Comments On Lao Pu’s Paintings

“Lao Pu” is his art name. His real name is Bai Jinhai. He is from Tanddong, near Beijing. When was still a child, he used to farm in the fields and herd in the green hills; he was famous in the village since he loved drawing and depicted livestock, vegetables, fruits and people very well. In youth, he met the famous Beijing artist Lin Kai who came to the countryside to sketch and lodged in his house.  Lin Kai saw he had great ambition and taught him painting. After his teacher went back to Beijing, he often went to Beijing to visit his teacher on foot to study painting and greatly improved his skills. Later, he was enrolled into Department of Chinese painting of China Central Academy of Fine Arts when college entrance examination was restored. After four years’ study, his refreshing and simple painting style has got fashionable.  He was the most talented in the college. Since he and I were both students of Lin Kai and studied in Department of Chinese painting of China Central Academy of Fine Arts , we have built our brotherly friendship. After graduation, he returned to his hometown. I heard that he had been doing business; In recent years, he picked up his brush again. Then we got in touch with each other again. We often got down to the south to see plum blossoms together. I often saw him linger on the vegetable gardens. ..

Art Front  by Chen Ping