This is my 199th
Chinese Xieyi Painting and it is
one of my 358th and 361st pictures since 2003, the 54th
painting that I have painted in 2008.
It is the 2nd painting that I painted during the time I am studying in the US. Last night, when I signed my name on it, I just realized that I had not painted for 1 month. That is too long for me, because I had not stopped for over 1 week since 2003. I felt shame for I had stopped for a while; I felt happiness for I did not stop over 1 month yet. A friend’s telephone call and a friendly letter of introducing something about the local art galleries gave me a lot of inspirations and made me want to paint. So, with much grateful heart, I completed this painting that was also my Chinese art teacher asked me to complete days ago.
I did not dear to call him because I did not complete my home work. :- )
That was May, 2003, after I learning to paint gouache painting for 2 months, I met my teacher.. Since then, I have kept learning to paint, so that my teacher felt surprised because he had thought it would good enough if I would keep for 3 months. :-)
I have been touched by my teacher's responsible work and keeps for about 6 years to teach me., no matter it was winding, raining, or in typhoon. Even though now I am now in the US, I was still asked to paint at least one picture each week -- to keep working and avoid my hand to be "rusted".
Relying on the good and patient direction by my teacher -- a professor of Xian Art College and Guangzhou Art College, I have gotten my Certificate of Arts Graded Examination of China ? the 7 grade on the specialty on Flower & Bird already. My teacher is applying a new certificate with 9 or 10 grade for me now. He has also decided to invite me to an art assistant after I go back to China. Also, it was him to encourage me to go out of China, to find more art inspirations from the other cultures…:-)
How do you think of my new painting? Do you enjoy it?
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, welcome to write to
shirley@ebridge.cn, you can also publish your opinions in
Forum . :-)
--Shirley Zhang Nov 5, 2008 in Missouri State University, USA
