The Versatile Master Artist

Chapter 22: Chapter 12: A Comic-Style Competition

The final decision amid the argument was for the two of them to create a simple steel pen drawing on-site with the same subject.

Unimaginable.

This rather capricious, childish, even nonsensical suggestion actually became a reality.

Experts and scholars are busy, aren’t they!

Watching the spectacle is one thing, but who really has the free time to critique two ”children” painting?

Judging the artistic level of a work based on its market price certainly isn’t a fair assessment method, but it does serve as a standard for evaluating the economic value of the artwork.

There’s no need to mention Cao Xuan himself.

Among the remaining members of the international project group, many artists are not exactly inexpensive, with some fetching upwards of ten thousand eight thousand US Dollars per piece, especially those who specialize in cultural relic research, with both local and international reputable scholars present.

Following the classic homeroom teacher standard, for a class of 50 people, if a teacher criticizes you for 2 minutes, is it just 2 minutes? Two minutes multiplied by fifty, that’s nearly two hours wasted in a flash.

Their skill might not take long, but for the forty or fifty guests present, it’s equivalent to wasting one’s time to paint a piece, and combining their market prices, selling the two of them might not even suffice for an exchange.

But there was no opposition to this decision.

Because the one who proposed this idea was none other than Elder Cao, Master Cao.

As the most prestigious person present, Cao Xuan truly appeared to have the leisure time to critique the children’s paintings.

The elderly gentleman was known in his youth for his stern personality, famous for his rigid and upright nature among older generations of painters. However, as he aged past his nineties, he surprisingly displayed a touch of childishness and suddenly voiced support for the competition proposal.

Tanaka Masakazu on his side was utterly shocked, alright!

He was momentarily dumbfounded.

When Tanaka put forward this suggestion, he wasn’t necessarily thinking it would truly come to fruition; he mainly wanted to strike a pose, display the demeanor of a solitary artist, insist on competing, and if people objected, have grounds for private discussions later.

Something like Gu Weijing fleeing in panic or something.

If necessary.

After returning, he would contact some affiliated media to jot down a few lines, and the job would be done. Even if they didn’t compete, whatever he says goes.

Even back during the private ”Hyogo Prefecture’s Seafood Contest,” Mr. Tanaka was already quite clear on matters like these.

The competition itself was of no importance.

The artistic level itself was of no importance.

What mattered was striking a pose, and then manipulating methods outside the rules.

The world of life is never at all like the world of hot-blooded comics, yet it didn’t prevent Tanaka from pretending to be a ”likable” male protagonist of a passionate comic.

However.

What did he hear?

A yes.

Is he nuts?

Does the old gentleman enjoy watching the fun so much... or is the old fellow so spirited?

”Matters of painters should be resolved with painting. The winner stays, the loser shuts up. This method is straightforward, I like it.”

Cao Xuan completely ignored Tanaka.

He tapped his cane.

Then, a final decision was made.

Once he spoke, those in the crowd who initially frowned with displeasure and wanted the nonsensical farce to end quickly did not voice their opinions anymore.

The reason for choosing steel pen drawing is simple; it might be the art form that requires the least time and has the lowest tool requirements.

Steel pen drawing is broadly categorized in the five or six major types of painting due to the use of single-colored ink being considered a variety of sketching.

Since the starting prosperity of the novel publishing industry in the eighteen century Switzerland, United Kingdom, it began to flourish, and it was commonly used extensively for storybook illustrations or some manga.

With just a pen, an ordinary A4 paper, anyone can create a drawing; technically, even elementary school students’ casual scribbles in textbooks are a form of steel pen drawing.

Many present are masters of Chinese Painting.

Yet under modern art education, basics like sketching and quick sketches, no one would struggle with.

Only Gu Tongxiang appeared somewhat worried and glanced at his grandson.

Gu Weijing gave his grandfather a reassuring look, signaling for him to be at ease.

As per the arrangement by accompanying officials, someone had already brought paper over.

Seeing Elder Cao unwilling to leave and showing interest in watching the contest between these two youngsters, they even prepared a chair for him to rest his legs.

”Lin Tao, come and set an example for the young ones.”

Cao Xuan said.

Lin Tao was Cao Xuan’s second apprentice, now a professor at the Art Academy, and almost seventy years old this year, a distinguished great painter on his own.

Not only does he excel in Chinese Painting, but he is also proficient in Western Painting, making him a prominent great painter.

”Time is short, let’s keep it simple, do a quick steel pen sketch of the Great Golden Pagoda’s outline, limited to five minutes.”

Lin Tao picked up the pen, removed the pen cap, and spoke to Gu Weijing and Tanaka Masakazu.

A steel pen drawing can be done very slowly if requiring large areas of shading or shadow; one needs to use very fine art steel pens or drawing-specific needle pens to make short line pulls stroke by stroke.

But if the basic skills in painting are solid, and the subject is relatively simple architectural or natural scenery, you can indeed paint very quickly.

A British artist who graduated from the University of London, Slade School of Fine Art, was accustomed to sketching pen drawings to tip taxi drivers while waiting for change.

However, five minutes, that time is definitely not generous; it tests not only your painting skills but also your mental resilience.

If you can’t finish or make a mistake, there’s no second chance. This time doesn’t allow you to sketch with a pencil and then trace with a pen.

If your hand shakes, your basic skills are weak, or you’re unlucky enough to sneeze while drawing a line, you’re directly eliminated.

In short,

it’s a test of basic skills.

”I’ll give you two a sample first, a demonstration.”

Since it’s a pen drawing competition with such a short timeframe, everyone should draw the same content for a fair comparison.

Lin Tao took off the pen cap and pressed the timer button.

Gu Weijing stared unblinkingly at the pen in Lin Tao’s hand. It was his first time seeing this renowned old professor paint in person.

Lin Tao did not show any indifference or carelessness just because he was demonstrating for two young people.

At the moment he removed the pen cap, his entire demeanor changed.

Focused, confident, with an impressive demeanor.

Lin Tao used local materials, employing a landscape format to sketch the Great Golden Pagoda and the three smaller pagodas: one to his left and two to his right.

”Scratch, scratch, scratch.”

The only sound in the air was the pen tip scratching against the paper.

Every straight line was as precise as if drawn with a ruler, and the intersection points of curves depicting forms had no deviation.

Moreover, there was no hesitation, drawing smoothly in one go.

Apart from his wrist movements, Lin Tao occasionally glanced at the Great Golden Pagoda, his drawing hand never stopping, as if he didn’t need to think, precisely memorizing the perspective of the building in his mind.

Gu Weijing thought that even if enhanced by ”Menzel’s experience,” he could only achieve this at most.

The ability of a renowned artist truly has substance.

”Alright, that’ll do. Although it doesn’t count as a piece, the basic form of a pen drawing has been sketched out.”

Lin Tao finally put down the pen, looked at the draft on the paper in front of him, nodded, and showcased it to the people around him.

A large pagoda and three smaller pagodas appeared vividly on the paper. Even though many details and lights and shadows could still be added, experienced artists could see the foundational work was laid out.

It would be a fine piece with attentive addition of some grayscale and corresponding textures.

And the time was incredibly quick,

with the timer barely showing under three minutes.

”Confidence with preparation.”

Many thought of this phrase wholeheartedly; no one knew who first started clapping, but soon a round of applause arose among the three-person atmosphere group.

”You don’t need to draw shadows or smaller pagodas. If you can draw the outline of the main pagoda as I did in five minutes without any structural distortion, you’re qualified.”

Lin Tao nodded and thanked the applauding crowd, then unceremoniously tore the drawing paper in half and crumpled it into a ball, amidst many regretful gazes.

An artist at his level will not let any work he considers unsatisfactory be released.

”Excuse me, Elder Cao, I have an impertinent request. Would you allow us siblings to try as well?”

Not only Cao Xuan had childish eagerness.

Koizumi Katsuko raised her hand from the crowd; today, seeing the talented peer Gu Weijing and the handiwork of Lin Tao stirred her excitement.

”If you want to, just go; don’t drag me into it.”

Yakai Gangchang twitched at the corner of his eye, subtly sidestepping backward, away from his sister.

Since Elder Cao was interested in seeing these kids compete, none of the master artists left.

This group, collectively holding international awards incomparable to counting hands, could have an entire exhibition themed around them as art masters.

Yakai Gangchang dared not act recklessly.

High-performance can bring great fame; failure leads to immense embarrassment.

”You may. You are... Koizumi Katsuko, correct? Mr. Sakai mentioned you. I have seen your sketches, and you’ve put in hard work. You’re good; among the 80s and 90s kids, few can compare. You draw very well. Keep practicing; the future of the art world relies on the youth.”

Elder Cao surprisingly nodded at Koizumi Katsuko with appreciation.

Artists from the 80s now can be considered famous uncles, but Elder Cao still refers to them as youthful children.

Buzz~

The crowd erupted in discussions.

”You’ve worked hard; you’re good.”

For a young artist to receive Elder Cao’s appraisal would allegedly save a decade of struggle.

With a thicker face, one might print this praise prominently on their portfolio cover.

No matter the quality, with Elder Cao’s endorsement, getting into one of the world’s top fifty art schools isn’t difficult.

This good fortune drew envious glances from seasoned artists towards Koizumi Katsuko, bitter at missed opportunities for support from such nurturing predecessors in youth.