Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

Chapter 69 begins to draw new colors.

The next day
Li Feng went to work early.

However, when Li Feng stepped out of the courtyard, he felt that the Jia family was deathly quiet. At that moment, there was no one in the Jia family or Sha Zhu's house.

As for He Yushui, she and Shazhu do not live in the same house.

The other elderly men's homes still had people around.

This shows that there are people in their family.

As for whether those stewards were inside, Li Feng had no idea.

However, these matters were none of Li Feng's concern, so he only thought about them briefly before leaving.

I don't want to get involved in so many things.

After finishing his meal at the factory canteen, Li Feng went to the painting workshop.

Today marks the official start of my drawing career.

Also, performance is based on producing artwork. I haven't produced any porcelain pieces these past few days, so I can only receive an apprentice's salary.

As for performance evaluation, you have to produce something to earn it.

When Li Feng arrived at his workstation.

Han Ming and the others were already here.

After greeting them, Li Feng returned to his workstation.

Li Feng wants to have a glass of water to calm down.

Li Feng felt a bit full when he ate in the cafeteria.

It is said that you should eat a good breakfast, a full lunch, and a light dinner.

But if it tastes good, then it's perfectly normal to eat more.

After Li Feng took a sip of hot water, Master Deng came in from outside.

At this moment, he saw Li Feng and the others chatting idly, so he frowned and then lectured Li Feng and the others.

"To learn a trade, you still have to put in the effort outside of your eight-hour workday, otherwise you'll be letting yourself down."

At this moment, Zou Chun whispered his rebuttal to Master Deng.

"Master Deng, we don't have the original image yet."

When Master Deng heard Zou Chun's rebuttal, he immediately glared at Zou Chun and lectured him.

"Can't you draw something else if you don't have the original image?"

"It's not like there aren't any ceramic tiles here, and we even have paints that we don't have at home!"

"Don't you know how to use this time to draw properly?"

"You are still apprentices, not masters."

"Practicing drawing more won't do you any harm."

"Besides, what you're painting now is different from the pastel paintings you used to do. Don't you know you should spend some time on this?"

After hearing what Master Deng said, Zou Chun was too afraid to speak.

After Master Deng finished educating Zou Chun,

He took a blueprint and two photos directly from his bag.

Li Feng looked at the drawing; it was in black and white.

The pattern inside is the same flower and bird painting by Giuseppe Castiglione that Master Deng showed to us yesterday.

As for the two photos, Li Feng discovered that they were not the same. He saw that one of them was not a photo of the flower and bird design, but a photo of another piece of porcelain.

Li Feng saw from the photo that the porcelain plaque depicted an old man wearing a white headscarf and black cloth, holding a huge wooden stick in his rough hands, with thick ropes wrapped around the stick.

This must be revolutionary porcelain, right?
Or it should be the predecessor of revolutionary porcelain.

Li Feng knew that the techniques used here were similar to those used in revolutionary porcelain.

Moreover, the main characters are basically farmers or high-ranking officials.

At this moment, Li Feng wondered if he should draw this too?
Just as Li Feng was thinking about these things.

Master Deng instructed Li Feng and others to produce the ink sketches of flowers and birds.

Li Feng and his team quickly produced the ink draft.

Then Master Deng asked Li Feng to place the porcelain plate with the ink design on the table.

Immediately afterwards, he took a piece of dark black pigment and began to explain to Li Feng how to paint new-style porcelain.

"Painting new-style porcelain is different from painting famille rose or antique-style porcelain."

"The famille rose and antique-style porcelain uses pearl-like pigments."

"But we use jet black."

He then turned his gaze to Li Feng and Han Ming and the others.

"Do you know why we use pure black?"

However, Han Ming and his companions had not studied this, so they were unaware of the reason.

However, Li Feng knew what was going on.

So he replied to Master Deng, "It's probably because the dark black finish is less likely to come off after firing."

After hearing Li Feng's answer, Master Deng nodded in satisfaction.

"good!".

He then lectured Han Ming and the others.

"You're all fine. Learn more about ceramics. There are so many master craftsmen in our factory. If you ask them for advice, they will usually be able to answer you."

Han Ming listened attentively to Master Deng's lecture and nodded humbly.

Seeing that they seemed to have taken his words to heart, Master Deng continued.

"Speaking of jet black."

"Pastel colors are generally used to draw things like hair."

"But it's different in the new color scheme. The bright black here is equivalent to the pearl-like material in the famille rose scheme."

“Except for objects that must be in other colors, all should be in bright black.”

"The lines that are dark black are usually drawn using fine, delicate strokes."

"Generally, we use the fine-line drawing technique when outlining, but when drawing modern figures, we have to switch to the iron-wire drawing technique."

"Generally speaking, you have to capture the feeling of the photograph."

After hearing Master Deng's instructions, Li Feng and the others nodded quickly to indicate that they understood.

Seeing that Li Feng and the others had understood what he said, Master Deng took the material brush he had just prepared and drew a few lines directly on the porcelain plate.

Master Deng's brushwork is excellent; he used fine lines to depict the veins and leaves of the trees.

After Master Deng demonstrated how to outline the lines,

Master Deng then began explaining the knowledge about the new color scheme.

"The coloring of the new paintings you are about to create will be done by our painters."

"So you also need to learn about color application."

"Regarding what color to use on top, just follow the picture."

“Just use whatever color is shown in the picture. After all, this is about completing an order, and now is not the time for you to unleash your artistic talents.”

"If you want to use your artistic talents, you can give it a try when you participate in the promotion assessment."

At this point, Master Deng returned to the main topic.

"Our color scheme for new colors is generally based on the pictures."

"The porcelain in the pictures or photos that are given to you has usually been tested beforehand."

"That means it can achieve that color effect."

"If that effect cannot be achieved, the master craftsmen need to discuss and synthesize other colors as substitutes."

"However, these usually require approval from above."

"After all, we paint porcelain to order."

"Of course, there are also times when we have free rein, because our factory also has orders that only specify the theme but not the specific color."

"But we have to follow the instructions from above now!"

"Do you know?"

Li Feng quickly nodded to Master Deng to indicate that he understood.

The others nodded immediately.

When Master Deng saw that Li Feng already knew, he stood up and gave instructions to Li Feng and the others.

"First, draw this painting of flowers and birds by Giuseppe Castiglione according to the requirements of the picture."

After Mr. Deng finished speaking, he placed the photo in Han Ming's spot.

Since the tracings had already been completed, Li Feng and the others could now start drawing directly.

As for the coloring later, we'll have to get the photos from Han Ming for comparison.

Once a suitable porcelain slab is drawn, it can be used to make a sample.

At this moment, Li Feng and the others were very excited.

They believe that they can start earning performance bonuses now.

As for the coloring issue, they didn't think it was a big problem, since the dark black color needed to be fixed by firing it first.

If the color doesn't work, just wipe it off and reapply.

At worst, I'll just get a scolding.

You'll eventually learn it if you try a few more times.

Li Feng and the others all shared this thought at that moment.

of course!

This is also the common idea among most apprentices at present.

(End of this chapter)