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Hi,Dear Friends
 Merry Christmas!
How are you? Are you enjoying your Christmas Vacation?
I do hope that in the new year, you and your family members, friends will be happier, luckier, healthier and more successful.
On my side, I have had a happy, pity and thoughtful Christmas.
I am happy for I have found many of my former teachers, classmates, colleagues, friends and bosses in Beijing via my Christmas message.
A group of my friends -- the wife of one of my former instructors/professors in my first university, an officer of the government, my former assistant, my first music teacher and my colleagues who are working in Beijing will come to see me.
Another group of my friends -- my former bosses, former colleagues, former classmates, formal assistants, former doctors and the best friends will treat me in Beijing or have a meal with me after I come back to Shenzhen.
My son has also promised to come bask China to see me as soon as he gets his master degree in Australia.
Even though I cannot have a reunion with my family members in the Christmas season, and there is no any vacation for Christmas in China, I still felt warm in my heart.
I am also happy for I had a good Christmas Dinner with my classmates and tutor in CAFA and I have given all of my 36 classmates and tutor a big surprise ? to send everyone a little Christmas gift with an Engel on the box. Even though it had spent my time for 3 hours to go to the headquarters of CAFA to buy them by a taxi, I was really glad for I have made most of my classmates get their first Christmas gifts. :- ) When I saw the big smiles on their faces, I did feel that I have done a meaningful job to bring some Western cultures and the blessing of the God to them.
I feel pity because I could not find any Christmas cards no matter around of the Yanjiao Campus of CAFA or in the headquarters of CAFA, so that I could not express my grateful heart to my professors, my “American Father”, “American Mother” and all of the friends who have taught me, directed me, helped me, supported me and cared for me in Springfield, Missouri, USA and my art mentor and work partners in Kentucky, California and NYC. I feel sorry deeply. Anyway, I will certainly do that after I come back to Shenzhen in Jan, 2011. I do hope that my later Christmas gifts will bring them some comfort and happiness in the near future.
Another pity thing happened during the Christmas dinner with my classmates Dec 24, I fell over myself so that one of my teeth and mouth were broken and my ribs have been aching until now. I do not know why I have falled over myself twice since I came to Beijing, last time in the dining-room of the school, this time in the restaurant.
Last pity and funny thing is that on Dec 26, two workers and my landlord dug 3 holes on the floor of my apartment, to find the reason that why my neighbor’s ceiling leaked water; therefore, I had to stay in the apartment with the 3 holes for 3 days and without any healing installation for a night.
Except the happiness and pity, I have learned so much from the lessons this week. Since I came to CAFA, we have been painting different models with different Chinese tools and styles by the good directions of Mr. Meng Zhang, Professor Qinghe Liu and Mr. Bin Lin. This week, we have learned how to paint models with Chinese ink, brush and pen from Mr. Lin. I am impression on the wonderful demonstration of him. I have been thinking what Mr. Lin has taught us “To think and to improve your thoughtful level is important much more than the skill itself.”
According to his direction, I used much time to look for the study and painting methods. After researching our syllabus carefully, I bought almost all of the books that my instructors and professors recommended, no matter how expensive they are; I am also painting from those greatest artists according to the directions of my tutors, ask questions as many as possible... I am thinking, since art leaning is the thing for whole of my life, to know what I should learn as a Chinese painting student, what is the best methods to paint, may be one of my most important “Assignments”?
With this idea, at the same time to learn to paint landscapes, feature, flowers and birds, and calligraphy, I am keeping reading books, listening to the broadcast and watching TV, try to improve my theory and thoughtful level.
I would really like to find a way to found a wide and strong basis of Chinese painting theory and skills, then to develop myself on one or tow directions.
How do you think of my idea? Do you agree with me?
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