An Eye For Detail

Writers: Ames, Eimi
Date Posted: 9th February 2013

Characters: Elmaldi, Grayvor
Description: A young apprentice gets some praise from her Master teacher
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 12, day 16 of Turn 6

"Hmmm, nice proportion," Master Grayvor nodded approvingly. "And I like
the way you have shaded his hair. There is real depth there."

"Thank you, Master Grayvor," Elmaldi replied happily, feeling proud of
her work. She adored all forms of art, but the techniques she was
using for this piece were newer for her. "I love the way you showed me
how to add this depth. I was missing this in my work before!"

"I merely quickened the process. You, my dear apprentice, would have
found it on your own eventually." He gave her shoulder a gentle pat
and his eyes shone with pride for his student. She had a natural
talent that he envied. Innate skills like hers were hard to find, and
in his long lifetime he had only the pleasure of teaching one pupil
who surpassed her. "All right, class," he said standing to his full
height, which took some effort on his part. "I know we are early, but
let's leave it here for today. And let us thank our model, Journeyman
Finner, who is taking time away from his woodshop to pose for us
today."

The Journeyman took his arm off the prop that had helped hold it up
for the three-quarters candlemark session and gave the students a
slight bow as they applauded him.

"And you may keep the redfruit, sir," the Master said with a nod to
the object he had been holding all that time. "Class, clean up your
things and then you are on free time until the evening meal."

Elmaldi didn't want to stop her working. Picking up her charcoal, she
squinted at the drawing before her, shifting her hand with subtle
strokes to capture some extra details before she forgot them. She
hardly noticed as most of the other students filed past her, bags
full, voices chattering. Her art came first and foremost. Leaving this
picture unfinished would pull on her all night. Just a few more
strokes, a few more alterations. Her finger rubbed across the page to
create a smoother line her, fill out a spot there. When she finally
looked up, Elmaldi realized all the other apprentices had left. It was
just her and Grayvor.

"And what about yout, Elmaldi? Don't you want to finish that
tomorrow?" The Master already knew the answer to that. Grayvor
leaned over once more to inspect the changes she had made. "Hmmm...
That does make a difference. Your eye for detail is one of your
greatest strengths."

"Thank you Master Grayvor," Elmaldi beamed at his praise. "I couldn't
just leave this unfinished. I _needed_ to _see_ the final image." She
rubbed her charcoal over one final spot and then broke into a large
smile. "I think it's finally done!" She turned and smiled happily at
her Master teacher.

"Not quite," he said with a slight smirk that turned into a smile, a
bright gleam in his eye. "An artist should never forget to sign their
work, my dear."

She paused at his words, looking at her picture. Then with a relieved
smile, she nodded. "Of course," she replied, deciding where to place
her own mark. Adding her signature, she turned to him with a grin,
"There."

The master smiled, softly approving. "My only regret in retiring, my
dear, is that I cannot continue as your teacher. I would have been
happy to have taken credit for you."

Elmaldi frowned. She _hated_ thinking of losing Grayvor as her
teacher, her guide. He'd given her so much of his time since she'd
arrived here.

"I wish you weren't retiring," she said with a sigh. "You've helped me
so much with my pencil and charcoal art." Elmaldi was nervous as to
whom she would turn to once he was gone. Grayvor had been her
confident, her friend. Most of the other Masters were so caught up in
their work that they wouldn't have given her the time of day. "Must
you really retire?" She inquired, imploring him with her eyes.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. I've been promising my wife for Turns. We will
be moving to Amber Hills to be closer to our son and his daughter, and
there... Well I guess I will have to just learn how to paint runners."
He patted her hand. "Don't worry, Elmaldi, I will find you a
suitable teacher. One who can take your talents to new levels. I
especially hope," he said pointing a finger at her in fatherly
sternness, "that you will work on your painting more. It's
frustrating you, I know, but I truly believe you have a talent for it
if you just let yourself develop it."

Elmaldi soaked in his praise as well as his advice. "The brush is so
much harder than my pencil and charcoal," she sighed. "I know I need
to work on it, but it frustrates me so much. One little flick of the
wrist and it seems all is ruined with the brush. At least with my
pencils I can fix the problem." She frowned as she contemplated
painting further. Elmaldi avoided it as the perfectionist side of her
couldn't quite get her strokes to mimic those she'd admired all her
life in the Hold. She could never be as talented as some of the
Masters of paints and brush, so instead she focused on the skill she
knew she could master with ease.

"Hall Master Almonteo once told me that he almost gave up writing music
after his first composition class. But he dug his heels in and took
extra lessons, determined not to let it beat him. He says his first few
songs were quite abysmal, but he would not give up. And now his tunes
are known throughout the Southern Continent." He stood up to his full
height with an accompanying sound of exertion. "All right now, young
apprentice, put your things away. I cannot be late to Vestian's Masters
Exhibition tonight. He would never forgive me."

"Vestian's exhibition is tonight?" Elmaldi asked, her face showing her
surprise. She adored his work. It had been his mural in her Hold that
had inspired her to draw, to find art in the world around her.

"Yes. Today is the day he'll be given his Masters knots," Grayvor said
with a touch of pride. After all, he had been his student too, once.

"Oh, I wish we could see his exhibition," Elmaldi gushed, her face
alight at the idea of admiring one of her idol's work. "I cannot wait
until they are open for us to see them." She had no idea how long that
might take, but she would be anxiously waiting for that day.

"Don't worry," he said as he carefully helped her unclip her newest
piece from the easel. "We will all take a trip down there in a few
days. I may even convince Vestian to take us on a tour himself."

"That would be amazing Master Grayvor. Thank you _so_ much for all
your help today." She smiled at him as she took the drawing he now
held and slide it inside her portfolio. "I couldn't have become this
good without all your help. You _truly_ are a Master!" Elmaldi was so
excited to even consider seeing Vestian's new work in person, she
could hardly contain it. She all but bubbled her enthusiasm and joy to
Grayvor.

Last updated on the March 13th 2013

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An Eye For Detail