Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: My Daughter is a Genius Painter
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We headed to the studio where Aram Go's graduation piece was.
When we arrived, the painting I'd seen here before was hanging on the wall.
Seeing that painting filled with memories of Hyorin instantly lifted my spirits.
As we stepped inside the studio, we were met with an interior that was completely different from before.
'This place is a total warzone.'
Paintings were scattered everywhere, and some students were even working on sculptures.
There were half-eaten hamburgers lying around, plus blankets and pillows like someone had been sleeping here.
Could this really be called a studio?
At the sight of the studio like that, Minji pressed down on her furrowed brow and spoke up.
"Keep the studio clean, I said."
"Ah! S-sorry."
At her words, Aram and the others hurriedly began tidying up the studio.
In the meantime, Daeun stood in front of the painting I'd made, smiling as she admired it.
I glanced at Daeun for a moment, then looked around at the paintings the students were preparing.
'Oh, not bad at all.'
Both the paintings and sculptures were higher quality than I'd expected.
Come to think of it, this was around graduation season at an art university, so it made sense they'd all be at a solid level or better.
They'd been studying art nonstop for four years straight.
Of course, quality could vary depending on how they'd spent those four years, but anyone displaying a graduation piece had to be just about professional level, or so I figured.
I could see why the professor had casually asked me to come talk about the practical side of things.
As I was slowly taking in the graduation pieces like that—
Aram and her friends approached after finishing a rough cleanup and spoke up.
"You were looking at the paintings?"
"Ah, yeah. Everyone's prepared way better than I thought."
"R-really?"
"Yeah, the level is so high, I was genuinely surprised."
At my words, the students broke into quite pleased expressions.
Seeing their reactions, I smiled and said,
"So, where's Aram's piece?"
"Ah, my painting—want to come see?"
Nod.
I nodded, and we followed Aram to the very back of the studio.
And there it was: a single painting.
Seeing it, I couldn't help but be a little shocked.
'Did Aram really paint this?'
We all gathered in front of the painting and gazed at Aram's work.
"This is the one I painted and prepared. No title yet, but, um, about half a month more and it'll be done."
The painting Aram had created was profoundly striking.
At the bottom, a single egg standing perfectly upright.
But atop it sat a boulder the size of a house.
The boulder part was still unfinished, but even so, the overall impact was powerful.
"S-so, what do you think?"
Aram asked a bit shyly, and after quietly taking it in, I replied,
"It's good."
"Yes?"
"I can't understand why you were so lacking in confidence about it."
Hearing that, Minji, who'd been watching from the side, chimed in.
"It's really good."
"R-really?"
"Yeah, honestly, even unfinished, it looks great to me."
Maybe because of everyone's reactions, Aram seemed even more embarrassed.
"I-it's not that great..."
Truth be told, I hadn't expected Aram's skill to be at this level before seeing the painting.
I'd come thinking there'd at least be something worth pointing out.
But this unexpected quality had me pretty surprised.
It was at a level where I didn't even have advice to offer.
No idea how others might see it, but that's how it struck me, at least.
Still, if there was one thing I wanted to tell Aram—
"Seeing you is like looking at my old self."
"Yes?"
"I used to be the same. No confidence in my own paintings, you know."
That's why I'd gotten chewed out by the professor quite a bit back then.
"So I think you need to build a bit more confidence in your own work."
At my words, Aram looked back at her painting with a slightly surprised expression.
Then she turned to me.
"Were you like me too, Painter Lee?"
"Yeah, a lot."
"Then, could you maybe tell me how you gained confidence in your own paintings?"
"Hmm, how should I put this."
Truthfully, time was the answer here.
You keep painting, hear feedback from others, and gradually build confidence.
But that was too obvious an answer.
Aram hadn't come to me for something that generic.
From my own experience,
There was one really simple way to build confidence in your art.
Just charge straight ahead.
"Aram."
"Yes?"
"If it'll help you gain confidence, are you willing to do exactly what I say?"
At my question, Aram seemed a bit tense as she asked,
"Uh, what kind of method?"
"It's a little crude, but it's the surest way. And that method is..."
I explained it in detail, and after hearing the whole thing, Aram—
Gulp.
swallowed dryly and replied.
"I'll give it a try."
At her answer, I grinned and said,
"Then I'll see you during class time."
Ten minutes before the special lecture began.
Before heading into class, I talked with Daeun.
"Daeun, Dad has to go teach now. Can you stay back here with the professor and be good?"
Daeun beamed and nodded vigorously.
"Yeah! Daeun be good!"
She was clearly saying she'd be fine, but I still felt a twinge of worry.
Well, the class atmosphere probably wouldn't be oppressively heavy like a normal one.
'It'll be fine, right?'
Thinking that, I smiled at the professor standing beside me.
"Please take good care of Daeun."
"Sure, I'll keep an eye on her, so you just focus on the lecture."
Just then, having apparently finished talking with the professor, Jungeun grinned and said,
"I'm here too, so don't worry too much."
Having Jungeun around was incredibly reassuring in times like this.
At everyone's words, I flashed a grin.
"Alright, then let's head in."
And with that, my special lecture began.
As soon as it started, the professor stepped up to the podium for a brief intro about me, then the door opened. I caught his gesture to come in.
Taking a short breath, I stepped into the lecture hall.
'Whoa, I'm shaking like crazy.'
Back when I was a student, I'd just sat and listened, but standing on stage like this felt completely different—180 degrees opposite.
How did the professor manage to teach here without trembling?
For a moment, the professor seemed amazing.
I grabbed the mic and greeted the students.
"Hello..."
My greeting was met with a flood of responses.
"Wow! Hello!"
"Nice to meet you!"
I spotted Aram and her friends amid the crowd—they seemed extra hyped just because it was me, welcoming me enthusiastically.
The class kicked off in a bit of a whirlwind like that.
As the professor had mentioned at the start, I mostly lectured on practical matters.
How to prepare a solo exhibition, handling sales during the show, even gallery contracts.
Since it was all stuff not typically covered in regular classes, the students were highly focused.
"And most artists tend to obsess over critics' evaluations. But the people who actually come see and buy my work do so because they like it, so yes, you should reference them, but no need to ride the highs and lows of every critic's opinion."
At that moment, a student raised their hand.
"By any chance, is there a critic whose review stuck with you the most, Painter Lee?"
I smiled and replied,
"I was just about to get to that. Want to take a look here?"
With that, I pulled up the neat summary Hyorin had compiled of critics' reviews on the screen.
"This isn't even my doing—my wife put it together. As you can see, there aren't many you could call outright positive. At first, I was super sensitive to them too, but at some point, I stopped caring."
The student followed up.
"Could I ask when that was?"
The student's question.
It might've just been idle curiosity, but their expression made it feel like they were talking about themselves.
So instead, I turned the question back on them.
"Has someone critiqued your work before, by any chance?"
"Ah, th-that, uh..."
They clearly hadn't expected the question reversed.
Visibly flustered, the student stammered, and I nodded with a smile.
"No need to explain. Anyone here might've gotten feedback already, or will someday."
With that, I set the laser pointer down on the podium.
Looking at the student who'd asked, I continued,
"Well, so when did I stop obsessing over evaluations? It was after I met the person who loves my paintings the most."
At my words, the student's expression shifted subtly.
But I pressed on regardless.
"Could be a lover, family, or even a true fan who comes to see my work. But in the end, it was when I truly came to love my own paintings that I stopped caring about others' gazes. Hard to believe maybe, but there was a time I didn't even like my own stuff."
This was the honest truth.
Back when I was in school, if I hadn't met Hyorin, the professor, and my friends—
I wouldn't be who I am today.
"So that's why, standing here, there's something I really want to tell you all."
Something I wanted to say right now in this moment.
Or maybe something I wished I could tell my past self, from back when I was in their shoes.
"Keep painting. Don't stop, don't doubt, and one day, when you can truly love the paintings you create."
I looked at the students and smiled brightly.
"You'll feel the same happiness I did."
And with that, the first period of the special lecture came to an end.
Rustle.
Break time hit, and some students filed out of the lecture hall.
The ones who stayed chatted among themselves, while I prepped for the next session.
Footsteps.
Then, from the back of the hall where they'd been listening, Jungeun and Minji approached.
"You did great."
"Yeah, felt just like a professor's class."
Their words made me a bit embarrassed.
I hadn't taught how to paint or techniques for doing it better.
Reflecting after it ended, it felt like I'd spent the whole time preaching about love.
"Don't tease."
Jungeun snickered.
"Teasing? That was genuine praise. Oh, right—after next class, gonna snap some photos for the article."
"Got it. Should I get the students in on it too?"
"Well, it'd be nice if we could..."
At that, Minji spoke up.
"I'll ask the students at the end of class. It's an article on the special lecture, so they'll probably be thrilled."
"Or just whoever wants in. Doesn't matter—you're the star anyway."
Nod.
"Got it. I'll go ask about the photos now. If I do it after class starts, it'll disrupt the vibe."
With that, Minji headed over to the groups of students chatting in clusters.
Watching Minji go, I—
Turned to Jungeun, who was leaning on the podium fiddling with the laser pointer.
It was something I'd wanted to ask earlier but hadn't had the chance.
"Hey, so what'd you and the professor talk about? Looked pretty serious."
"Oh, that? It wasn't a big deal."
But his face said otherwise.
"What was it? What'd you talk about?"
At my prodding, Jungeun toyed with the laser pointer and replied.
After hearing it, I was so shocked I froze solid for a good while.
"We talked about a lot, but long story short..."
He wants to marry Minji.
...!!!