On his way home from school in the evening, Lin Yuan mulled over the newly acquired knowledge in his mind.
This time, he had gained professional-level drawing skills.
However, anyone familiar with painting knows that describing professional painting as merely "professional level" is too broad.
The realm of painting encompasses various classifications, each intricate in its own right.
These classifications include ink painting, oil painting, printmaking, watercolor painting, gouache painting, sketching, and more.
Furthermore, the distinction extends to the equipment used.
Thus, for simplicity, we'll focus on the most influential categories of painting on Blue Star.
Ranked in order, these categories are Chinese painting, oil painting, watercolor, gouache, and drawing.
While oil painting holds a higher international status on Earth compared to Chinese painting, Blue Star predominantly values Eastern aesthetics, thus elevating Chinese painting to the top and oil painting to the second tier.
Among them, watercolor, gouache, and sketching are more accessible due to their inclusion in art students' college entrance exams and their widespread public appeal.
In contrast, Chinese painting and oil painting have higher barriers to entry.
As for Lin Yuan's professional painting level...
It's not that the professional-level painting he obtained is too generic, but rather, it encompasses these popular categories!
Lin Yuan now possesses skills in Chinese painting, oil painting, gouache, watercolor, and sketching.
"Let's test it out tonight."
Lin Yuan passed by a stationary store, feeling a surge of inspiration, and decided to step inside.
Pigments, sketchpads...
Brushes, drawing paper...
Professional painting undoubtedly comes with a hefty price tag. Lin Yuan purchased watercolor, gouache, and sketching materials, spending thousands of yuan in one go!
"I'll buy oil painting materials later."
Lin Yuan opted to start with a relatively simple exercise. After all, sketches, gouache, and watercolor paintings are more common in everyday life.
Back at home, Lin Yuan selected the balcony as his painting studio. He set up the drawing board and began sharpening his pencils.
He decided to start with sketching.
While most art students typically copy sketches, Lin Yuan, with his professional-level skills, could complete sketches based on memory. His first sketch would be a self-portrait.
Many master artists have painted self-portraits.
However, sketching requires more than just one type of pencil, as different models produce varying lines. Lin Yuan sharpened over a dozen pencils in preparation.
First up was the common 2B pencil.
This type of pencil is widely used in sketching and drawing. Lin Yuan used it to outline the basic structure of the face.
But it didn't end there.
Depending on individual sketching habits, some artists use other pencil types for outlining.
Once the framework was complete, Lin Yuan began shading.
Sketch painting involves outlining and shading based on the initial structure. Lin Yuan was familiar with his own features, allowing him to add intricate details to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
"Smooth lines..."
Line quality is crucial in sketching. Lin Yuan effortlessly drew dozens of lines with consistent thickness and length, a feat impossible for many.
Next came light and shadow.
Light direction determines brightness. Whether using gouache or sketching, mastering light and shadow enhances the artwork's depth. Dense lines were layered to create shadows and depth in Lin Yuan's sketch.
"Phew."
Painting requires patience. After two hours of meticulous work, Lin Yuan finally completed his self-portrait!
His proficiency allowed for such speed.
While copying sketches may take several hours, professionals like Lin Yuan can complete them much faster.
Dynamic pencil sketches, completed in 15 to 30 minutes, are called sketches.
Though they share the same name, the level of precision vastly differs from Lin Yuan's work.
Stepping back, Lin Yuan admired his self-portrait with satisfaction.
Truly a professional painting technique.
His self-portrait captured both form and essence. Presented to others, it would undoubtedly garner praise, as sketches are often intuitive and realistic, appealing even to those unfamiliar with artistry.
"It's quite lifelike!"
These four words often form the basis of a layperson's critique of a sketch. While simplistic, they suffice, encompassing elements like likeness, lighting, and line quality.
"Satisfied."
Having assessed his capabilities, Lin Yuan washed up, his hands stained with pencil lead.
For artists, such stains are commonplace.
This was just a sketch.
During the process, Lin Yuan occasionally smudged dense lines with his thumb to soften their appearance (toilet paper can achieve similar effects).
In more advanced techniques like gouache or oil painting, paint often splatters onto clothing—a nightmare for the cleanliness-conscious.
Those familiar with Chinese calligraphy can relate.
Cleaned up and refreshed, Lin Yuan retired to bed, but the system's prompt interrupted his thoughts: "Congratulations on completing your first painting. Your new task is to achieve a painting reputation value of over 1,000 within three months!"
"Confirmed."
Lin Yuan accepted the task without hesitation.
The system's modest target reflected the difficulty of gaining painting reputation, but the rewards were generous—an indication of its importance.
"It seems the system wants me to fully explore my potential."
Understanding the system's mission parameters, Lin Yuan realized why it was called the "Art System."
Painting, music, and literature—all integral facets of art.
"Tomorrow, I'll explore avenues for gaining a reputation. And I should learn digital painting; it shouldn't be too difficult with my professional-level skills."
While the system provided Lin Yuan with professional painting skills, digital painting required additional learning. Thankfully, Lin Yuan was up for the challenge.