This is my my 1353rd paintings since 2003,the 789thChinese Xieyi Painting, my 63rd Assignments (the 224th Painting as an candidate of Degree of Master of Fine Arts ) in Chinese National Academy of Arts.
It is said if someone wants to become a Chinese artist, she or he needs time for about 10,000 hours. When I heard it at the first, I didn't realize what the meaning was clearly, however, now, after my study in Beijing has entered the 9 years since July 15, 2018. When I recall the past 8 years' more than 20,000 hours' study ( if it was about 315 studying days/year x average 8 hours x 8 years = 20,160 hours), really I found the huge change when I was painting.
The biggest change is my eyes, confidence and hands.
I mean if someone shows me a famous ancient painting in Chinese painting history, I can quickly tell you who created it and what time it was created, why it is famous. And if someone shows me a new painting in the contemporary era, I can quickly make a judgment about it -- it is a good level one or a middle level one or a bad level one.
I am confidence with myself on Chinese painting, no matter to work on a Chinese Xieyi, Gongbi or Mogu, an ink painting or colored painting, a landscape or flower and bird painting… But a Chinese painting student usually works in 1 or 2 kinds of paintings…
So, now, I do have understood why people talk about 10,000 hours, it is just a general student who works with an average level standard time to get a bachelor degree in an art college. In fact, most of excellent students never work only 8 hours one day, but over 12 hours...and there is no any vacations...
So, if I account my own time with another standard, then my study time maybe: 350days ( or 365 days) /year x 8 years x average 11 hours (or 12 hours ), then my time should be 28,880 hours (or 35,040 hours. I guess, maybe about 30,000 hours.
Anyway, I don’t think it is enough. Therefore I would like to work harder in the 9 th year and hope to make more progress.
How do you think of the painting below? Do you enjoy I coloring them or not?
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, welcome to write toshirley@ebridge.cn,you can also publish your opinions on Message Board . :-)
--Shirley Yiping Zhang
July 19, 2018 |
|
|
