sjar Chapter 50: A Gathering of Literati
Chapter 50: A Gathering of Literati
Old Bao knew full well that this man's words were not to be trusted; he was already used to such despicable tactics.
"Finish your painting first, then we can discuss it after the timer ends. Don't disturb the other contestants!" Lao Bao said calmly and firmly.
The middle-aged man murmured, seemingly wanting to argue further, but ultimately shut his mouth.
Jiang Songchu returned to her seat and continued to focus on her painting, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with her.
The middle-aged man glared at her fiercely, but ultimately did not cause any more trouble and instead began to revise the painting.
In the audience, people whispered and discussed among themselves.
Grandpa Xie was so angry that he kept snorting, because he had been watching Jiang Songchu paint intently and had witnessed the whole process. He knew that the middle-aged man had done it on purpose, trying to splash ink on Jiang Songchu.
Chen Yun also frowned, her thoughts racing as she considered what countermeasures to take.
The bell rang precisely when the competition ended, and the contestants put down their calligraphy brushes.
Just like in the morning, the staff of the calligraphy and painting association brought each painting to the stage for critique.
However, unlike in the morning, the scores were not announced directly this time.
Soon it was the turn of the middle-aged man number 19.
When his painting was presented on stage, the crowd erupted in uproar.
It turns out that he meticulously transformed the areas where ink had been spilled into various flowers or leaves, making the entire painting vibrant and full of springtime.
The judges cast approving glances at the painting after its "rebirth".
Although some ink stains remain, it is clear that he has tried his best to salvage the situation, and the method he used was very clever.
He not only made up for the flaws, but also added a unique charm and artistic conception to the painting.
"How did you come up with the idea of painting a lady appreciating flowers?" one of the judges asked curiously.
The middle-aged man took a deep breath and considered his words before answering.
"Originally, I wanted to paint a picture of ancient ladies gathering, but as everyone just saw, a little accident happened."
"I just discovered she plagiarized my work. I was already preparing to revise my painting, but on the 20th, she deliberately spilled ink on my artwork!"
"Since the ink had already been spilled on, I was unwilling to let the painting be ruined like this, so according to my previous idea, I decided to change the original painting of ladies gathering into a painting of ladies appreciating flowers."
“I cleverly transformed those indelible ink marks into natural elements such as petals, leaves, or flowing water, integrating them with the original image to ultimately present this painting.”
The judges nodded and gave it high praise: "The places that were originally stained with ink have now been transformed into blooming flowers, lush branches and leaves, or babbling brooks, which complement the whole picture."
"It's as if these ink marks were part of the painting rather than an accidental flaw."
"It's clear that No. 19's drawing skills are superb."
After listening to the judges' comments on the painting, the middle-aged man smiled smugly and glanced at Jiang Songchu.
However, Jiang Songchu only responded to him with a half-smile and a clearly disdainful look, and then remained elegantly silent, as if she didn't care to bother with him at all.
Next, it was Jiang Songchu's turn to receive comments.
The scene slowly unfolds, like a captivating epic unfolding before the audience.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the room froze. Everyone's breathing became unusually heavy, their eyes wide open, and they stared intently at the painting in front of them.
Even the middle-aged man who had been so smug just moments before now looked on incredulously, his gaze fixed intently on the painting.
On the projection screen, a scroll painting that transcends time and space slowly unfolds, as if taking the viewer into the melodious story of an ancient gathering of literati.
In the center of the picture, a lush bamboo forest surrounds an ancient and elegant stone table, on which several ancient books and still-wet ink stains are casually scattered, as if still echoing the laughter and joy of the literary feast that has just ended.
At this elegant gathering in the bamboo grove, a dozen or so literati, some dressed in long robes and others wearing turbans, were each immersed in their own worlds, yet connected with one another, together creating a harmonious and vivid scene.
Jiang Songchu uses her delicate and meticulous brushstrokes to vividly depict the expressions of each person, as if you can hear their whispered conversations and feel the turmoil in their hearts.
Some scholars were deep in thought, their brows furrowed, seemingly racking their brains over a particular line of poetry;
Some held teacups in their hands, gazing into the distance, enjoying this rare tranquility and serenity;
Others wielded their brushes with great passion, writing poems with flowing strokes and boundless enthusiasm.
Every detail was handled perfectly, making one feel as if they could hear their hushed conversations and sense their refined elegance and tranquility, which transcended the mundane world.
What's even more amazing is that Jiang Songchu skillfully used a small calligraphy brush with a diameter of less than 0.5cm to outline the facial features and clothing details of each person with extremely fine brushstrokes.
The delicate lines are as light as gossamer threads, yet they capture the unique temperament of each character with unerring precision.
Even the slightest eye contact or the gentle touch of fingers on the strings was captured by her and vividly presented on the canvas.
The use of color in this painting is also extremely sophisticated.
The main tone is light ink, supplemented with a little green and ochre, creating a simple yet refreshing atmosphere.
The sparse and dense bamboo leaves and the realistic texture of the stone table make one feel as if they have been transported to that distant era, where they can enjoy tea and discuss poetry with those literati and feel that refined elegance that transcends the mundane world.
Beside the painting is an inscription of a poem: "Deep in the bamboo grove, few voices are heard; ink dances wondrously at the tip of the brush. A refined gathering leaves behind serene shadows; the heart soars with ancient sentiments."
This is not only the finishing touch to the painting, but also a profound interpretation of the spirit of ancient literati gatherings.
Old Bao looked at the painting, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
He snapped out of his reverie and eagerly asked Jiang Songchu, "Contestant number 20, why did you want to create such a painting?"
Jiang Songchu smiled slightly and spoke her thoughts in a calm yet firm tone.
"Hello, teachers. This painting of mine was inspired by all of you contestants."
"Everyone here is someone who has a deep understanding of or a love for traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy. Each person's creative style is unique, just like ancient literati who immersed themselves in their own world and created masterpieces or immortal poems."
"It is precisely because everyone has a unique soul and pursuits that our culture can be so profound and prosperous."
As Jiang Songchu finished speaking, everyone couldn't help but applaud, and thunderous applause rang out in the room.
The middle-aged man was furious and tried to retort, but was drowned out by the judges' subsequent comments.