Throwback Thursday: My doubtful painting

 

Assalamualaikum

This is a story on how my first acrylic painting became questionable..

Contoh khat painting. NOT MY DRAWING. Source: CUFICA

Rewind to 2016

Skill class is a requirement for every university. My university offered photography, swimming, debate, archery etc skill class. As a person famous with zero-athletic ability among my classmates, I joined Khat class. I always love arts but ended up with microbes.

Fast forward and cut all the unnecessary plot, Khat 2 class required the student to submit a khat painting canvas. It was thrilling for me because I never used an acrylic painting. My whole life has been Steadlter and Buncho crayon. This was not an Art class 101, the instructor only gave a theory lesson on acrylic painting and a few tips and tricks to painting.

Every week, the instructor played Youtube art videos showing different painting theme and style. Weeks of planning and watching YT videos non-stop, I decided to draw an Aurora Galaxy. I had ideas but I don't have the skills. I was a novice or -noob, what these Gen Z babies like to classify it as.

It was exciting because Khat class is basically the time where we all let loose and lost in Art, instead of thinking about assignment, heavy lecture class etc. It was my gateway from study. We can paint in the class or at our dorm.

After weeks of classes and painting time, one of my classmates finished her purple galaxy moon and showed it to the instructor. She received praise for her beautiful painting. I agree, her drawing looks pretty, she actually has a knack in art too.

After weeks of dab-dab my painting with sponges, and pretty much destroy the sky with the trees and an unnecessary house, I finished my painting! I handed to my instructor.... and I received a back-and-forth stare. 

"Betul ke awak yang lukis ni?", the instructor dubiously asked me as if I commit a painting fraud (in a bad way). The instructor kept asking me for the "truth" when the "truth" had been told multiple time. Instead of being praised, I felt confronted.

I felt confused at the moment. Why I got questioned for my simple painting while my friend received non-stop praises (and jokingly, was offered a part-time job). 

In the end, the instructor told me the painting looks like it was painted by someone rather skilful. I don't know if that was a compliment or scepticism, under the circumstances. I probably don't have that "someone-with-art-skill" look...

Our khat painting before being graded

Anyhow, I am grateful for taking that class because now, I cannot stop learning using acrylic paint, and my storage is about to be overflowed.