Closed Brushing Up PV

[ summer 2022 ] @Lea Hirsch

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Summer camp had been a little bit... overwhelming so far. Yes, it was definitely fun, but there was so much going on all the time and so, so many new faces (what with multiple other schools there as well) and it wasn't too long before Esmeray needed a break from it all. Taking breaks when things got overwhelming, it was something she'd done a lot of this year. It amazed her, truly, how the other "muggleborns," as they were all called, could adjust to the whole magic thing so quickly. A few of them hardly batted an eye back on the day of the sorting ceremony, even, which was really impressive. Luckily, by the end of the school year, things had gotten at least a little bit better. And that was the reason Esme had decided to come to summer camp at all, the reason why she signed up for multiple events once she arrived... she would have to really get used to it all eventually. Why not now? Today though, she really was in need of some time to relax. So, grabbing her usual bag filled with her sketchpad and a few pencils, she left her tent and looked for a private, more quiet area to draw. Her gaze almost immediately caught on another student just a little ways ahead of her, who seemed to be painting... the quidditch stadium? A smile appeared on Esme's lips as she watched. Seeing others make art and show their unique styles and ideas was something she loved, almost as much as making art herself. After a few moments, the other girl looked up and noticed her. And... she invited her to paint with her. With a small smile, Esme nodded, just a little bit hesitantly. There was something so much less intimidating about approaching another artist. Maybe it was knowing that they already had something in common? Whatever it was, it made the twelve year old hurry over. "I'd love to!" She told the older girl happily. "I'm Esmeray. Esme. I was actually looking for a place to sketch, but painting is even better!" Where the heck was all this confidence coming from? Esme didn't know, but hopefully it wouldn't disappear.

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[ stamina 7 | evasion 6 | strength 4 | wisdom 7 | arc power 8 | accuracy 8 ]

Roleplaying as iNPC Katherine Felix

to be updated...

@Esmeray Rosslyn

She wasn't quite sure how long the other had been watching, but it was nice to see their smile. While Kit typically felt at ease and confident in her skills, the reminder that others thought the same or saw beauty in her work always warmed her heart. It seemed lucky that the first person she spotted was a fellow artist as she would've asked anyone who seemed mildly interested. But with an artist, the conversation felt more open.

"Great! I'm Katherine, but I prefer Kit." She replied with a smile. "Yeah? Sweet! I wouldn't want to take you away from your preferred medium- How long have you been sketching for?" It was offered as an exit if the other preferred to sketch, a curious glance towards the younger girl. Kit didn't mind either way, more she wanted to company. But if she stayed strong on her decision, the Beauxbatons student would grab another canvas, an easel, and palette before setting out some paint tubes to choose from. She had all the supplies for another person with her, a wish that seemed to have come true. "It's acrylic, so be cautious. It might dry quickly, but it's easier to just put another layer of paint over any mistakes." She noted, before picking back up her own palette.

"What paint mediums have you used before?" That probably should have been the first question to ask, but alas, it was only asked now.

[ summer 2022 ] @Lea Hirsch

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The older girl replied and introduced herself as Katherine, or Kit. Feeling more at ease, Esme's smile widened and she got in a quick "Nice to meet you!" before another question was asked. "I've been sketching for a while now, since I was around six I guess?" She paused and reconsidered. "Maybe back then doesn't fully count, since I was so little? The past few years I've been trying to improve and work harder at it—I usually do it as a way to de-stress though." Today however, she chose to paint. The second she took the supplies, she thought of her aunt. Steph. Painting was their activity, in a way, and it felt a little odd to be painting here, beside someone else. Not bad, just... different. Which Esme was alright with. Noting what Kit said about the paint with a nod, she chose shades of blue to add to her palette first, then after a few seconds of consideration, pink and purple as well. She was going to paint the sky, she had decided—that time of day when the colors of the sunset were just starting to creep in. Her favorite time of day. Just as she started to paint, Kit asked another question. Pausing for a moment to look at the other girl as she spoke, Esme told her, "I mainly use watercolor, since I paint the sky a lot and the way the colors end up blending is really nice. I've used acrylic paint a lot as well, actually. I think those two are the ones I use the most. How about you?" After getting an answer, Esme turned back to her canvas and started with the shades of blue in the upper area. First darker, then lighter, then darker again as she went down the canvas. After a few minutes of silence, she turned back towards Kit with a question she soon voiced out loud. "Do you go to Beauxbatons?" There was a hint of a French accent in the way the other girl talked, she thought, which made Esme curious. She hadn't met anyone from the other schools yet, really, and if Kit did go to the French school of magic it would definitely be interesting to hear about.

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[ stamina 7 | evasion 6 | strength 4 | wisdom 7 | arc power 8 | accuracy 8 | accuracy 7 ]

Roleplaying as iNPC Katherine Felix

to be updated...

@Esmeray Rosslyn

"I'd say six counts. People get really impressed when you can say you've been practicing a skill for five plus years." She wasn't sure how old Esme was, so the plus represented any number above the minimum eleven years old. Although, did they have to be eleven at the summer camp? Ah, she doubted the other would mind her unprecise numbers. "Still, pretty impressive whichever way you put it- I've used art to de-stress as well. But yeah, typically sketching for that." Trying to complete a full on painting would have been too much if it was just de-stressing. It depended on the situation.

Green-blue eyes would glance towards Esme's palette, curious to see what she was working on. The color scheme reminded her of sunsets or sunrises- a distinct gradient of colors. The rising third year could understand why she chose sunsets, though. They were extraordinary, even if Kit didn't often view them herself. "Oh cool! I never got used to watercolor- I might have added too much water. But that sounds really pretty. I think my most used is acrylic- but I've tried a bit of oil and gouache as well. Acrylic's my favorite, though." It was the one she most understood, although she appreciated the working time of oil and the reactivation of gouache far more than acrylic. The blocks of color were slowly becoming more detailed and precise, now with shadows and a little texture, but no highlights. She'd glance over to look at Esme's start, smiling at the gradient of blue that appeared on the canvas.

"Is the accent growing on me?" She laughed. "I grew up in the US, but I do go to Beauxbatons." She supposed it made sense that her English would take on a french accent after spending multiple years surrounded by it, but it seemed off to have one. "What about you? Hogwarts or another school?" Why not take a guess as well?

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[ summer 2022 ] ✦ Kit Felix @Lea Hirsch Esme smiled at Kit's compliment. "Thank you," she said. "And yeah, sketching is a really good way to just take your mind off of things, I've found. I also usually do it outside, which makes it even better for me." To anyone who really knew her, and maybe even to ones that she met briefly, this was a fact that came up often. She was very much an outdoors person, loved the feeling of the breeze in her hair and the ground—grassy, rocky, anything—underneath her feet. Realizing it had been a few seconds of silence since either of them had spoken, Esme added, "What about you? How long have you been drawing and painting and all that?" By now, she was slowly starting to blend each of the colors she'd applied. It took a few minutes to get it exactly how she wanted it, so as she swirled the colors together the first year replied to Kit's next statement. "Yes, if you add too much water the colors fade and are a lot harder to see," she told her. "It gets a little annoying having to repaint over each area when that happens, but after a while you figure out just how much to add!" Noticing that the older student was looking at her canvas, Esme looked it over as well, her own eye most likely a little more criticizing. It might not have been even halfway done yet but she immediately saw multiple flaws and set to work fixing them. When it came to her art—especially ones she truly worked hard on and made in front of others—well, she could be quite the perfectionist. When the topic changed to accents, Esme laughed a little as well. "Not as strong as some I've heard walking around the past few days but I can hear it a little," she told Kit. "And oh, when did you move to France then? How do you like Beauxbatons?" It was a weird feeling, this sudden urge to ask lots of questions. She was used to being shy, unable to talk to anyone but her closest friends... what was it about Kit that made her so easy to talk to? Esme wasn't sure, but it was nice. Done blending the shades of blue into a smooth gradient of color, the gryffindor dipped her brush into one of the pinks she'd chosen and started adding that on. "Hogwarts." she confirmed at Kit's next question. "Actually, you're like the second person from another school I've talked to yet!" A quick smile would be sent in the older student's direction as Esme turned her attention back to her painting. stamina 7 | evasion 6 | strength 4 | wisdom 7 | arc power 8 | accuracy 8 ✦ [ stats ]

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Roleplaying as iNPC Katherine Felix

to be updated...

@Esmeray Rosslyn

"Yeah," she nodded as Esmeray spoke, both a verbal and silent agreement to the usefulness of sketching. "Oh, nice. Does it help with grounding or do you like sketching outside for other reasons?" The student asked, aware that the wording had been poor but not having the ability to revoke or switch it up. Still, turquoise eyes glanced towards brown, head tilted curiously before returning to her painting and providing the space for an answer. As for Esme's own question, Kit would ponder it a bit, gazing up towards the sky. "I'm not sure, actually. I would say I got into it at seven or eight? So for five or six years, I guess." She seemed almost perplexed by the number, gazing off a little longer before accepting it as reality and continuing on her painting.

"Ah, so that's why!" She laughed softly, reminded of her previous mistakes with watercolor. How easy the solutions sounded- one in front of her the entire time. "Thank you for information, I'll have to remember that next time I try watercolors." Her head bowed slightly in thanks, a smile resting on her face. Her glance at the other student's canvas and the reaction after intrigued the girl. In contrast, Kit's style was not one of perfectionism. Whatever happened on the canvas happened. Everything had loose boundaries, but even those weren't necessary. The Beauxbatons student had to admire the attention to detail Esme gave to her art. Observation set aside, Kit would continue adding streaks of color to her own painting, muted as they added more three dimensionality to the current block tents- still working on the shading.

"I'd be a little worried if I had a stronger accent than those born in France," She laughed. "I've been learning the language most of my life, but I only moved to France three years ago? My parents preferred that I go to Beauxbatons- it's quite a nice school, though. I might like Hogwarts a little better, though. How do you like Hogwarts?" The question returned to other student. While she liked Hogwarts, Kit had never really had the full experience. Just tastes from balls or other events.

"That's super cool! What school was the other person from?" It seemed there were quite a few different schools here. The fun of a summer camp, she supposed.

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[ summer 2022 ] ✦ Kit Felix @Lea Hirsch IT WAS NICER than Esme had expected to be able to talk to another artist about sketching. She'd never had that many artistic friends, believe it or not, so talking to someone else who clearly knew what they were doing/saying was something new and entirely welcome. "Yess, it definitely helps," she said in response to Kit's question about why she liked sketching outdoors. "Maybe also for inspiration too, though? Different parts of my environment always end up hidden in my drawing whether I want them to or not." The way the clouds looked above. The flower almost entirely covered but just barely visible beside her. Little things like that. After nodding in response to Kit's next statement, Esme went back to her work as well. "Oh, of course! Glad I could help," the gryffindor said, smiling a little wider at the thought. Noticing Kit was looking at her painting, Esme looked it over once more with the overly critical eye she had only for her own work. "Do you—do you think it looks okay?" It was always a risk asking others what their thoughts on your work were—especially people you didn't know all that well. Based on their conversation so far, Esme was almost fully confident Kit wouldn't be rude about anything, but... you never could tell. And Esme had always been prone to worrying. "Oh, where did you move from?" Esme asked, curious. She'd moved twice in her life, once when she was around 6 or seven and then again when they moved out of Steph's house a few years later. It had been a strange experience both times, that was for sure, although the second time wasn't anywhere near as bad as the first. "I've moved twice," she mentioned somewhat randomly, voicing her thoughts. "What about Hogwarts do you like? It's kind of funny, but I still think it's so fun to go to school at an actual castle. I'm sure all the wizarding schools are somewhat like that, though." Thinking a bit, Esme added, "But I think what I really like about being here is the types of things we learn about, and the people here." While she hadn't made all that many friends in her first year, she'd met plenty of nice acquaintances. Esme thought for a moment before answering the next question posed to her. "I think... Beauxbatons as well, maybe? I don't remember. We met at the welcoming bbq a little bit ago, but only talked for a few mintues." Another pause as she thought, and then, "There are how many wizarding schools again? Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, Durmstrang..." stamina 7 | evasion 6 | strength 4 | wisdom 7 | arc power 8 | accuracy 8 ✦ [ stats ]

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Roleplaying as iNPC Katherine Felix

to be updated...

@Esmeray Rosslyn

Time slowed in gentle conversation. It felt as though a lot of progress had been made on the artwork, yet she noticed the amount of detail missing on the unfinished canvas. The waving focus seemed to help, glancing back towards Esme as she gave a nod. "That definitely makes sense. It's quite the pretty reference to work with. Do you prefer painting nature scenes or other topics of art?" While Kit suspected she knew the answer, but it seemed nicer to ask than assume.

She was happy to grab the advice, but the rising third year had not expecting a critique request. Green-blue eyes blinked for a moment, before Kit offered a quick smile. "Oh, sure. I mean- it looks great so far. The gradient's smooth and the details look nice- are you happy with it so far?" The words were truthful, but she wasn't sure where the standard was for the other. Hopefully the Hogwarts student wasn't too harsh on herself, though.

"The United States, actually. California." Kit replied, in response to the newest question. The small mention peaked her interest, though. "Oh? Where did you move from?" From what the Beauxbatons student understood, moving was pretty normal but she had yet to really talk to someone about it. But in terms of Hogwarts - "Well, I'd get to speak English more often. Plus, it seems like a far more relaxed school than Beauxbatons in terms of appearance, reputation, and the people in general - but I don't know. Is that accurate to your experience at Hogwarts?" While Kit liked Beauxbatons, it was definitely more of her parent's school than her own.

She nodded a bit as Esme spoke, a little happy to hear about other Beauxbatons students socializing. "Oh, I don't know. Quite a few surely. There's that hard to pronounce one too - Koldovsterov? Ilvermorny in the US, and a couple others. Would you want to visit any of them? I think it'd be fun at least." Kit offered, before turning back to examine her painting for a moment. It was coming along, but there were still a lot of changes she could make.