Closed Art for Art's Sake

[Vanora]

Timestamp: Winter Day 10 512AV Vanora looked up in wonder at the picturesque winter sunrise unfolding on the horizon. Ravok's splendid buildings were silhouetted against a backdrop of bright yellows, egg shell blues and burning reds and the dawn light was reflected on the surface of the city's famous waterways. Such a beautiful scene; she would have to sit and paint it one day. From where Vanora sat, a small market square deadly silent before the day brought life to Ravok, it felt like the whole city was completely deserted. She turned her attention to her small bag and brought out from it a pad of paper and sharpened charcoal sticks. She laid out her art equipment before her and looked at the meagre amount she had earned from her efforts the previous two days. Vanora had planned, after leaving her family, to earn her bread through dong what she loved-art, but it was becoming ever more apparent that if business didn't pick up soon she would have to seek her money elsewhere or go hungry. Still, there was hope yet. So Vanora sat in the crisp winter morning and waited anxiously for the market square to fill up.

[Amelia Cross]

OOCsince you didn’t specify where it’s happening, I toke the liberty of moving the thread to the Merchants ring of Ravok, please let me know if you want it to be changed

For Amelia the day was natural to begin at an early rate, she knew the most of the rich merchants and traders enter and leave the city at the earlier bells, to get everything set and to leave the city in time. Luckily for Amelia, these men also liked to have readings told, about their trip and trades and how much money they will earn, these where the people she handled for the most of fall. It was hard to predict, would winter be just as productive since not all of Sylira is gifted with such warm winters as Ravok, but she hopped for it. Leaving her room the girl had a smile set on her face, hopping to gain the most of this day. She walked for a good amount of time; the day was young and there weren’t many people around the street or canals, making it rather pleasant to walk along the city. As much as Amelia enjoyed the busy moments in the Nitrozian Plaza, she couldn’t help but love the peace this city held at early mornings like this. Finally, she had reached the Merchants ring, hopping to spot a man or two out here doing the thing they did best, but to that, all she saw where slaves doing the work of their masters, the slaves who cleaned the city where close to finishing her job and Amelia was left with nothing for a bell or two, making her regret the early start she had chosen. The girl looked around rather aimlessly, she was enjoying the beauty of the morning sky, but she wasn’t sentimental enough to gaze at it for ages so her black eyes traveled lower to the horizon and she spotted a girl, she had long brown hair that seemed to be messy or just wavy. Her eyesight wasn’t good enough to see the delicate features, but she could tell that she was wearing a simple blue dress. However, it wasn’t the appearance that caught Amelia’s attention, it was the fact she was out alone at this hour. Amelia’s curiosity couldn’t be really tamed, she looked at the girl for a long moment, just like she usually did when she was interested in a person and they seemed unusual. She never approached someone like that at first; she kept a good distance and just observed their movements. None the less, this was an exception to this rule. She wouldn’t approach someone if there were people around and they would give her the chance to see the person in action, reaction to someone or something. Now, the streets were empty and there wasn’t much to do than stare, it wasn’t of much use and so she decided to do what was even a bit ruder, she approached the girl. Not saying a word, just looking at her and the tools she had.

[Vanora]

As Vanora waited a woman approached her. Vanora wondered if she would ask for a portrait but instead she just stood watching which made Vanora feel slightly uneasy. Although she didn't look at the woman straight on, from the corner of her eye she could make out that she was thin, fairly tall and had long, coal black hair. Her expression did nothing to hint as to what she was thinking; her ruby red lips had a faint trace of a smile but overall her appearance was neither welcoming nor threatening. Judging by the well tailored scarlet dress she was wearing, Vanora thought the woman was probably well off. Vanora sat for some time waiting for the woman to make a move. When she didn't Vanora wondered whether she should offer to do her portrait. As she was quite shy, she would have preferred for the woman to have asked her first and maybe if it was a couple of days before when Vanora had more food and money she would have waited. But now Vanora was getting desperate and knew that the chance to make a sale, especially when the customer looked rich, was something she could not refuse. Looking around her Vanora noticed that the square was virtually empty, even though the sunrise was coming to and end and the day had almost begun. So Vanora looked up at the woman with her sketching equipment and asked her if there was anything she could do for her. "Excuse me, would you like a portrait doing? It'll only take a moment."

[Amelia Cross]

Amelia could see the slight fighting of the girl that indicated just how uncomfortable she was with her observation. Amelia couldn’t blame the girl for it, she herself knew well that being looked at by a complete stranger for most isn’t a pleasant thing. Amelia on the other hand enjoyed attention directed at her and couldn’t care less if someone was spying or admiring. ”A portrait?” Amelia questioned as she looked at the girls sketching tools, Amelia loved art and that was most definitely the thing in this city she loved most, the amazing art. However she did assume that in Ravok, every artist is bathing in goods and this girl was one of the most humble figures she has seen in a long time. This did make Amelia doubt the skills this woman could possess, then again, everyone had to start out with something and in a city of art it could be quite complicated. ”why not, after all the city is still asleep for the most part” she curled the corners of her lips upwards as she spoke, wanting to excuse her rudeness this way. She wouldn’t ask for forgiveness, not from someone she had no knowledge of and probably no use of either, but she still liked to appear as polite and mannered as she could, or at least outgoing. ”so…how does this happen?” Amelia asked, a bit clueless of what was going to happen as her skills and knowledge of drawing was limited to the little things she did when little, meaning, none. She could talk about art if forced into it, but not understand the actual process so she was waiting for the girls instructions, not eagerly but with quite the noticeable curiosity in her mellow eyes.

[Vanora]

The woman, much to Vanora's delight, agreed to have her portrait done. Vanora scrambled in her box of supplies until she found the pencils she was looking for. Slowly she began to sketch out the vague outlines of the portrait. Drawing was, for Vanora, a continuous process of trial and error. She'd make a line, then look at the woman, decide whether or not it was accurate enough and if not rebuild that line, until she finally had a neat, proportional line drawing that resembled the woman stood in front of her. This had only taken a matter of minutes but she had yet to attempt the most difficult part of the portrait, the part that turned a few marks and lines on paper into something that looked so real it could , if not for it's grayscale colours, have been flesh and blood. "So.....how does this happen?" Vanora looked up and realised that the woman hadn't noticed she'd already begun her work. When she was drawing or dong anything that required a fair amount of concentration, Vanora had a tendency to zone out from her surroundings and tune into her own little world. Slightly embarrassed she laughed nervelessly and held up the picture so the girl could see. "Oh, I've already started. Just stand as still as you can for a few more minutes and I'll show you when I'm done." Vanora turned her attention back to her work. As she worked she watched as the picture became more and more life like with every charcoal smudge. This was why she loved drawing; you could transport things that had previously only existed in your mind and bring them to life with only a piece of paper and something to make marks. Or, like she was dong now, you could take a scene or person from your surroundings and recreate them- you could capture a scene or person's face, that with time your memory of would fade, and carry it with you forever. As Vanora added the finishing touches, she could see the square was starting to fill with people. She quickened her pace hoping that she might be able to sell several portraits today, after all if she could get a customer when Ravok was like a ghost town then surely she'd have no problem in a bustling square. Besides she had a feeling that today was going to be a good one. Vanora set her pencil down and turned to face the woman. "I've finished. Do you want to have a look?'

[Amelia Cross]

Clearly disappointed in herself for not paying enough attention to notice the girl had began her work. Amelia was proud of her skills in observing others, and now she felt like she had failed her most favorite trait, letting her mind slip in the clouds. ”I see, it looks good” Amelia said as she saw the lines on the paper the woman held up. Sure it didn’t look like much, but Amelia had seen a lot of magnificent art turn from lines to masterpieces in the hands of an artist. Her black eyes where seemingly glued to the hand movements she made. It wasn’t clear what the girl was actually doing, she managed only to see her glance at the paper, make a line, back at Amelia and at the line again. It was quite confusing but interesting as she rarely witnessed this process from top to bottom. Catching a glance from the girl smudging the coal, it was rather interesting and in a way new. Amelia herself would never do that, she disliked getting her hands dirty, the only times she’d be fine with it was when she was with animals. Much to Amelia’s surprise it toke little time for the woman to speak ” I've finished. Do you want to have a look?” this question made Amelia question the girls logic. If she didn’t want to see, wouldn’t she want to just leave? What would be the actual reason for Amelia to want to have a portrait taken, if not looking at it? None the less, she didn’t go out in rude remarks or sarcasm, instead she just smiled sweetly and nodded ”yes, I’d love to see”

[Cloud]

From the sky falls your reward!

Amelia :

Experience
Skill | XP Earned
Socialization | +1
Observation | +2


Lores
• | Lore Earned
N/A

Vanora should you return and update your CS pm me and I'll add your grade here.

Misc. :

None.

Question marks to be made? Exclamations to declare? Feel free to send me a pm and we can tend to any concerns you have.