The Artist's Way is a stranger side-mission featured in Red Dead Redemption 2. The quest becomes available during Chapter 4 of the story.
Story[]
Part I[]
Charles Châtenay can be encountered at Doyle's Tavern, where he asks the player if they could buy him a drink of brandy. Charles and the player start talking while sharing a brandy. He tells the player that he has traveled around the world and painted pictures in various countries. He then gives the player one of his sketches before leaving.
Part II[]
"An angry husband threatens Châtenay, claiming he slept with his wife."
In the second encounter, the player will encounter an angry man outside of Châtenay's residence who is seen breaking the door open and dragging Châtenay outside, whom the man claims slept with his wife. The man points his revolver at Charles who pleads for help. The player can intervene and threaten the man, which leads to the man leaving, or just sit back and watch.
If the player chooses to intervene, Charles will thank them for saving him; if the player lets the man have his way, he'll take pity on Charles and notes that Charles is "not a man at all". Either way, Charles asks the player to come to see his art exhibition at the art gallery.
Part III[]
"Châtenay unveils his latest work, at the gallery in Saint Denis."
In the third encounter, the player will attend Châtenay's art exhibition at Galerie Laurent. There are plenty of people at the exhibition when the player enters the room, and all is seemingly well. However, the people eventually realize that the paintings portray some of the people present and that Charles may have painted some of them without their consent. The people are outraged at Charles's actions and within a matter of seconds, a fight breaks out in the gallery. However, Charles makes a quick escape and tells the player that he is going to lay low for a few days.
Glitch: A glitch during this mission will let you perform unlimited acts of violence without a wanted status. Walk through the yellow area in the art gallery and ascend to the highest floor. Going to the rooftop will let you attack civilians, and the wanted status will disappear by itself, because the cops aren't allowed to pass through the mission area for them to access the rooftop. (If lawmen spot you from below, taking them out will erase your wanted level.) Civilians will also appear from within the art gallery to fistfight you.
Part IV[]
In the fourth encounter, the player stumbles upon Charles who has disguised himself as a woman and tells him that he is being persecuted by the citizens of Saint Denis. Charles tells him that he plans to leave the city and travel to the South Pacific. He asks the player to help him get on the next ship but says that some of the locals are looking for him.
When they arrive at the docks, the pair encounters a group of men who were waiting for Charles and want to enact their revenge. Charles quickly runs to safety while the player fights the men. After defeating the attackers, the player and Charles part ways with a final goodbye but the player will become WANTED due to the fight.
Mission Failure[]
The mission will fail if the player:
- Assaults, kills or abandons Charles;
- Allows Charles to be killed;
- Causes a disturbance before attending the gallery;
- Allows Charles to be spotted by his attackers;
- Dies.
Trivia[]
- If the player completes the first encounter with Charles as Arthur, but starts the next one as John, the latter will mention Arthur, but Charles thinks he was just another man who thought he was a “whole ass”.
- Charles kissing the player in Part IV can be avoided if the player wears a mask or bandana.
- As Arthur, while the gallery is fighting, he is heard chuckling and eventually letting out a loud laugh as Charles is being beaten by a woman with her purse. As John, he can be heard giggling a little.
Video Walkthrough[]
Trophies/Achievements[]
Completing this Stranger mission strand is associated with these trophies/achievements:
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WESTERN STRANGER
30
 Bronze
 Complete 10 Stranger mission strands.
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100
Gold
 Attain 100% Completion.
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