September 4, 2009, is one of the most excited days in whole of my life.

Sponsored by Springfield Regional Arts Council and Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce my first art exhibition (Sept 4 - Sept 28) was opened in the Creamery Arts Center 411 N. Sherman Parkway, Springfield, Missouri, USA.

Thirty-four best paintings of my 420 paintings in the past 7 years have been exhibited.

Includes 5 kinds of paintings:

Part I: Gouaches (3)
01. Daylight Jan 17, 2007, China
02. Sunshine in the Mountains March 8, 2008, China
03. A Little Road Dec 22, 2007

Part II: Combined Art （4）
04. Ducks Know Spring Has Come At the First September 16, 2007, China
05. A White Snow Song September 2, 2007, China
06.The Dinging from the Mountains July 4, 2007, China
07. Intone A Willow in the Spring Wind August 2, 2007, China
Part III: Chinese Gongbi (3)
08. A Song of the Spring Dec 10, 2006, China
09. Butterflies Love Flowers July 4, 2009, USA
10.Sound Of Flute Feb 12, 2006, China

Part VI: Chinese Xieyi (21)
11.Warm- Peonies-18 August 15, 2009, USA


12.Dream - Peonies-09July 24, 2009, USA
13. Enthusiasm Peonies -03 July 15, 2009, USA
14.Flowers of the Spring July 13, 2009, USA
15.Peaceful Peonies-06 July 20, 2009
16.Affection July 20, 2009, USA
17. Language of the Spring June 6, 2009, USA
18.Spring Meet
19. Fat Crab
20.Little Birds & Plum Blossom July 6, 2008, China
21. Peony Practice -15 September 6, 2008, China
22.Little Birds & Plum Blossom Practice July 10, 2008, China
Creative Background:
23.Later Autumn Oct 18, 2007, China
24.Sweet Smell July 26, 2007, China
25.One Night Spring Wind March 1, 2007, China
26. A Little Funny Dec 25, 2006, China
27.Song of the Autumn Nov 27, 2006, China
28. Summer November 22, 2006, China
29. Autumn Oct 24, 2006, China
30. Happy In the Spring Oct 18, 2006, China
31.Let Us Welcome Spring With Singing Oct 11, 2006, China
32. What a Red Water lily! August 23,2006, China
Part V: Chinese Baimiao (1)
33.Peonies and Baby Chicken Sep 19, 2006, China

Part VI: Not for Sale (2)

34. Meditation - Peonies-14 Friday, August 7, 2009
35.Painting From Nature March 4, 2006，China

In the Opening Night Reception, I made a speech to introduce something about Chinese traditional paintings and some of my own painting ideas and got the applause by the audiences.

Anyway, as soon as I finished my speaking, I realized I did not do three things well:

--I was too tight so that I forgot to show the audiences about my own web site.

--I lacked the experience in this kind of occasion, so that I forget that I should send every one my business card and connecting way since I had been to the print company for 4 times to make them seriously already.

--I did not master the time well enough so that I just had about 3 minutes to show my audiences how to paint a Chinese Xieyi painting...

But, still, it was really a great starting:

First of all, there were many people here in the rain.

Secondly, it seems like everyone came here liked my painting and gave a comment -- So Beautiful.

Thirdly, within the short 3 hours in the first night, 3 pictures have been sold, they are:

My Gouache--0120: Sunshine in The Mountains target with US $45

Bai Miao--031: Peony & Little Chickens Practice with US $230

Combined Art -- 005: The Dinging from the Mountains with US$375.

Fourthly, I have been invited to have some lessons for the local teenagers before I left for China since Sept 12.

At the happy time that my long time art dream has been true finally. There is full of the appreciation to this world in my heart.

I would really like to thank my teachers, my sponsors, my bosses and my universities, and all of the people who have helped me, directed me and supported me…

First of all, I will remember My late and current Art and Music Teachers:
-- My First American Art and Music Teacher Mr. Charlie K
-- My Chinese Art Teacher Mr. Tao
-- My First Chinese Folk Song Teacher Ms. Ma
-- My First Chinese Art Song Teacher Ms. Huang
-- My Current American Art Mentor Dr. Booth

Organizations:
-- Springfield Regional Arts Council
-- Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
-- College of Business Administration of Missouri State University
-- Our Company in China

Individuals & Friends
-- Mr. Brad Bodenhausen
-- Ms. Leah Hamilton Jenkins
-- Ms. Stephanie Cramer
-- Mr. Gong Xiaoou

With an endless grateful heart, I would really like to do something to repay the society, to repay these kind and friendly people, to remember these who have gone, but still affect me with a positive style -- my first American art teacher and my late elder brother…

So, I would like to donate the income of my first art exhibition to a Springfield’s Disable People's Rest Home or a Disable People's Recovered Center…



Even though I have had my first art exhibition, I know very clear that I am just a student. I have only learned some very surface knowledge about Chinese art for 7 years and I have had little knowledge about Western art yet. So, I would really like to make this art exhibition as a new point of my long art learning road, to work hard continuously, to learn for whole of my life.

Future is bright, road is long and work is hard. I will do my best…








I am just a learner on art of painting, music, English and Chinese language, 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 Culture Exchange, Chinese Language Learning & Friendship making. To help the others while to improve myself.

I would like to appreciate your understanding, directions, supports and hope to get your friendly direction and help.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write to shirley@ebridge.cn or Yiping007@MissouriState.edu, or to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Sun, August 2, 2009 From USA