March 29, 2016. 48 x 55cm.

I won the fame of big leap improvement in Master Yim’s studio with my President Franklin scripture life drawing work. 

Classmates at that studio were mostly famous Taiwanese painters, college art teachers or well trained artists. Some of them had followed the master for 20 years and they always mentioned (complained) that they had invested their life and over $2M Taiwan Dollars in the tutorial fee throughout these years. ($2M!!!! ).

Overseas students like myself searched Master Yim from Internet and we’re all the keenest learners who left home town and flied to a foreign city to learn from master.

All in a nutshell, the studio had a special atmosphere – a good amount of “witty” people working very hard to strive for self actualisation and excellence – forming a tensed weird atmosphere. They didn’t  come to the class to play, entertain or relax. They came to fight.

At my first lessons, frankly I were the junior and probably the weakest student. My lovely fellow classmates, despite the friendly reputation of Taiwanese, never spoke to me. There was even no eye contact. At first I thought they were artistic and self centered. I cared very less about people, friendship and this special relationship. I only concerned with my studies. Therefore I didn’t bother to find out reasons or to break the ice.

Later on, which was the recent two weeks, something happened. 

I improved.

I sensed that people were changing. They came to check my drawing during the class. They asked me questions! They talked to me. Some took me to lunch. Some brought me home made breakfast. Some offered me assistance of different small things. Some added me in LINE – a popular communications application in Taiwan. 

All in a sudden, I became popular in the class. I were flattered. I were also proud of myself I finally improved and proved myself to all these people. 

My work was my ambassador to the world. From now onwards.

This was a blank new understanding of people behaviour and a blank new experience for me.