Almighty painter

Chapter 196 Nomination
Gu Tongxiang prefers to paint in the yard.

Gu's Book Gallery is now playing classical music, and the [-]-square-meter well-decorated facade is arranged like a small art gallery.

In fact, the main focus is a look that looks elegant and refined.

It is used to do business with small bourgeois customers.

The modern small galleries in Yangon are the same as the light luxury cafes. The main target audience is foreign tourists and urban middle class with good income.

In the bad times before, there was no such condition at all.

Going back three or 40 years, those who painted traditional Chinese paintings in Myanmar were almost the same as those who talked about cross talk and sang Errenzhuan.

Be grounded.

Everyone moves folding tables and chairs and the four treasures of the study every day, finds an overpass or a crowded place in the park, and sets up a stall to draw on-site.

After painting, shout, and then paint after shouting.

At the end of the day, you can also earn a living from the crowd watching the excitement and supporting your family.

When Mr. Gu made his fortune back then, the Franco-Burmese man who exchanged the small yellow croaker for the old painting was known among the onlookers in the park.

These years, the income is better than before, and Gu Tongxiang is getting older.

Only now did the old man feel at ease sitting in the gallery, instead of running around in the wind and rain.

Old habits die hard,

He still doesn't like to use the professional studio at home, but prefers to set up a long table in the yard and paint in the open air according to the old habit.

It just rained yesterday and the air is fresh.

Gu Tongxiang felt that it was a bit like a new rain in the empty mountain. When he got up in the morning, he wiped off the table and took rice paper and paints. He spread painting tools on the long table and drew for a while as a morning exercise.

Old man Wu has sharp eyes.

Glancing at the half-painted peony on the rice paper, and seeing the paint on the long table, I immediately made a good guess.

"Forget it, Lao Gu, you're just asking for trouble."

"If you want to be safe, don't worry about anything." Old man Wu curled his lips and said a jingle for health preservation.

"At your age, do you still think that the old tree will bloom new flowers? Why are you holding on to Lang Shining? If we don't have the ability, we have to accept our fate."

Old man Wu's words were completely well-intentioned.

As an old neighbour,
He knew that Gu Tongxiang had planned to imitate Castiglione, and he died for a while.

After trying for a long time and failing, I became honest.

Unexpectedly, this obsession was aroused again.

Old man Wu thought, why should this guy have trouble with himself?
When a person is old, he cannot fight with his life.

It's really not worth it if you work hard and don't say anything if you don't see hope.

"It's okay. In ancient times, Huang Gongwang learned painting at the age of 52, and painted "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" at the age of 84. Recently, Picasso painted almost [-], and Mr. Cao Xuan and Yayoi Kusama didn't put down their brushes."

After getting Gu Weijing's guidance, Gu Tongxiang began to find a sense of fusion painting.

In the past two days, Gu Tongxiang can clearly feel his progress compared with before.

He is learning well now, and he is a bit reluctant to accept his old age.

Mr. Gu stroked his bald forehead with few hairs left, and raised his neck: "I think I am younger than them. I can paint for a few more years at this age."

"Damn, I pooh!"

Old man Wu, who was also a famous figure among the top ranks of society, uttered a dirty word unceremoniously.

He was directly amused by Lao Gu's ignorant demeanor.

"Are you worthy of being compared with these characters? If you say it, you will be fainted by outsiders laughing. This year, I met Master Cao Xuan a few times next to the Shwedagon Pagoda, and I really regard myself as a character."

"Let me tell you, in normal times, even if you meet someone's master Cao's disciple, you have to respectfully bend down to call out for the teacher, and they may not be willing to talk to you. Xiao Gu, do you think this is the reason? "

Old man Wu took a sip of his cigar and glanced at Gu Weijing beside him.

Gu Weijing touched his head, but said nothing.

"Little Gu, I need to persuade your grandpa if you have nothing to do. I don't think he is so out of tune. Don't think about it. I still want to live with him for a few more years, play chess for a few more years, and beat him a few more times. Pack of cigarettes."

"Just relying on you, a stinky chess player?" Gu Tongxiang retorted.

Gu Weijing shook his head when he saw the two elders teasing each other in the yard.

He also had to smile, and said softly: "I think it's good for the old man to have a hobby. My grandfather has made great progress in learning this painting method."

"Hmph, I'm being self-indulgent! Just let your grandpa get used to it. When he can't draw the picture and falls ill due to depression, you will be happy."

Old man Wu was even more upset when he heard that.

He lightly slapped Gu Weijing on the back who was pouring tea for him, stood up from the saddle, and leaned over to Gu Tongxiang, wanting to persuade him.

"No need, I appreciate the kindness."

Mr. Gu waved his hand, raised his chin slightly at the pile of rice paper on the long table, with a very arrogant expression: "Go and take a good look at what is called Shibie for three days."

"No... are you serious?"

Now old man Wu was really puzzled.

Looking at Gu Tongxiang's proud look, could it be that he figured out the way?

Old man Wu was a little bit unconvinced.

"Don't say that I look down on you. Those big bosses in the National Artists Association who have real skills, Castiglione can't just imitate. Even Vice President Miao, I'm afraid he doesn't have the ability."

Myanmar National Fine Arts Association, the superior department of Yangon Painting and Calligraphy Association.

It is directly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture of the government, and it is also the highest courtesy that artists in this land can receive in their official capacity, and it belongs to the type of national treasure.

No matter how poor Myanmar is,

It is also the top 30 most populous countries in the world, and its population is not small.

There are 6000 to [-] million people. If a dwarf is selected as a general in the whole country, one out of tens of millions of people can be selected, and some famous painters can be selected in total.

Vice President Miao is just such a famous painter.

The National Artists Association has two vice presidents, one is an important member of the Ministry of Culture, and the other is him.

Vice President Miao once developed in Paris for a period of time.

Fortunately, I signed a contract with a French third-tier gallery, which has a little reputation internationally.

There is even his recommended home page in the buyer column of "Oil Painting" magazine. The recommendation index is two stars, which is half a star higher than Komatsu Taro's one and a half stars.

He has also won prizes at local city biennales in Myanmar, which are incomparable with big exhibitions like Dongxia and Japan, but in Yangon, he is also a major artist in the martial arts league.

"Vice President Miao mainly paints oil paintings and watercolors, which doesn't go well with Castiglione."

Mr. Gu smiled, walked over, and gently unfolded the several sheets of rice paper that were covered together next to each other.

In addition to the unfinished peonies on the table, there are peonies, chrysanthemums, and gardenias painted yesterday afternoon...

"Brother, let me open your eyes for you."

"Oh!"

When the rice paper entered his eyes, old man Wu let out a soft cry, his expression changed slightly.

Looking at the chaotic flowers in front of me,
The expression on his face that was three-point curious and seven-point watching the joke froze in an instant.

like……

It looks very chewy!

The feeling of pen and ink on the rice paper in front of him is completely different from the failed imitations he had seen old man Gu.

"What kind of elixir did you take?"

The shocked old man Wu wished he could stuff a light bulb into his mouth.

"Just say it's okay."

Gu Tongxiang rubbed his hands together, looking at the old neighbor who was shocked from ear to ear.His whole body was comfortable, and there was a feeling of lightness from the pores all over his body.

It is more refreshing than having a bowl of sour and spicy Shan soup powder just before playing chess.

"It's really good, it tastes good."

Old man Wu looked at the rice paper in front of him, and he couldn't believe it.

"It's amazing."

Old man Wu tapped the paper with his fingers, his tone still puzzled, and he was itchy in his heart: "How did you draw this?"

Gu Tongxiang is unwilling to share the precious painting know-how that his grandson realized.

The old man looked like a master of the outside world, and he didn't pay attention to the other party at all.

The less he spoke, the more anxious Old Man Wu became.

Seeing Lie Xin was overjoyed, the old man seemed to have ants crawling in his heart.

In the group of old neighbors who have seen each other for decades, old man Wu has always felt that he is the one with the highest artistic achievements in the tourist streets along the Yangon River.

Although books and paintings are similar and not related, they cannot be directly compared.

But everyone is a member of the Yangon Painting and Calligraphy Association.

Gu Tongxiang is only a specially invited consultant of the Painting and Calligraphy Association, and he himself is a permanent member of the committee.
The old man is very particular, he never talks about it, and he still has a little vain sense of superiority in his heart.

He has always claimed to be the only flower among old men of the same age.

Even for a square dance, there are old ladies vying to be his dance partner.

in the end……

This old Gu, he wants the rhythm of the whole big news.

"If you don't tell me, I'll see for myself."

Old man Wu leaned over to the side of the unfinished peony flower, trying to find out the name from the brush on the edge of the unfinished petals.

"Look! Just let you see it! I don't believe you can figure out something." Gu Tongxiang was happy when he saw old man Wu.

In order to study Castiglione's works, he went to the Forbidden City on both sides of the strait and walked around a lot, but he didn't see why.

The other party looked at it twice and wanted to study it to understand it. It was just a dream.

Old man Wu just stood like this for several minutes, and wanted to comment several times, but he looked confused and didn't know what to say.

His cheeks were puffed up, like a confused old frog who was just trying to figure out how other toads could eat swan meat.

This is Castiglione, the number one court painting master in Qing Dynasty!
How did Lao Gu draw it?

Master Lang Shining doesn't want to lose face!

finally,
Old man Wu gave up helplessly.

He is a calligraphy by profession, knows how to paint and loves to paint, but his painting skills are mediocre, far behind Gu Tongxiang.

It is really difficult for him to reverse the painting method.

"Old Gu, our relationship has always been good."

Old man Wu pondered for a moment and suddenly sighed. He raised his head and looked at Gu Tongxiang on the side, his eyes became very strange, as if the old man no longer knew him.

"Shall I discuss something with you?" A smile instantly appeared on the old man's face.

"You talk first?" Gu Tongxiang became vigilant.

"Lectures? The Yangon Association still has some funding, so I can give you a special lecture." Old Man Wu said with a smile.

The threshold for holding art exhibitions is too high. Many times, when artists show off their painting techniques and philosophy of art, they like to give lectures or something.

Round it up,
This is also equivalent to the youth version of a solo exhibition.

Not to mention anything else, it's quite cool to simply give other colleagues the feeling of being a teacher on the podium.

"Don't talk."

Gu Tongxiang's head shook like a drum.

"Don't let you talk for nothing, um, so... the Yangon Painting and Calligraphy Association is eligible to nominate several members to the National Artists Association this year. Of course, I definitely don't have the right to decide. It depends on others. But I thought, If you go to give lectures, I will organize activities for you and add your name to the list of nominations this year?"

Old man Wu said seductively.

The National Artists Association has a much higher gold content than the City Artists Association, the qualifications are strictly reviewed, and the number of people is much smaller.Old man Wu himself didn't join in.

He knew that Gu Tongxiang had been coveting the chance of being nominated by the National Artists Association.

Gu Tongxiang was really moved for a moment.

Their family has been proud of being a court painter for generations. Now that it is a modern society, being able to join a national art association is about the same.

If it is successful, Gu Tongxiang will have a confession if he draws a picture of his life.

It is right from the ancestors.

But then I thought, this is the painting method that my grandson has worked hard to study, why should I let outsiders learn it!
"Not worth it."

Gu Tongxiang still held back his heart, shook his head and refused.

"Well, I said, after passing this village, there will be no such shop." Old man Wu still didn't give up, and continued to seduce, "I'm talking about Lao Gu. Let's not hide our secrets, although your painting is really good ... But I think it's just because of Castiglione's distraction."

This is also the truth in old man Wu's heart.

In the works in front of him, Gu Tongxiang's brushwork has indeed reached an impressive level, but it seems that he has not mastered it skillfully, and the brushwork still has sluggish operation.

There is a sense of uncoordinated fragmentation in many aspects.

Old man Wu believes that this is because the way Gu Tongxiang has figured out is not yet perfect.

"Imitations of this level can at most be hung in your gallery and sold to tourists. If you want to become famous, you don't have the publicity and distribution channels of other professional galleries, so you delay good things by holding them in your hands."

"I think the theory of painting method is still young. Why don't you take it out and share your experience with everyone to make a contribution to the local calligraphy and painting industry?"

Old man Wu is really not greedy for other people's painting secrets, but he feels that Gu Tongxiang has figured out something with great difficulty.

In the future, if Gu Weijing didn't learn it, he would be taken to the grave.

spoiled.

"I don't have channels, but my grandson will have them in the future."

Gu Tongxiang shook his head, with a firm attitude: "Besides, the reason why I can't draw well is because I just learned from the teacher for two days. After two days of learning, I can draw like this, and the theory of drawing is not young at all."

teacher!

Old man Wu was surprised that Lao Gu also had a teacher.

Isn't this painting method developed by himself?

He just went to Thailand for a while, why did he start to lose his comprehension of the world after he came back!
"No... Teacher, you still have a teacher? I haven't heard that we have some great people in Yangon. You have met a fairy and dreamed of you."

and many more.

"Couldn't it be Master Cao who instructed you? How did you lick the old man!"

When this idea popped up, old man Wu almost swallowed his tongue in envy.

Could it be that Mr. Cao really mentioned a few words?

Old man Wu believes that Master Cao must have this level.

But at his level, if he followed Castiglione's old path, he would be suspected of stealing people's teeth.

But why mention Gu Tongxiang?

How many great artists cried and eagerly begged Master Cao Xuan for some advice.

Who the hell is this old guy? It can't be because Master Cao thinks Lao Gu's bald head is particularly pleasing to the eye.

"Stop guessing."

Gu Tongxiang waved at his grandson Gu Weijing who was standing by, "No, my teacher is right there."

Old man Wu looked at the young man next to him who was grinning at him, and then at Gu Tongxiang, really upset.

"It's fine if you don't want to say it. It's boring to do it like this."

He thought the other party was making fun of him.

"No kidding, I mean it."

Gu Tongxiang waved to Gu Weijing, half showing off, half pointing to the flowers on the rice paper in front of him seriously, and said: "Grandson, my calyx is painted with bubbles, it doesn't feel right, give it to grandpa Find out what the problem is."

Gu Weijing looked at the rice paper for a while, and then compared it with the relatively simple western method heavy color chapter in the "Summary of the Essence of Lang Shining's New Body Painting" that he told his grandfather.

He probably has the answer in his heart.

Gu Weijing stretched out his finger and pointed to a detail on the screen.

"The ink lines here..."

"stop."

Gu Tongxiang raised his hand to stop his grandson from explaining, smiled at old man Wu, and pointed to the gate of the yard.

"Brother, it's not that I want to drive you away, but everyone understands the principle that the law should not be passed on to the six ears. When you teach your students to write big characters, you don't want others to listen to the essence of it."

"Well, I've become an outsider."

Old man Wu rolled his eyes: "Calligraphy mainly relies on practice and copying, not so much attention to painting. My son quit this line of work, and there are not many students. If I write big characters, if Xiao Gu is willing to learn, he will come to me every day tomorrow." Then look, I will definitely not chase people away."

The old man Wu muttered, but he still moved reluctantly.

He went to the gate of the yard and stood still, squinting at the movements of the grandpa and grandson.

"Just pretend."

Old man Wu watched the play with a cold eye while holding the cigar roll in his mouth.

Xiao Gu's talent is indeed good, but at this age, it's hard to say if he understands the articles written on it with just a brush.

The reason why he was willing to set up an association for Gu Weijing was really to take care of the younger generation.

Old man Wu never regarded Gu Weijing as a truly mature artist.

As for what people said, Mr. Cao praised Gu Weijing... This is indeed remarkable.

But old man Wu is very clear about the virtues of people in the art circle.

In order to become famous, gossip is passed around and changed, sometimes it is unintentional, and in more cases it is even intentional.
Giraffes, according to word of mouth, can be blown into unicorns.

Artists even more so,
Mr. Cao probably just nodded casually, and the rumors were infinitely exaggerated.

On the contrary, old man Wu was a little envious and admired Gu Weijing.

No matter how the other party licks.

Master Cao who licked, or the person from the Shwedagon Pagoda Cultural Relics Administration in Yangon who licked, was able to add his own name to the back of the No. 17 mural Mr. Cao Xuan.

It's also really awesome.

To be able to lick this kind of achievement is not just licking a dog, it is simply a wolf warrior. It is really hard not to admire.

But old man Wu thinks he is very clear about the real level of ordinary high school students.

Don't talk about whether you can draw Castiglione clearly, if you can understand Castiglione, you are considered a character.

　I wanted to finish writing this story, but I didn't have time.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)