Chapter 165, Gifts, Emotions, and the Beginning of the Sketching Class

Jiang Zhe and Lan Xin met on the stone road beside the garden. Seeing Lan Xin's reaction, he smiled and explained: "Don't get me wrong, I think you can use these materials."

Lan Xin still refused: "I can't accept your gift without merit."

"Take it. This isn't a gift?" Jiang Zhe saw Lan Xin's embarrassed look in the bookstore because she liked painting supplies but had no money to buy them. He thought of his previous life, when he also encountered this situation when he was studying. He knew how attractive a good painting was, so he felt sympathy for her.

A few hundred yuan is really nothing to him now, but helping others will also make him happy. He thought he had no other thoughts mixed in.

Lan Xin didn't know why she took the bag that Jiang Zhe stuffed into her hand and even opened it to take a look.

Sure enough, just as I had guessed before, there was a high-end album inside, and other painting supplies.

She was pleasantly surprised to find that there was a brocade box among the boxes. Judging from the label on the surface, it might be the brass ink cartridge that she liked very much!

"This is too valuable. I can't accept it." Although she liked it very much, she still returned the bag to Jiang Zhe.

Jiang Zhe took a step back and said, "Take it. A painter needs tools that are easy to use. Good tools last longer. I don't mean anything else, don't get me wrong."

Seeing that Lan Xin still refused to accept it, he had to change his words: "If you feel embarrassed, just choose one of your sketches from this time and give it to me, okay? It's common for painters to give each other works as gifts."

Lan Xin's wariness disappeared when she heard this suggestion. "These painting tools cost several hundred yuan, and my sketches..."

"It's settled." Seeing that she was moved, Jiang Zhe waved his hand, said goodbye, and left towards his dormitory.

After giving out the gifts, I felt much happier.

He just wanted to help this hard-working student.

Lan Xin wanted to catch up with Jiang Zhe, but she didn't want to cause misunderstanding in public. Besides, she really liked these tools.

She hesitated for a moment and said thank you to Jiang Zhe's back.

Jiang Zhe seemed to hear it and turned around and waved.

Lan Xin walked towards the dormitory, secretly cursing herself for being useless. When she reached a place where no one was paying attention, she sat down by the flower bed, took out the brocade box from her bag with some anticipation, opened it, and saw the plain brass ink box that she liked very much, heavy, matte surface, and simple and elegant shape.

The more she looked at it, the more she liked it. She played with it for a while before putting away the ink cartridge and checking other items.

In addition to the album and ink box, the bag also contained two brushes, a box of 36-color Chinese painting pigments, a box of cinnabar ink, and two pieces of Shoushan stone seal materials.

She found that these things were exactly the painting supplies she needed but had no money to buy, and the prices were higher than she expected.

Lan Xin held the bag tightly, and when she returned to the dormitory, she didn't dare let other classmates see it.

She put the painting supplies into different categories, flattened and folded the plastic bags containing the painting supplies, and put them into a neatly stacked bag for use.

After cleaning the table, she wanted to read a book, but found it difficult to calm down, so she simply took out two pieces of Shoushan stone seal material and played with them in her hands.

Shoushan Stone is cool and smooth, making people feel comfortable.

Some of these gifts were the first time she had them. She couldn't help but think of Jiang Zhe. Although there was no such barrier between her and him, she didn't want to have a further relationship with him, so she had to make money as soon as possible and give him a gift.

On Thursday, Professor Qin and Teacher Hu came to the oil painting studio together.

Professor Qin asked Teacher Hu to use the projection, and he faced the students who were already prepared and began to teach: "Dear students, this sketching class will be completed by Teacher Hu and I together with you.

Let's talk about the purpose of our life drawing class. You have all learned life drawing, and as long as you stick to painting, life drawing may be an exercise you will always do.

In this class, the purpose of your sketching is, first of all, to enrich your understanding of color by feeling the colors of nature. Secondly, you need to understand the different levels of sketching... Let's talk about color first. "He made a simple opening speech, and then used the projection to play the illustrations, while explaining color and sketching. From the painters of the Barbizon School in France in the 19th century, who emphasized direct observation and sketching of nature, to the understanding and practice of color by the Impressionist painters, and occasionally to Shishkin and Levitan of Russia.

Professor Qin's language is very simple. He encourages everyone to capture the beauty of nature through sketching.

"I personally divide sketching into three stages. First, the eyes guide the hands. I draw whatever I see. It is very intuitive and this is a necessary stage.

Second, the brain directs the hands, rationally analyzing various factors to create aesthetically pleasing works;

Third, use your feelings to guide your hands. The work should be intuitive and truly express your inner feelings. This is what we often call the sincerity of an artist. The emotions you express should be real. How can you impress others if you paint something you don’t like or feel?
I can’t tell you how to proceed through these three stages. I can only tell you to read more, practice more, and think more.

In previous courses, many students in our class have learned from painting masters, which is a good idea. I suggest that students try to skip the first stage and observe with their eyes while analyzing with their brains.

Our sketching class is about drawing coastal city landscapes, and these materials are enough to draw some world-famous paintings."

After he finished speaking his content, he motioned to Teacher Hu to state his requirements.

Teacher Hu mentioned several sketching locations and suggested that everyone act in a group. "Be careful when sketching and don't be too scattered. Professor Qin and I will guide you. In addition to drawing color drafts, you must also hurry up to draw quick sketches..."

After she made her requirements and saw that the students had no questions, she let everyone set off.

Because it was a group activity, everyone carried their painting supplies, took the bus, and went to the agreed sketching location together.

Along with them were students majoring in watercolor.

Students majoring in oil painting got off the bus, agreed on a meeting time at the station, and then dispersed in groups of three or four to sketch.

This sketching location is very close to the first place where Jiang Zhe sketched after his rebirth.

He carried his painting supplies and unknowingly walked to the most familiar place.

Looking at the surrounding scenery, the last time I came here was in winter, and it is autumn again without knowing it. The colors here are richer and more colorful than those in the winter world.

He was touched and soon had the urge to paint.

While adjusting the position, selecting the materials, and preparing the tools, I have already thought of a rough outline.

Jiang Zhe placed a watercolor sketchbook with adhesive tape on all four sides and began to draft with a pencil.

When he started sketching, several classmates came over one after another. Seeing that Jiang Zhe had already started sketching, they came over to watch and said, "Jiang Zhe, you want to paint watercolor first?"

Jiang Zhe responded while drawing: "Let me try drawing one first."

Choosing the right scenery material is a difficult problem for people who suffer from indecisiveness.

Several students always had trouble choosing a good seat, and when they saw that Jiang Zhe had already started painting, they simply gave up choosing and sat down nearby, randomly finding a place to enjoy the scenery.

Jiang Zhe has completed the pencil draft. He uses a flat brush dipped in clean water to wet part of the paper. Then, he dips the flat brush in paint and quickly applies the color starting from the sky.

During the coloring process, leave a small amount of white space for the clouds, and gradually blend the colors in other areas from light to dark, layer by layer.

Due to the moist paper surface and the effect of water, colors such as light yellow, sky blue, and gray blend and transition naturally.

After he finished painting the sky and the dividing line, he began to render the dark part of the forest. He used olive green, reddish brown, raw umber, and orange-red to successively render the distance, level, and light and dark changes of the forest.

(End of this chapter)