March 20, 2016. 45 x 50cm.

Unlike other Chinese teacher, the new teacher, Master Tang Yik Lung, was plain honest and straight forward. 

He told me how bad I was and the unlikeliness for me to succeed as a professional painter or a master.

Despite that I was deeply hurt and scared, I had a lot of good faith in him. 

He tried very hard to teach me at his small home studio, at the presence of his families and some primary school kid students living nearby. 

Under his influence I started to look at art differently. I painted in a different attitude.  

I felt a lot of potential improvements – and actually already had made some progress after the first seven lessons.

I went to see Master Tang once a week, on Sunday morning, talked to him, showed him my homework and he commented on them. I genuinely thank him on his lectures. I trust I will be better and better if I followed his advice.

Master Tang’s work was remarkable, one of its kind. He had a real good taste of shape and colour. I used to admire his work displayed at his home.

He was such a good simple man, and a great artist himself. 

    
    
 These were all my homework under the recommendations of master. I were required to hand in one sketch drawing each week. All copies from works of some mainland painters. 

This was quite demanding for a part time student. 

My master critised that my work was far away from real art. He stated that they were just like inferior production from a small art factory. I had no chance to become professional if my ability and viewpoint as such. 

I were scared. This was the first few times I were being told of the ugly truth. I were deeply hurt, but this was the new beginning to step up my training to reach the unreachable goal. 

I appreciated my new teacher who took the chance of losing a student to speak up with the truth. I would never forget how he had helped me. I would never forget how good he was. 

I would put more effort into my homework and hope to impress my master as much as possible.