Backstage at the art exhibition.
In the lounge.
"Excuse me, do you have a brush?"
Su Yu glanced at the watercolor tools nearby, not seeing any brushes.
"You want to paint with ink wash?" Chang Yu raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?" Master Milo also looked surprised. "Ink wash painting is quite challenging."
As a master painter, he greatly admired ink wash painting for its distinct imagery and artistic conception.
It demanded high skill in brushwork and ink application. Ink wash painting used only water and ink, relying on shades of ink to present the so-called "ink charm." While ordinary people might not sense much, to professionals, ink wash painting was undeniably a highly specialized category.
Having reached the pinnacle of his painting career, Master Milo naturally explored other painting styles, and ink wash was one of his favorites.
"Wait a moment, I'll get you a brush!" Chang Yu quickly walked over to his backpack and took out brushes, ink, and an inkstone.
Although he usually painted with oil and watercolor, he also practiced ink wash.
Therefore, he naturally brought his essential tools when coming for this exchange.
"Listen to the Rain can paint with ink wash?"
"Am I seeing this right? Master Chang Yu is personally grinding ink for him?"
"Holy cow, ink wash painting, this is the traditional Chinese painting style. Listen to the Rain might actually know a thing or two!"
"Impossible. He's already so skilled in songwriting and instruments. If he can also paint, it would be too outrageous!"
"But Listen to the Rain's composure seems a bit too much!"
The viewers in the livestream all noticed that Listen to the Rain was excessively calm.
Although he always behaved this way, without significant emotional fluctuations regardless of the setting, and he was proficient in many instruments, those were all related to music. Painting and music were entirely different matters.
If Listen to the Rain's talent in painting was as monstrous as his talent in music.
Many netizens might find it unacceptable.
This would be truly unbelievable!
...
The lounge.
Milo and several other art masters stood behind Su Yu with their arms crossed.
A faint smile played on their lips.
Not long after.
The brushes and ink were ready.
"The theme for the masters' exchange this time is fish and shrimp?" Su Yu turned back and looked at the painting circle's eminent figures.
"That's right. Just paint what you're best at, you don't have to stick to fish and shrimp," Milo said with a smile.
Every painter has their specialties. Although their exchange stipulated the theme of fish and shrimp, they considered Su Yu to be outside the professional circle, and as an amateur, he could paint whatever he pleased.
"Then I'll paint shrimp," Su Yu said after a moment of thought, holding his brush.
"Haha, Listen to the Rain, are you sure you want to paint shrimp?" It was Louis speaking beside him. Seeing Su Yu's curious gaze, he immediately explained with a laugh, "Milo is known as the painter who best paints shrimp on Planet Blue. You dare to paint shrimp in front of him? I must say, you're very bold."
"Then I'll change it?" Su Yu chuckled, feeling a bit awkward.
"No need, you just paint shrimp. We are simply here for an exchange, not a competition to determine who is superior," Milo said in a gentle tone. Hearing that Su Yu wanted to paint shrimp, he became even more interested.
He adjusted his reading glasses and stood directly beside Su Yu, lining up with him. "I'll guide you directly."
"Thank... thank you, Master Milo," Su Yu nodded gratefully.
And at this moment.
The viewers in the livestream erupted once again.
"Oh my god, Master Milo personally guiding shrimp painting, this is a lifelong dream for all painters!"
"Listen to the Rain is really getting a lot of prestige this time!"
"This guy seems to cause big things wherever he goes. I'm sure he'll be trending again soon!"
"Ahhh! I'm so envious of Listen to the Rain!"
"Is Listen to the Rain doing this on purpose? He must know that shrimp is Master Milo's signature."
"Being guided by Master Milo, Listen to the Rain can become wildly popular in the art world just for this!"
Milo's signature was his shrimp paintings.
Although he did not paint them in ink wash, his research on shrimp was unparalleled on Planet Blue.
Therefore, receiving guidance from Master Milo was the dream of many painters on Planet Blue.
Master Milo's guidance could significantly enhance both personal painting skills and influence within the circle!
...
Finally.
Su Yu picked up his brush and made the first stroke on the paper.
"Your grip on the brush is quite good," Chang Yu said, standing behind Su Yu with his arms crossed.
The other distinguished figures stood beside Chang Yu, watching with great interest.
Milo and Louis, on the other hand, were on either side of Su Yu, leaning in closely.
Milo intended to offer guidance at key moments, while Louis was purely there for the excitement, eager to see what Su Yu would create.
The lounge suddenly fell silent.
Everyone watched Su Yu's performance intently.
It had an academic exchange atmosphere.
After a few strokes.
Chang Yu slightly furrowed his brow.
Similar to him, the three masters beside him also knitted their brows slightly.
The moment the first shrimp was completed.
Chang Yu and the others, who had been standing a bit further away, had moved closer to Su Yu without anyone noticing.
Due to the crowded space, two masters had nowhere to stand and craned their necks forward from behind Su Yu.
Everyone's faces were solemn, holding their breath, staring intently at the painting before Su Yu.
The lounge was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The sound of the brush moving across the paper.
Rustling softly.
Su Yu remained oblivious to the subtle changes in the masters' demeanor, immersed in a peculiar sensation.
Since he was painting shrimp, he naturally decided to adopt Qi Baishi's technique.
Moreover, he had gone rather bold this time, directly adopting the technique of an elderly Qi Baishi.
As is well known, Qi Baishi's shrimp paintings evolved through several stages. The first stage focused on form, with all techniques derived from the shape. Da Feng Novel Network.
The second stage was the most crucial phase of his artistic transformation, where he found his direction, shifting from seeking form to seeking essence.
However, his most remarkable stage was the third. By this time, Qi Baishi had mastered the interplay of solid and void in painting shrimp. With just a few strokes, he could bring a shrimp to life. This stage had moved beyond seeking essence to capturing spirit, conveying mood and vitality, as if imbuing the painted shrimp with a soul.
Su Yu's brush danced!
Pseudopods, antennae, shrimp backs, even the shrimp roe, eyes, and shells were rendered with distinct shades of light and dark!
With every stroke, Milo's eyes widened a little more!
With every added detail, Milo's mouth opened a little wider!
The moment the second shrimp was completed.
Milo couldn't help but gasp in disbelief.
His eyes widened, his pupils constricting rapidly.
His reading glasses slid down his nose.
"Oh my..." he quickly covered his mouth, unable to suppress his exclamation, and put his glasses back on, leaning even closer, staring at the painting before him in utter disbelief!
"Oh my gosh!" Milo managed to restrain himself, but the other eminent figures in the art world couldn't.
"Holy crap!!" Chang Yu was even more direct.
The moment a distinctly Chinese exclamation escaped his lips.
It transformed the atmosphere of the entire livestream!
...