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Hi,Dear Friends
 Listen to Shirley 's Letter to You March 20, 2011
 How are you? I do hope that you have had a good week and enjoy your weekend.
This week, except attending to the portrait lessons by Professor Li Yang, painted the portraits from the models-true people; I have painted another 12 paintings with Chinese Mogu and Chinese Xieyi styles. Include:
Six Mogu Bird and Flower Paintings;
Three Xieyi Bird and Flower Paintings;
Two Chinese ink Landscape.
One Xieyi Portrait
Every day, except having meals and sleep, I paint in the classroom for 12 to 14 hours, read the art theory books at home for about 2 hours. Many classmates said that I am working too hard, but I feel this is a quite enjoyable process indeed. :-)
With thinking and researching, I am absorbing so much nutrition from the rich Chinese culture and art heritage.
My current problem is: there is no 36 hours each day. :-)
Anyway, no matter how busy I am, I arrange some time to work on the little web site and to write something on the weekend. Because, I do think that I need to summarize what I have learned often, to make sure that I am going on the right road.
With this idea, one hand, I read and learn to paint from those great artists; the other hand, I bring my own thoughts and feelings into my own paintings. For example, when I learn to paint a bird from Mr. Ren Bonian, I pay more attention to learn to express the spirit of the bird via her eyes and gesture, instead of every detail of the feather of the bird.
I mean maybe my bird is not as same as those great artist painted on the surface, as long as its spirit and big trend is similar or same, that is enough. Because, I do think a Chinese painting should express some special spirit of the figure or plant or something else in the painting, therefore, sometime, this figure, plant or something else can be changed or mutative. Maybe this is just the Chinese painting's quality, especially the quality of Chinese Xieyi Paintings. :-)
Many classmates admire my work and life style; some of them wonder why I am always working so hard and why I am living for?
My answer is: As a common Chinese citizen, I have experienced whole of the process of China's Culture Revolution, Reform and Opening, experienced the test of the death several times. Right now, I am not only still alive, but also I am lucky enough to have an opportunity to learn and to work on something that I have been loving and wishing to do since my childhood. Compare with the millions of my contemporary, compare with those people who have died in this or that disaster, What a Lucky Person I Am! So, I would really like to cherish my luck, except enjoying myself, I do hope to do my best to learn and to create, to share something wonderful and meaningful that I have felt every day with more people via standing some social responsibility, to return the beautiful world and those kind people who have helped me, supported me and to help the people who need help with my own effort and a little bit ability... :-)
Except my normal studying, with a sad but quite peaceful heart, spent for about 30 hours, I have completed a new painting for my first art and music guide ? my deceased American Art tutor Mr. Charlie K., to celebrate his birthday and to comfort his soul in the heaven.
Also, this week, I have edited something new in the column of Chinese Learning and hope it is some help with you to learn Chinese language.
How about you? What is your idea to learn the heritage of your culture and history?
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I am just a student on Art of Painting, Music, English and Management, to work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do a few things with what I have learned to make this little web site to be an Electronic Bridge of Inter-Art & Cross - Culture Exchange, Chinese Language Learning & Friendship Making. To help the others while to improve myself.
I would like to appreciate you for your understanding, directions, supports and help.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write to shirley@ebridge.cn or leave your message on Message Board.
Shirley Yiping Zhang
March 20, 2011
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