Reborn as a great painter, with a system, you can be willful

Chapter 194, Observation, Skill Improvement, Painting Materials
Jiang Zhe approached the Magic City Museum.

From the outside, the building's square base combined with the circular upper floor has the traditional meaning of "the sky is round and the earth is square". At the same time, because of the texture of the building materials, it is extremely modern.

As he waited in line to enter the venue, he recalled that he had the honor of visiting the Magic City once in his previous life. However, due to time constraints, he could only take a cursory look.

It is now 2001, and this venue has only been officially open to the public for a few years, so I believe I will gain something.

He passed security, entered the venue, and went straight to the painting exhibition area.

Before coming here, Jiang Zhe had already thought about it. The collection here is rich, and it would take a long time if he wanted to carefully observe and study each piece.

I only have half a day this time, so I must focus on studying.

At present, the most meaningful learning object for me is painting, followed by calligraphy, and then seals.

When he came to the painting gallery, he was first shocked by each painting, and then he discovered with regret that each piece of collection was blocked by glass and was quite far away from the audience.

Jiang Zhe took a quick tour of the painting exhibition area and found that the system was unresponsive, which he could only blame on the distance.

He had to give up his plan to use the system to improve his skills and start focusing on observation.

Among the traditional subjects of figure painting, flower-and-bird painting and landscape painting, he first focused on figure painting, because he had a relevant foundation and could see the subtleties in the painting, which helped to improve.

He selected a work and carefully appreciated its beauty and technique, but due to the distance, he still couldn't see some details clearly.

Jiang Zhe memorized as many details of the works he observed as possible, then simulated copying them in his mind, and then compared them with the original paintings. After doing this several times, he was able to memorize the works.

He then went to look at a long landscape scroll by Dong Qichang, which was displayed in a showcase and was closer to the audience than a hanging scroll.

Although it cannot trigger a system reaction, it can show more details. The brushwork and traditional charm of the painting instantly touched Jiang Zhe.

Jiang Zhe carefully observed the brushwork and ink method, constantly simulating the creative process in his mind. He memorized the work as before. It was a pity that he could not see the whole picture of this work.

Next, he went to observe the calligraphy exhibition area.

Having a foundation in calligraphy, especially having just acquired some of Deng Sanmu's calligraphy skills, he gained new insights when observing some traditional calligraphy works.

He reluctantly left the museum until it was almost closing in the afternoon.

Seeing that there was still time, he quickly came to Fuzhou Road.

There are many time-honored shops on the bustling Golden Road, including the famous stationery store.

Jiang Zhe gained a lot today and had the urge to start creating immediately, so he wanted to buy some traditional calligraphy and painting materials.

He first came to Cao Sugong's store. This brand is a shop of the Magic City Ink Factory, which has been well-known among the three state-owned inks in recent decades. When online shopping was not well developed, buying here might have given you better products.

Unfortunately, most of the ink sold in this shop are ink sticks and brushes produced in the past two years.

Because of the influence of the production process and materials (lamp carbon or pine soot carbon powder plus leather glue and bone glue), the ink stick usually needs to be aged for a period of time after it is made before it can be used.

According to him, the most classic product of Modou Ink Factory or Cao Sugong was formerly called Wu Shi Oil Fume (the mark on the top of the ink stick), and later it was renamed Oil Fume 101 and several special oil fumes.

He asked the clerk and learned that if he wanted to buy ink from an earlier production year, he could only buy it from the ink factory.

Jiang Zhe had no choice but to buy a few ink blocks and ink of classic quality, a small She inkstone and an album leaf, and then rushed back to the hotel.

On the way back to the hotel, he sat in a taxi and thought about the process of viewing paintings in the museum today. Although the time was not long and he could only remember two or three works, his memory was more profound than the previous copying works.

Today's experience also made him realize that there are far more resources for learning traditional calligraphy and painting in China than oil painting.

It was already seven o'clock in the evening when he returned to the hotel. Learning that Wang Zhen and the other man had not returned yet, he put his things down and went to the hotel restaurant for dinner.

While eating, I am still thinking about tomorrow's plans.

Tomorrow, I have to visit an art gallery, buy some painting supplies, and find time to buy gifts for my family and friends. I have to take a plane back to Binhai in the evening. Time is very tight.

While he was thinking about the route, he saw Wang Zhen and his assistant getting out of a taxi through the window, so he called her.

"Manager, have you eaten yet? Do you want to eat together?"

Wang Zhen held up his phone and asked, "Where did you eat?"

“In the hotel restaurant.”

"Okay, we'll be there in a minute."

Wang Zhen and Jiang Zhe came to the restaurant and had dinner with them.

Jiang Zhe noticed that they were obviously very tired. After ordering the dishes, the assistant lowered her head to eat, no longer energetic; Wang Zhen was trying hard to be energetic, and she didn't know what she had been through.

He knew he didn't understand business matters, so he didn't say anything.

Wang Zhen finished eating quickly and asked Jiang Zhe about his plans for tomorrow.

After listening to Jiang Zhe's plan for tomorrow, he said, "I have something to do. I will return to Binhai a few days later and cannot leave with you."

"Okay, you do your thing, I'll go back by myself."

"I'll send someone off to you."

"No need to send me off, I'm not a child."

Wang Zhen was obviously busy, so he finished dinner in a hurry.

Jiang Zhe returned to his room, called his parents and Chen Yan, and then spread out his Chinese painting tools on the table.

He used a piece of fine landscape soot ink, ground the ink on a newly purchased She inkstone, and began to silently paint the two paintings that we are viewing in the museum today.

The process of copying the figure painting went smoothly and the effect was ideal.

When I copied the landscape painting from memory, it was a bit difficult because it was my first attempt. After slowly getting used to the painting method and process, I was able to finish a work.

Unexpectedly, just after I finished memorizing, the system gave me a new prompt.

Jiang Zhe opened the system page and saw the prompt:
Through observation, learning and practice, you can master new skills - traditional landscape painting (not yet an entry-level skill).

After just copying a part of the skills, Jiang Zhe saw a new skill on the skill page. Although he had not yet mastered it, he was very satisfied with the result. If it appeared on the page, there was a possibility of rapid improvement.

Jiang Zhe reviewed the learning process, especially the experience in the museum, and felt that the effect of forcing himself to study under the pressure of time and environment was indeed different and more efficient than learning without pressure.

In the future, you can try to create such an environment.

The next day, Jiang Zhe arrived at the Magic City Art Museum early for observation.

At that time, the museum had not yet moved into the Expo Park. The museum preserves works by famous modern and contemporary painters such as Xugu, Ren Bonian, and Wu Changshuo, as well as oil paintings and prints with local characteristics.

Jiang Zhe focused on observing the works of famous artists, but the system still did not respond.

Although he did not have the opportunity to improve quickly, he also had the opportunity to see many fine works, such as the Shanghai School of Traditional Chinese Painting, and the works of famous oil painters such as Xia Baoyuan, Wei Jingshan, and Chen Yifei who have appeared in Shanghai in recent decades, which are refreshing.

Jiang Zhe calculated the time and walked out of the art gallery, secretly regretting that his time in Shanghai was limited.

He then went to Duo Yun Xuan, a famous old store in Shanghai, to buy painting materials. Because there were not many ways to buy painting and calligraphy materials, buying in such an old store would provide a certain guarantee.

(End of this chapter)