How are you? Have you started a good new week?

I have totally involved myself into my study.

Except attending the lesson by a famous Chinese Gongbi artist Mr. Hai Xuezhong, this week, I have completed a new Chinese Baimiao (185.50 cm x 29.00 cm - 74.00inches x 11.41 inches ) - as one of the steps of a new Gongbi painting; meanwhile, I have also completed 7 Chinese Xieyi paintings and kept writing Chinese calligraphy every day.

Something most meaningful for me is a comment from Professor Wang Tongjun -- After looking at my first 3 days’ paintings from the nature and my last 7 Chinese Gongbi paintings, knowing that I had worked in the other fields for 30 years before I entered in the art colleges in Beijing, he said: "You should be an artist."

Then, one of my tutors -- Mr. Wu Tong directed me to choose and to learn one of the Chinese calligraphies -- Sou Jin Ti that was created by Zhao Ji/ Song Hui Zong (1082―1135) who was the 8th emperor in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127); Mr. Lu Wenqing directed me to prepare the glutin and alum for my new Chinese Gongbi painting. Dr. Han Bing will also show us how to paint Chinese Mogu Painting tomorrow.

So, now, to write Chinese calligraphy, Gongbi painting and Xieyi painting, to read newspaper in English and to read aloud with the radiobroadcaster together have become my regular and enjoyable jobs in Chinese National Academy of Arts in Beijing.

Can you imagine? When I enjoy the study life in the new school, the things around of me also change kinder and better.

Something more have touched me:

-- After a waiter who sent food to my classroom knew the reason that I had changed my taste for I felt difficult to eat the northern food and I missed some soup in Shenzhen, Guangdong, then, his boss specially cooked the soup that was not in their menu for me. Even, except the normal fee, they did not accept any tip at all...

-- Knowing I am allergic to the cigarette, now, there is no any classmate smoking in the classroom and I have heard the waiter in the hotel that I am living in told the guests in the next room not smoke since the smell would come to my room via the ceiling...

-- Both of my music teacher Ms. Ma Xuan and his friend Mr. Yang have bought a new Yamaha and sent it to me tonight.

-- A locksmith and his wife have helped buy some terminal plate and so on...

-- An art gallery wanted my red-crowned cranes painting and wished me to paint another one for them when my father was mounting it a shop in Wuxi...

I did not promise the gallery for I wanted to concentrate my limited time on my study in the art college, but, I have really seen something good and meaningful waiting for me. Meanwhile, I have also realized, on my growing road, in my every little progress, includes so much painstaking care and effort from so many kind people -- tutors, professors, stuff, friends, waiters, bosses of the restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, laundries and so on... So, no matter what has happened to me now and in the future, I should not forget them; I should do my best to study, to work and to return the beautiful world and those kind and helpful people...

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

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
Nov 21, 2011(Chinese Time)