Hi,Dear Friends

How are you? Have you had a good weekend and would like to prepare to have a wonderful new week?


Since I came back from the USA, 1 week has passed. In the past 7 days, except attending 2 lessons for 12 hours, ordered 36 pages of data for my papers which I had prepared before I went to the USA in April, I have also painted 6 paintings and colored 2 of them. 


According to the requirements of Chinese National Academy of Arts, I should publish at least 1 paper before entering my dissertation’ oral defense, both of my supervisor – Professor Mu Jiashan and I thought I should publish at least 2. Therefore, we are working hard on it. Professor Mu has checked my data, corrected and confirmed the titles of the two papers. 


So, as soon as I came back China, I have involved myself into my study. 


It is lucky enough that the current Chinese express delivery industry is so developed, very often, I booked a book or something else in the morning, I got it in the afternoon or the next day. So, now, I have gotten most of the books or data which I need for the two papers already, I have bought a lot of new data and books according to the directions of my supervisor...


Meanwhile, when I attended the lessons on June 30 and July 3, looked and heard how my supervisor commented the other students’ assignments and what he had talked to the reporters of a TV station, really I felt ashamed for I have not truly painted for a long time except doing some demonstrations in the classrooms. 


Therefore, as soon as I came back home from the last lesson on July 3, I started to paint on July 4, and then I kept doing it every day, not only on painting, but also on calligraphy. 


Also, when I painted, except using a pencil to draft a person, I kept painting anything else with a brush directly, because I have known clearly that my purpose of studying in Beijing is just for teaching in the USA or in Australia or both in the near future. Therefore, I must do my best to improve myself and to prepare everything for my future teaching jobs. 


Meanwhile, I have been also thinking of creating a new painting to commemorate my deceased American Art and Music teacher who has passed away for 11 years until August 9, 2018. 


The only pity is that I have given up the opportunity to attend the 3 International Academic Conferences on Music in the best music school of China -- Central Conservatory of Music July 8 to 17, although I had paid when I was in the USA.


One reason is that my supervisor strongly opposes me to work on music at this time but he requires me to be focus on my papers and paintings before March, 2019 – which is the deadline that my dissertation to be handed in the school; the other reason is that I took only two of my paintings which include poems, English and music from Ozarks of Technique Community College before I left for China and most of those kind of paintings which were exhibited in their college, Feb, 2016 have been keeping in their place could not be found out easily and I couldn’t bear Mrs. Kat Allie who is the Chair of the Humanities Department and Manager of Art Gallery doing it for me as soon as I saw her suffering some serious healthy problem on June 27, 2018...


Anyway, I am lucky enough for the Central Conservatory of Music would like to refund 90% of my payment and also, I do think that I will have another opportunity after I finish my 3 papers and painting study. So, now, my heart is peaceful and my emotion isn’t affected by it at all. 

I am going to work hard in the 9th year in the art colleges in Beijing and hope to improve myself every day.

How about you? Do you have anything special to share? 

Photo notes: 
No.1: My supervisor Professor Mu Jiashan & I in his lesson June 30, 2018. 
No.2: Professor Mu Jiashan was commenting the assignments of the students, June 30, 2018 
No.3: Professor Mu Jiashan was accepting an interview of a TV station July 3, 2018 
No.3: Professor Mu Jiashan prepared to do a demonstration July 3, 2018
No.4-No.6: Professor Mu Jiashan did two demonstrations for us July 3, 2018
No.7: Professor Mu Jiashan offered us a theory lesson July 3, 2018

I am just a student on Arts of Painting, Music, English and Management,and work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do something with what I have learned, to make this little web site to be a little Electronic Bridge of Cross -cultural and Comprehensive Art Study and Chinese Language Learning, to help the others while to improve myself. 

I would like to appreciate you for your good understanding, directions, supports and help. 

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write toshirley@ebridge.cn or leave your message on Message Board. 

Shirley Yiping Zhang

July 8, 2018 (Chicago Time)