DRAW

'Have you finally figured out what you want to draw?'

I sit there contemplating for a couple of seconds, a sketchbook sitting right in front of me while Tris sits beside me, watching my pencil twirl between my fingers. 'Anything right?'

'Of course,' Tris gets up from her seat and heads over to something she was working on beforehand. 'I'll be working on my own thing while you draw yours, tell me when you're ready.'

'Okay.'

I don't exactly know what I want to draw. I don't really even have a clear idea of what I want my art or just art in general to be. I turn my sketchbook so I can draw a landscape. I start sketching out a human form, I make sure to take my time, leaving a lot of empty space and the sketch itself is smaller compared to the rest of the page I'm drawing on. It is someone walking, hindered by something, which is why their back is hunched. I sketch it whatever they were carrying in their arms that were burdening them and I realized shortly after I started sketching it that I'd have to tediously erase whatever was inside it, so I just went with sketching it completely black. This "it" is a massive cross, I even sketched a bit of rubble being picked up by the cross dragging onto the ground.

The body was a bit more cartoony than I wanted but the sharper edges that I had problems with before really helped here since I wanted a more ridged atmosphere. I even gave it a face. Hollow, black eyes and a gaping black mouth, horns coming out of the tops of its head. Now that I look at it now, the little demon I drew is a bit disproportionate but then I remember that it fit the sort of art style that I had.

I wanted to add more to it. Right now it's just a little demon carrying a large cross, but I wanted more. I sketched out a ground for it to walk on then started sketching the background. Twisted unrealistic faces looking down on the demon, toothless smiles, ghastly faces, bloodshot eyes. I guess I like horror? I've never really watched anything horror related before but this is definitely giving off a scary vibe.

'You're very good for a beginner, but you can still tell you're a beginner. Though, for the untrained eye, nobody would be able to tell the difference.' Tris is over my shoulder watching me draw. 'I like your style. Keep it.'

I give a silent nod and continue sketching.

'I think the main issue is the proportions. It's not like its wrong here, I can just tell you struggled to get them right. If you want to draw like this, first you have to be able to understand how the human body works and looks like to be able to exaggerate it. Luckily you seem to understand more than the normal person.'

'I wonder if I can draw an actual person's face.'

'Well, you drew a cartoony looking version of me. I think that's progress. Plus, it's fine not to be realistic, those who choose to only capture the realism in something miss the point in art. Though they aren't bad at it and it doesn't mean they aren't creating art, it feels disingenuous when someone takes an abstract piece and tries to make it realistic. Realism has a time and place.'

'I agree with that. I'm already tired of reality as it is.'

'Yeah... it's better not to be plagued by it every night and day too. Someone can capture the beauty of reality but it will never be accurate as, in comparison, to something like a statue or even a depressing picture of a war or something. All people want is that and... it doesn't make too much sense.'

'Can you teach me Sumi-e one day?'

'Yeah,' She pauses, looking a bit closer at my art. Her face is close to mine so I lean away, I'm pretty sure I'm blushing. 'Do you like horror?'

'I don't know. Yesterday I tried to draw something like this as well as some sort of experiment but it turned out to be horror-inspired like this one. Never watched a horror movie before nor have seen anything really horror-related before.'

'It suits you... like your personality and stuff. It makes sense but also doesn't.' She moves away from me and grabs the work she has been working on and shows it to me.

It was a Sumi-e painting of me. It was really odd seeing my face is drawn in ink but it looks amazing. Of course, I look as depressing as I do in real life but there is something tranquil about it. 'I don't know what to say.'

'Take inspiration off of others to learn. I don't suggest taking inspiration off of me but it's a tip.'

'It's really good.'

'Yeah... it really fits your vibe. This is what you look like to me.'

'I look like myself?'

'I guess... but... I don't know how to describe it. The mood I guess.'

'I see.'