‘Farmer’s art’ painterteaches senior citizensthe bold-color medium
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EVERY Wednesday, Wang Huifang, 65, asks her husband to prepare the household’s three meals and takes a day off housework.
Part of the day she spends in an art class; the rest of the day she spends painting.
She is part of a group of senior citizens taking classes from artist Xing Yuanhu in the Minhang District People’s Arts Center. For most, it is the first time they have ever held a paintbrush. For all, the experience has changed their lives.
“We are very grateful that Master Xing is our instructor,” said Wang. “He not only teaches us how to paint, but he has helped us choose the right painting tools.”
Xing currently has 17 pupils, most of whom, like him, are in their 70s.
He is quite well-known as a Shanghai painter, especially for his “farmer’s artwork,” a technique using what is known as “heavy-color painting.”
“Compared to other types of art, heavy-color painting is the easiest for beginners because it doesn’t require as many skills,” said Xing. “Besides, the rich colors create a visual impact that attracts people a lot.”
Heavy-color painting is a school that originated in Yunnan Province in the 1980s. It is done with lines drawn by pencil or brush on white tissue paper called hanji, and then filled in with gouache, a paint medium consisting of pigment, water and a binding agent.
The result is artwork of bold colors and decorative concepts.
Since 2014, Xing has been teaching the art form to residents in Minhang.
In the beginning, he gave them a list of essential tools, but the seniors had no idea where to find all the brushes, paper, boards and pigments. Some of them spent big sums of money on the wrong materials.
As a result, Xing went out and bought everything his class needed. Taking into account their sometimes tight budgets, he saved them money by buying some of the materials wholesale. For example, a drawing board selling in stores usually costs around 90 yuan (US$13.70). Xing bought large boards and then cut them into usable sizes, saving his students about 60 percent.
“If not for Master Xing, many of us might have given up in the beginning,” said Wang. “We were so grateful that he helped us get everything we needed.”
Learning to paint has had a profound impact on the lives of students.
Retired teacher Zhang Weiqing said she suffered anxiety attacks before joining the painting class. She saw an ad for the class and figured it might be a good idea to fill her empty hours.
“At first I didn’t have any confidence,” she said. “Xing encouraged me, saying that I shouldn’t worry about making mistakes. He would guide me.”
After finishing her first copied work, Zhang said her anxiety disappeared.
“It is easier for me to focus and put aside negative thoughts when I’m painting,” she said. “I have found a new purpose and confidence in life.”
In addition to learning art skills, the students also make new acquaintances. Class members often get together for dinner parties.
Xing said it is never too late to learn to paint or to enjoy life.
“Everyone can find pleasure in painting,” he said.
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