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A Wonderful Experience & A Big Decision -- Shirley's 406th Friendly Greeting frp, Beijing June 18, 2013

Hi,Dear Friends

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

When you get this letter, I have come back from my class of painting from the nature, with the team of Chinese National Academy of Arts from Wuyi Mountains, Fujian Province.

This is the 6th lesson of painting from the nature of the school but my first time since I came to CNAA, 2011. In the wonderful process to paint in both of the mountains and the hotel, to visit the local ancient civilization, natural view and to watch a big performance, there were so many fresh feelings that have touched my heart.

The strongest feeling is: The Chinese Painting School at Chinese National Academy of Arts is the best suitable place for me to improve my painting level and to realize my art dream, so that I have decided to continue my study at the school for another class-year since Sep, 2013.

-- With the fairest education idea and style, instead of choosing few "good students" to attend the ¡° Bi Hui ¨C a collective painting activity¡±, all of the 43 students from 3 classes were arranged into 4 different groups to paint for the local sponsors together. No matter a senior student who had painted for 30 years already, or a fresh student who had just painted for few years, we have same opportunity to paint in same open space. The difference was that according to the different level of each student, we were given different assignments.

As a fresh student who just entered the professional art schools for 3 years, I was also offered same opportunities to paint 7 different paintings in 3 ¡°Bi Hui¡± with the other students together.

-- Instead of working perfunctorily or superficially, I do feel that I have met one of the best leaders and the most responsible teaching team in Chinese Painting Educational Field.

Prof. Man Weiqi - the Executive Deputy Dean of Chinese Painting School at Chinese National Academy of Arts not only led us to go to the Wuyi Mountains, Fujian Province in person, painted most paintings to "Make Food Tickets" for us in person, but also, he checked all of our paintings from the nature, commented every painting, and directed us face to face.

As one of the lucky students, Prof. Man checked my paintings from the nature and he commented 4 of my 7 paintings, pointed out of the problems on each painting, encouraged the little progress that I had made, told me how to improve my painting level and work efficiency in this kind of occasions... the most importance was that he has given me a new assignment ¨C try to transform what I have learned from the ancient artists and what I have learned in the classroom to be my own knowledge and skills, to use them into my art practice and creations as soon as possible. Also, he told me that I had found the feeling on my 4th painting; it¡¯s level was 3 grades higher than my first 3 paintings in the Bi Hui in the public.

Mr. Wu Tong -- the Associate Dean of the Teaching Department of Chinese Painting School at CNAA worked not only in the business time, but also in the noon when most students had naps, since he had to arrange each student¡¯s work in the painting activities and to notice and to encourage every one to catch the best opportunity to paint as many as possible¡­

Mr. Lu Wenqing -- the director of our class, not only directed us to paint, but also, he taught us how to observe the plants, the stones and the mountains¡­ it was him, directed me to paint every painting in the public in Wuyi Mountains, Fujian Province.

-- Instead of looking down the fresh students, almost all classmates and schoolfellows treated me as brothers and sisters, but also I have had a new "son" and a new "daughter". :- )

Li Yezi -- a warmhearted Beijing lady who is an art teacher at a university for old age carried my heavy bag in the mountains for whole of the 7 days, looked after my health and directed me how to improve my painting speed and skills in the public. Just like a young ¡° Elder Sister ¡± .:- )

Chen Meijun -- the youngest girl student, who is one of the master students of Prof. Man Weiqi, and my roommate in the hotel, looked after me so carefully and kindly, just like my own ¡° Daughter ¡±. :-)

Mr. Guo Jaming, Mr. Chen Baoliang, Mr. Tao Yueming, Mr. Xu zhiyong, Mrs. Liu Jingfeng and so many students who are senior artists have given me so much good advice, suggestions and directions...

-- Because of the wonderful marketing jobs of the school, the high reputation of Chinese National Academy of Arts and Prof. Man Weiqi, we have gotten the best treatment and support from the Fujian Contemporary Fuwen Group, not only offered the 4-star hotel, free food, travel, raincoats, caps and everything that we needed in Wuyi Mountains, their president Mr. Lin Jinjiang led 7 department managers and clerks to work with us together and gave us the best and considerate looking after¡­

Among in this team and study, I felt so nice while I have seen my own weakness on art culture, knowledge and skills.

If saying that I was a little bit hesitated about whether I should stay in the Chinese Painting School at Chinese National Academy of Art for another year, then, on the third day in the Wuyi Mountains, Fujian Province, I made my final decision -- I will study in CANN for another one year and be at the art schools in Beijing 4th year since September, 2013. Then maybe I will apply my second master degree for Chinese Painting in 2014?

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

Yours Sincerely,

Shirley Yiping Zhang
June 18, 2013(American Time)

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