Color Me Blue

[Yeva]

5 Ymiden 720

"All paints are made up of three things - that is pigment, binder, and solvent," Professor Moore paused, allowing those who enjoyed writing their notes to make their etchings in momentary silence, before continuing with her lesson as she strolled around the room, "Pigment - that is the very thing that gives our medium today color, can be derived from natural ingredients, such as various flora, or can be man-made, a result of chemistry or alchemy. Science and art are not so divisive, you see."

Mrs. Moore seemed pleased with this, like a romantic retelling a rendezvous, "The second ingredient is binder, the material that holds the pigment in place. In acrylic paint, it is a polymer, a plastic," she slowed, distracted as she caught sight of a student's idle sketching, but she did not say anything scolding. Yeva held her breath, half expecting the student who had been drawing to get told to leave the room for not taking the lecture seriously, but to her shock, the professor just laid a gentle hand on the man's shoulder and nodded in approval. She continued, "Solvent is the third ingredient; the vehicle which affects the fluidity of the paint. In acrylic, this is water. So when the water drys, it evaporates and the binder hardens, resulting in the finished surface."

Shortly after, Professor Moore moved towards the front of the class, where an oversized pad of paper was propped up upon an easel; the size of which was so large, Yeva couldn't help but wonder where she had gone to have such a thing created, "Can anyone tell me what the fundamentals of art are?" she half turned, swiping a piece of charcoal from the lip of the easel and pointing directly at Yeva.

Yeva floundered, spine stiffening, "Oh, um, I'm just a medical student. I don't know-" her voice faded while a blush rose to her cheeks. Professor Moore didn't seem to be relenting and so she tried to think. What did she know about art? Anything?

"Uh... c...color?"

"Yes, that is one. Very good," she began to write the word upon the paper, in great and bold handwriting, "Color, Composition, Value & Light... Anyone else?"

More hands rose; a girl in a blue dress and high cut bangs called out form, which was added to the list, alongside perspective and anatomy. Once the list was complete, Professor Moore took a step back and observed it with a satisfied nod, "Now, these are the very basics. Fundamentals," she emphasized, "If you learn these and learn them well, you will become a great artist. Every great structure is laid upon a solid foundation! Today-"

The page was turned with a great flourish, exposing the next sheet, which shockingly, was not blank. Instead, it was painted with a beautiful array of pigment in the form of a wheel. It was labelled appropriately and divided into multiple sections, like a pie awaiting its serving plate, "Today we learn of color theory! There is much to learn, but we will begin simply. Before you is a set of three paints. Red, blue, and yellow. These are so much more powerful than you may think. Everyone, grab your pallet knife and work surface. We're going to have a little fun."

[Yeva]

5 Ymiden 720

The next portion of the lecture was hands-on. Using their palette knife, they were instructed to squeeze a bit of paint out from their tubes and encouraged to experiment, "Mix different colors together, see what happens! See if you can recreate some of the secondary colors - orange, green, purple. It's alright if you create an awful grey or muddy brown - this exercise is to simply get a feel of the medium." A method of inspirited trial and error was physically painful for the woman whose familiar curriculum required precision, "Don't be afraid to play in it!"

Yeva was quite afraid.

She glanced nervously at her classmates, trying to peek behind their easels to watch how much color they squeezed from each of their tubes, but found it hard to imitate the action. What if she wasted it? Was it really alright to do so?

Yeva scooted forward and dipped the tip of the palette knife into a dollop of deep blue, smearing it to the side of the stone surface, and hovered in indecision. Yellow or red? She swiped up a kiss of crimson and cut it down, swirling the two colors together and watching how they intermarried. The blue changed subtly and then all at once, each wave of her wand bringing a rich violet to life. To her surprise, when she applied this color to the taunt canvas before her, it look somehow different on the white background, as if the muted stone had given it a purer sense of self, "Interesting," Fascination getting the better of her, she reached for a painter's rag and began to wipe away the remains of purple on her knife, as Professor Moore reminded the class of the sped at which acrylic dried. It didn't take long to learn this herself, when she was had decided to mix a bit of blue and yellow to result in a evergreen. Yeva hoped to lighten it by adding more yellow, briefly noticing a small film that had already begun to settle upon the surface.

A few swipes of the palette knife and it was moistened and she transferred her color swatches to the canvas. She followed this up by creating an autumn orange, but found that when she smeared the created colors together, she had to be more careful. They were more likely to result in some sort of brown muck.

Color, Yeva realized, was a curious thing.

[Yeva]

5 Ymiden 720

All around the class, the silence of concentration seemed to take majority of the students, although a few still chattered and giggled, those who were full art students and found the exercise easy to complete. Yeva paid them no mind outside of admiration, and found herself lost in the myriad of blending colors. It was a good challenge, a peaceful introduction to show her what to expect. Yeva soon became aware of the drying times, the importance of cleaning her brush, and that a good rag was vital to have on standby, least you be tempted to use your pants!

"How's everyone getting along?" Mrs. Moore asked, weaving between the easels, "I'll give everyone just a little bit longer."

Yeva stood up to fill her jar with fresh water and wash her brushes, looking down at her creation. A few of her colors were bordering on muddy, especially her green, but she was satisfied with the outcome and even felt pride at her work. It felt silly when compared to some of the artwork hanging on the walls from more experienced art students, those who could capture light and shadow, with such a demand of color that she found herself staring. A particlar scene of wildflowers on fire seemed absorb her and suddenly the redhead was reminded of Faldrass and the city that had burned. She swallowed, tried to get her courage, and noticing that Mrs. Moore was watching her, hurried to the basin.

She threw out the blackish green mixture and rinsed the container, scrubbing at her hands. Voices of the injured lingered in her mind like a haunting melody.

'Water, please! Please, somebody help!"

'Maaaama! Maaaaaama!'

The smell of ash and sulfur.

She scrubbed at her hands, the skin turning pink.

Women wailing. Men groaning in sheer agony, their flesh burnt off, their bones broken. Somewhere, a dog barked.

"I shouldn't be here," she whispered, drawing her thumb across the bristles of her brush to press out more pigment, "I have to go back." What was she doing, sitting in class while so many needed her?

A flicker of flame uncurled from her red hair, wrapping around her shoulder to curled upwards to her forearm. A snake of flame and ember scales licked the air, tilting its pointed head to look at her, its voice a husky and feminine whisper, 'They torment you?' it lifted its head to observe the room, 'These memories?'

Yeva didn't say anything. She hadn't grown used to the ethereal companion but Baskara knew.

'You still do much. This has been good,' her tongue flickered and Baskara turned her head at the sound of someone approaching, 'Too much strain and any vessel will break. You must rest and be strong. For Faldrass,' the spirit reminded her, shooting upwards to dive back into her hair, her heat present but never burning, 'For Scalvoris.'

A hand touched her shoulder and Yeva jumped, dropping her brushes into the sink with a start. Mrs. Moore.

"Yeva, is everything all right?"

"Ah, sorry-" she swallowed. Beads of sweat had broken out across her forehead, but it was not from heat, "I just got lost in thought. I, um-"

The professor held up a hand. She too, seemed to know, "Let me help you," she said softly, reaching past the girl to pick up the brushes and proceeded to finish rinsing them. To ease Yeva's mind from her troubles, the professor knocked the excess moisture away and smiled, "I understand you are busy with your other responsibilities... But should you need a distraction, you are always welcome in my class. I could write to the admissions office."

"That very kind, but..."

Mrs. Moore nodding at her reluctance, "I understand. Still, the offer stands." Motioning them back to the others, Yeva felt a strange sense of calm, and while the anxiety related to the state of Scalvoris still lingered, she felt there was a sanctuary waiting for her should she need it. It was a relieving feeling.

The class continued, with volunteer students offering to display their version of the color wheel, Yeva among them. While her heart pounded and she knew her work was not as neat as others, it was fun to be given gentle feedback from her peers. Afterwards, Mrs. Moore informed them that they would all be expected to create a self-portrait as their homework, with a focus on monochromatic colors. She also stressed the importance of obtaining a sketchbook if they did not own one already, reminding the medic of her lost journal. After a brief demonstration, the class was dismissed and Yeva, who began her trek to her exam appointment, tried to decide which color had spoken to her most. Red would have been a likely choice given her hair but she wanted to do the unexpected. Blue, she thought, after passing a window and looking out among the yard. She could color herself blue.

[Doran]

Yeva:

Knowledge:
Painting
The Three Parts of Acrylic Paint
Use a Grey Mixing Palette for Accurate Colors
How to Read & Make a Color Wheel
Mixing Primaries to Form Secondary & Tertiary Colors
Acrylic Mediums vs. Additives

Chemistry
Polymers Are Binding Plastics

Loot: A painted color wheel
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: +5 Presenting her work to the class.
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 10

- - -

Comments: It’s obvious that you know something about painting – or have at least conducted a lot of research. Professor Moore’s explanations were enjoyable to read, and what more, I think I actually learned something new from this thread. That flashback that Yeva had when she looked at one of the pictures hanging on the walls was well-written in my opinion, and I liked the interaction with Baskara. The spirits words seemed to help her. I wish I were able to see that self-portrait in blue that Yeva decided to make for her homework!

Enjoy your rewards!