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Finally, he clapped his hands drawing attention to himself. The students turned to him right away, ready to listen, remember and learn. Each of them knew how priceless are lessons of a master whose workshop was even difficult to get to – parents signed up their fresh talents a year in advance. However, this famous artist became known not only for his mastership and excellent taste, but also for not charging any money for learning. Anyone who wanted to study under him was given a canvas, paints and brushes, and asked to draw what he or she wanted the most. After that, a potential student was left alone in a huge room for exactly one clock hour. The artist didn’t stand over, persuading to draw something specific, and didn’t observe drawing technique or mood. He let children to feel themselves free and easy artists and say what they wanted to say. This way he picked out fresh talents to his group.

– Well, the warm-up has finished. You all, no doubt, were good. But it’s time to go ahead with today’s task, – he said.  

The younger pricked up their ears, like little rabbits and foxes. Everything was still a wonder for them. The older met teacher’s words more calmly. Some of them were whispering to one another, getting distracting and missing some art school teacher’s words. 

The man smiled archly in anticipation of his students’ brushes and pencils moving fast in their hands, touching canvases with bright colours and pastel shades.

– Today we’re going to draw our favourite fairy tale characters.  

One of the girls sniffed and put her brush aside, wiping her hands on a towel. Since she forgot her special tablier at home, some places of her clothes were already spotted with oils she used to finish the last touches of her sketch. 

– Why did it sound so funny? – the teacher asked.

– How is it possible to draw something that doesn’t exist!  – the girl resented. – There’s no such thing as magic. How can we know how it looks like, when it doesn’t exist? – she folded her arms obstinately.

– Don’t you have a favourite fairy tale character? – the teacher frowned.

– I don’t believe in fairy-tales, – the girl threw up her head, looking like she outgrown the fairy-tales.

The teacher thought for a moment, but then his face lit up with a smile.