The Versatile Master Artist

”I have witnessed the brilliance of the stars, but what I hold in my palm doesn’t even have a trace of afterglow.”

Anna leaned gently against the back of the wheelchair, murmuring softly.

”It’s so cruel.”

The Springer Spaniel beside her stopped playing with the tennis ball.

August moved closer to the wheelchair, and the big dog turned its head to look at Anna’s painting, then let out a low whimper again.

It opened its mouth and, with a slightly rough tongue, licked the sleeve at its mistress’s wrist.

Turning around with understanding, it gently swept Anna’s palm with its fluffy short tail.

”There’s no need to comfort me; I’m not sad or depressed. Being sad won’t change anything; I’m just a bit wistful.”

Anna’s palm felt ticklish as she touched her beloved dog’s brown tail, and she chuckled softly.

Reading a book a hundred times reveals its meaning.

Artistic cultivation is exactly the same principle, emphasizing the influence of what one sees and hears.

This hound of Anna’s probably sees more famous paintings each year than an ordinary person does in a lifetime.

The techniques of master strokes flow past like a mighty river; even a stone should become a bit more polished.

She always felt her August’s pedigree wasn’t pure, but it was extremely intelligent, with a very high artistic appreciation.

Sometimes, when Anna wasn’t at home, the caretaker told her.

This big dog often goes to the room with the glass walls, where paintings are collected, and lies there all day.

It seems quite remarkable to think about.

A dog’s intelligence is very high, not only capable of search and rescue tasks; with training from animal protection organizations in New Zealand, they can even learn to drive specially modified BMW MINI cars in eight weeks.

However,

a dog’s eyesight is only average among animals, more sensitive to moving objects in the dark than humans, but their ability to capture still objects like paintings is rather limited.

At the same time, due to differences in visual cells, most pet dogs can only distinguish a limited range of colors.

It’s probably correct to say they don’t really understand the vibrant colors of an oil painting.

Anna once consulted her family doctor on this issue.

The doctor analyzed that it might be because dogs have such sensitive noses. The Springer Spaniel is a common police dog breed, capable of detecting the scent of even one billionth of a teaspoon of gasoline or fuel.

They possess a ”mind reading technique” of sorts, able to discern human emotions just by changes in the most minute gas particles floating in the air.

This big dog might just particularly like the smell of paint.

On the other hand, it’s very unlikely that August truly understands the merits of art pieces. More likely, it can sense the mood changes of human spectators as they appreciate different oil paintings and reacts accordingly.

Of course,

only an extremely intelligent dog could do that.

Anna wasn’t too fond of this aesthetically lacking explanation.

She preferred to romantically believe her August could truly appreciate the beauty of art, that her aunt hadn’t really left, but was watching the world and her favorite niece from time to time through her beloved dog’s brown oval pupils.

”Come, I’ll tell you a secret.”

She reached out, grabbed August’s two front paws firmly, placing them on her legs, and held onto the dog’s head.

Anna gently poked its dark brown ears, slowly saying, ”I’ve secretly signed a deal with a female painter from Algeria. This is the first time in my life I’ve connected myself so closely with a living painter in the world.”

”She’s a talented genius, the kind whose sparse achievements I could never hope to match no matter how hard I try in my life. But aside from technique, this lady is still a raw jade needing polish. Sometimes, I even feel she’s quite immature.”

”August, I will do my utmost to help her. Protect her from the disturbances of the mundane world. I hope I can become a small footnote in her remarkable life story. Perhaps many years later, she will truly create the work of my dreams, don’t you think?”

The Springer Spaniel quietly watched its mistress, shaking its ears gently as if intently listening to Elina’s little dream, unknown to others.

The strong wind blew from the sky, causing the branches and leaves of the walnut tree to sway chaotically.

Anna pressed down her fluttering skirt, raised her head, and saw a blue and white-painted A109 light helicopter, produced by Italy’s Agusta, skimming just over twenty meters above the ground, heading straight for the lakeside heliport marked with a large white H.

Anna watched the helicopter, which stirred ripples on the water surface below, as if reminded of some troubling matter, frowning slightly and shaking her head.

”Pretentious.”

The girl picked up the walkie-talkie she had placed on the wheelchair’s armrest while painting, lightly connecting with the waiting butler and caretaker not far away.

”Cousin Ole has arrived; I want to go back.”

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