Van Gogh Reborn!

Although I did not have a professional education, I was good at drawing even when I lived in France. 

This is because I thought that the way to express an object well was not to copy it as it is but to bring out its characteristics. 

Even now, that idea remains unchanged, but there is a difference between what can and cannot be described delicately. 

At that time, only a few people drew realistic paintings, but in this era, even high school students are doing it. 

The reason is probably that it is the basis for various expressions. 

If you look at the works of grandpa, Aunt Mirae, and Henry Marceau, you can see the exact image of objects. 

And they add meaning to it. 

Even though it’s not the only way to express things, it's also true that it moves my heart. 

I've been practicing steadily for the past few months, and I'm not satisfied with the result even today. 

If I want to draw the concept art I should prepare diligently. 

After putting aside the drawing paper, I looked at Cha Sihyeon, who was working hard to draw something. 

His face was filled with joy. 

Feeling the happiness on his face the corners of my mouth went up. 

The process of wiggling, thinking, fixing, and drawing again looked cute. 

Blue. 

The color of the clear sky would suit his innocence. 

If the brightness and saturation are lowered, it may look depressed, so I should be careful about color combinations. 

‘Can I express it with a colored pencil?’

I turned over the paper I drew practice drawing and painted light blue and Prussian blue. 

It is important to double-check light blue and Prussian blue or adjust the ratio by adjusting the pen pressure. 

"Are you looking for a color?" 

It was the art teacher. 

"Yes, it doesn't look like drawing with paint." 

I thought I was familiar with colored pencils, but I’m not since I can't mix colors efficiently. 

"Then, do you want to try oil pastels?" 

"Oil pastels?" 

Pastels were popular in Europe as tools that even Manet and Degas liked, but with the word oil in front of them, I think it's something that's improved. 

"Yes, I think Hun will use it well when he draws with it. Wait a minute." 

As I waited excitedly for the drawing tool I heard for the first time.

The art teacher brought me a small paper box. 

There are 36 pastels arranged neatly. 

Although it is small in size, it was only wrapped in thin paper, and it is all pigment. 

"Oh." 

I can see the difference. 

Unlike pastels, which have been powdered and hardened, these are viscous. 

Maybe it's because of the oil mix. 

"Can I try it?" 

"Sure." 

I drew it all over the paper with the teacher's permission. 

It's incredibly soft and vivid. 

In particular, the color density is high, so it can be used like oil paint. 

When I rub it with my finger, it spreads like pastel. 

However, when painted over, the color is covered rather than mixed, so it is not suitable for making new colors. 

The teacher brought a dryer and heated the oil pastel. 

Then, the hardened oil pastel melted and became like paint. 

The color mixes very well as it becomes liquid. 

"What do you think?" 

Oh, my God. If I had known this earlier, [sweet happiness] would have been richer. 

I had a hard time expressing the melted chocolate with paint. 

If this is used well, the unique surface would have been effectively drawn. 

As expected, he is an art teacher. 

"I didn't know this existed." 

“It's different from regular crayons. It's for professionals." 

I'll have to find out what these crayons are later, but I'm happy to know about the unexpected tool. 

"It's thick." 

It can’t be used for delicate works because of its thickness, but it's perfect to draw with a large canvas of color and texture, and it can replace oil paint as a tool that goes very well with the painting I'm aiming for. 

It sticks well to the drawing paper, so I think it will be enough without applying a fixer like pastels.

“Teacher, can it be applied on canvas?” 

“Paper's fine, but you have to cover it with parchment paper when you apply it or paint it on the canvas." 

It's a shame, but at least it doesn't have to be dried like paint. 

It is no exaggeration to say that this is really a revolution. 

I didn't have enough time to dry my work for the Whitney Biennale, but it would be much easier if I drew it with oil pastels. 

I should tell grandpa and buy it today. 

"How much is this?" 

"40,000 won? Good things range from 100,000 won to 200,000 won." 

Although the price is high, it feels cheaper compared to this performance. 

As I was thinking about oil pastels, Sihyeon picked up the drawing paper. 

He smiled brightly as he turned his head. 

“Did you finish?”

“Yes.” 

He showed the drawing paper to the teacher. 

I was curious about what he drew, so I stuck my head out. 

It is the super robot called Garland that I saw yesterday. 

"You did a good job. Is it a cartoon character?" 

“Yes.” 

Sihyeon replied with a smile. 

I should give it to him, since he picked up the features of the character very well. 

Features such as facial contours and glass beads on the chest that look like French helmets were perfectly picked. 

This shows that he has good observation and memory since he drew it without seeing, he drew only relying on his memory. 

This child has a gift. 

Since he likes painting and has good observation, it's not hard to learn drawing techniques. 

⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩

As I learned the texture of oil pastels and mixed colors, it was already lunchtime. 

Sihyeon called Park Hyunwoo as I was washing my hands thinking about the lunch that will be served today. 

"Hey, Hyunwoo." 

“What?"

"…This is for you." 

Cha Sihyeon handed the Garland picture he drew to Park Hyunwoo. 

I don’t know why he is giving it to the guy who hated it so much. 

Park Hyunwoo also frowned. 

"Why are you giving me this?" 

"You like Garland. right?" 

"I said I don't like childish things." 

Sihyeon stared at Park Hyunwoo. 

When he avoided eye contact, Sihyeon took the super robot out of his bag. 

"This. I came this morning and washed it clean." 

"It's not mine! Why do you keep bringing it to me!" 

Park Hyunwoo pushed Sihyeon. 

I tried to stop them, but Sihyeon did not back down. 

"You like it. You should have kept thinking about it yesterday, didn't you?" 

The timid child, who avoided Park Hyunwoo until yesterday, was speaking while looking at Park Hyunwoo’s eyes.

Park Hyunwoo avoided making eye contact with Sihyeon. 

"I told my father yesterday that I like painting. I was so happy after that.” 

“What?” 

“Don't hide what you like. It's sad. You brought Garland to school because you like him so much and couldn’t leave him at home, right?" 

"……No." 

"If you keep avoiding it because you're scared, nothing will change. You can change it if you take a step without fearing it." 

Sihyeon forced the Garland toy and painting to Park Hyunwoo. 

Park Hyunwoo looks down at the toy and the painting in silence. 

Sihyeon quickly packed his bag. 

"Hun. Let’s go." 

Sihyeon went out of the door first. 

I followed along, and I could see Park Hyunwoo wiping away his tears through the closing door. 

I hope that child will be honest with himself and be happy. 

"It was cool." 

I said tapping on Sihyeon's shoulders with admiration.

His shoulders were stiff. 

I could see how nervous he was. 

“Hehehe."

Sihyeon smiled while lifting his fist. 

We bumped our fists while laughing. 

⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩

On the way to Uncle Bang's office, I laughed as I told grandpa what happened yesterday and today. 

"Hun and Sihyun became best buddies. Well done." 

There's nothing love can't solve. 

"Ah, grandpa. I'd like to buy some oil pastels.”

"Sounds good. We can stop by the studio on our way back. Did you use it in your art class?" 

"Yes. The teacher recommended it to me and it felt good to apply it. Just like applying paint." 

"It's fun to use. right?” 

“ Yes. I’m going to paint an oil pastel for the Whitney Biennale." 

Grandpa nodded his head. 

"You’re not used to it. Will it be okay?" 

“I had a good idea." 

"What?" 

"When you heat the oil pastel, it melts, right?" 

As my art teacher showed, it melts easily because it's hardened by mixing oil and pigments. 

"Yes, I’ll use it like that." 

"You’re going to paint with oil pastels using a brush." 

"Yes. I’ll use melted oil pastels like paint?" 

"Okay." 

Grandpa continued to explain how to use oil pastels. 

I'm looking forward to what effect I can get out of the new area of knowledge I received. 

As I searched for ways to use oil pastels in a tab, I arrived at Uncle Bang's office. 

The corridor was lined with congratulatory messages and gifts. 

“He seems to have received a lot of congratulatory gifts.” 

“Yes. He did a good job in social life." 

It is natural that so many people congratulated him on the opening of his new business. 

Grandpa also called him the best curator in Korea, so he must have been a reliable ally to many people with both reputation and skills. 

Someday, I'll definitely have a better exhibition than the Marceau Gallery. 

“Let's go in.” 

“Yes, grandpa.” 

I opened the door. 

I couldn't think of anything. 

It was filled with only one round table and a work desk. 

Documents and books were piled up here and there as tall towers. 

"Is Hun here?" 

Uncle Bang's voice could be heard but his figure was nowhere to be seen. 

Uncle Bang popped his face out to the side of the pile of papers. 

"I guess there was no traffic on your way here. Haha. It's a little crazy, isn't it?" 

It's twice as big as the attic I stayed in Auvers. 

"What do you think about Uncle's office?" 

I can't look at Uncle Bang who asked with a bright smile. 

I can't believe he started his business in such a small place, giving up on his high-salary job for me. 

But I know that it cannot be grand from the start. 

“It's narrow Uncle Bang.” 

“Is it narrow? Haha.”

We laughed together. 

“Make sure you make it big, Uncle Bang.” 

“Of course, I will.”