the problem with plot and writing style is fatal.

”I read some excerpt drafts the Scholastic Group gave me, vulgar and unimaginative, even lacking any lasting erotic tension, it’s merely ’playboy’ literature for girls, such books will not be remembered by the critics.”

”Do you want me to read some excerpts to you over the phone? See if you get any creative inspiration?”

Although having Mr. Tree Sloth read such a book to Detective Cat Sister might be awkward,

since they’re both girls, Anna doesn’t mind reading a few lines of erotic literature to the other party, but as she said.

Those texts offer nothing but pale bodily collisions and empty bed descriptions.

The level of body writing varies.

A bestseller, which with Anna’s literary cultivation, does not make her blush while reading it.

There is really no need for Detective Cat to make an exception for this switch.

”Let’s skip that.”

Detective Cat seems even more shy than she is.

”Your sketching skills are quite good, and if you want to create works on such erotic themes, it could be a good idea to expand your painting styles.” Anna is not shy about discussing the scale issue of works, ”The Scholastic Group is currently conducting a large-scale public domain classic literature retranslation and issuance project named ’Evergreen Wood,’ which involves republishing works like Marguerite Duras’s ’Lover’ and ’Hiroshima Mon Amour’ this fall. I can help you take on these two tasks if appropriate.”

Just like how publishers in Dongxia casually like to produce a series of ’Name Family, Name Translation’ to make money from literary youth,

The strategic planning of the Scholastic Group includes reorganizing and reissuing books by classic authors such as Conan Doyle, Leo Tolstoy, and Marguerite Duras into the public domain.

Called the ’Evergreen Wood’ plan.

The ’Little Prince’ illustrated by Detective Cat is an important subsidiary project under this strategy.

Likewise illustrating works with large scales.

Illustrating for ’Blue Moon’ would be showcasing erotic charm, whereas providing illustrations for Goncourt Prize winners, the grandmaster of body writing Marguerite Duras’ representative works, would embody the elegance and perpetuity of an artist.

This is just like the difference between undressing scenes.

A female actress undressing in an award-winning art film at a film festival compared to undressing during a lustful live performance; the former is a goddess sacrificing for art, the latter is a wanton girl, entirely different concepts.

Currently, Detective Cat has an issue when compared to those truly great painters.

From ’Batman’ before to the current ’Little Prince,’ her drawing styles are a bit too oriented towards a younger audience.