What A Dream Wants

Artroom 118.

It was artsy. There was art on the wall. Wow.

"Hello everyone, I am the art teacher, Mrs. Artem." The teacher greeted, wearing an apron splattered with different paints. "We learn art history and different types of art techniques in this classroom."

Her beret, which was also encrusted in paint, covered her brown hair.

"So, similar to music, art history also shows much about a civilization's culture. 40,000 years ago, humans were already creating instruments, while most major art techniques, such as painting, drawing, and sculpting developed around 17,000 years ago."

"Art and music both create vivid imagery and spark our imagination. They synthesize an experience that doesn't have to belong to this world. Their works and creations are like dreams come to life."

Steven wondered how these works and creations of art were like dreams coming to life. Perhaps he needed to experience it for himself.

So he did.

"Art isn't just pretty or looks good to the eye. A lot of times, art tells a story. Sometimes sad. Sometimes happy. Sometimes in between. Literature can be composed of a thousand words, but pictures leave those thousand words up to you."

She gestured.

"Art also utilizes math in order to be work geometrically. But it also can break the rules of normal 3D and 2D perspective."

"Anyways," She cleared her throat. "Onto the main activity for today. So, I want you guys to just... draw! It doesn't matter if you aren't the greatest drawer, you can always improve. Whether on anatomy, color theory, or perhaps the technical skills between your lines, I'll still give you pointers on the Way Of Art!"

"Alright everyone, so these are the coloring utensils. There's a limited supply, so please share. We have paints, pastels, crayons, color pencils, markers, and thin point pens over there. Over here, we have rulers, compasses, and scissors. You can even use your own utensils."

"Oh right! I almost forgot." She exclaimed, "If you draw phenomenally, I guess I'll award you guys with... some contribution points? How about a thousand?"

Murmurs and chatter filled the classroom.

"Alright, start!"

It was a mad dash to the crayons... and the other coloring utensils. But honestly, crayons are the best. They are the best pick for people with culture.

Steven slapped the paper onto his desk and sighed. He really did want food points, but he wasn't the greatest artist. How could he possibly do well?

'Guess I'll just draw a fancy blob...' He thought to himself.

He drew a blob.

He showed it to the teacher.

"Oh Steven, it looks wonderful. Except it only has monotone shading with no lighting. And the lines are like squiggles. Messy and uncoordinated. Not to mention how the shading goes out of lines and defies all laws of aesthetics. If you're trying to draw abstract art, you have to actually aim to be good at traditional art first. The lines are scratchy and the paper is wrinkled like someone sat on it."

Ok, that wasn't Steven's fault, someone did sit on it.

Steven told her it was a blob.

"Of course sweetie, but I'm sure you can draw better. Even five-year-olds can draw better, so you definitely can." Mrs. Artem encouraged motivationally.

'Wow, thanks, teacher.'

"Of course, if you focus on something you like, perhaps you'll be able to draw it better."

Steven's eyes sparkled. Hit with inspiration, he would do the same thing Archimedes did. Or not. There was no bathtub anyways.

"I believe that you can draw better than this since even a gorilla rolling around on the floor can draw better than this." She consoled kindly.

'Wow, thanks, teacher.'

But... what did he like? At this moment, he was at a conundrum, not sure of what to draw.

'If only I would be able to draw good enough to get those contribution points so I would be able to buy food, something I love more than humans in this world...' Steven thought to himself.

Steven pondered for a while.

'Oh, that's it! I'll draw a person!'

Then realized: 'Oh wait, I don't like people.'

Steven went back to thinking.

'Oh, that's it! I'll draw a homo sapiens!' These were a weird creature he saw once or twice.

'Oh wait, aren't people homo s- Wait! I got it, I'll draw food!'

This led Steven on another furious journey of using his brain to get something accomplished. Now, all he had to do, was choose from the wide variety of food he stored in his brain.

'Hmm... how about a cake...'

He drew a seven-layered cake.

He showed it to the teacher.

"Oh... this is... this is... AMAZING!" Mrs. Artem squealed in delight. "The colors compliment each other, showing a profound knowledge of color theory. The lighting and shading are impeccable, and the lines are exquisitely delicate. They straight off BLEND into the cake! The textures are so impossibly realistic, it's like you can almost eat it! I can almost imagine the smell. Not to mention how it's composed of the colors of a rainbow... Sadly, it's still trapped in a glass case, not allowed to be free. Aw sweetie, this artwork tells such a wonderful message of equality, hope, and beauty, and pride in the sweetness of a cake."

'What...'

Hearing his teachers words, his eyes couldn't help but dazzle, and he smiled happily.

' What is she going on about?' Steven thought to himself, puzzled. 'This was a very delicious cake I saw in the bakery.'

"You deserve these thousand contribution points," she said, wiping away her tears. "Oh, how many contribution points would it cost to buy such a beautiful artwork?"

"T-"

"Ten thousand? Alright!" She squealed.

Steven walked away with ten thousand contribution points.