In the Juancheng Elderly University, there is a 72-year-old art teacher who has been teaching here voluntarily since the school was founded in 2005. Before retirement, he was a government official who had never touched a paintbrush, but later he taught himself painting, won awards repeatedly, and was invited to teach at the elderly university.
"Old people should have an upward spirit after retirement. They shouldn't just play mahjong at home," said Dong Zhulin. After retiring and finding his life too idle, he decided to learn something new. He had always liked calligraphy and painting as a child but never had time to learn it, so he picked up a brush for the first time when he was nearly sixty.
"At that time, I couldn't understand the theory, didn't know much about painting, and didn't know how to start. So I bought materials and copied them. Some people liked my paintings and asked me for them. I framed them and gave them away. I spent time and money on it, but I was happy because I felt a sense of achievement," Dong Zhulin said. He studied painting very hard, and after a few years, his painting skills improved significantly, winning him multiple awards in elderly calligraphy and painting competitions.
When the Juancheng Elderly University was established, they needed an art teacher and approached Dong Zhulin. Without hesitation, he agreed, but he soon realized that teaching wasn't easy. "It's not easy to stand on the three-foot podium! At home, I paint with a bent waist, but on the podium, I have to stand up. The way I hold the brush is different, and it's hard to paint. When I got home, I practiced by waving the brush in the air against the wall," Dong Zhulin said.
By the time Dong Zhulin became comfortable teaching on the podium, his health began to deteriorate. "I was fine during the day, but I always felt uncomfortable at night. My children suggested I go to the hospital. It turned out to be a heart attack!" In 2007, Dong Zhulin, then nearly seventy, underwent heart stent surgery. His family worried about his health and advised him to stop teaching, but he insisted on continuing.
His wife, unable to let go, accompanied him to class. She listened while he taught. "If he has an episode, the students may not be able to take care of him, so I bring nitroglycerin tablets." His wife said, "After listening for a long time, I learned how to paint myself. Look, this painting is mine, and many people can't believe it!"
For Dong Zhulin, standing on the podium isn't just about teaching students basic knowledge and cultivating their interest in painting; it's also a process of learning and improving for himself. "In the past, I had little exposure to painting theory, but in recent years, I've had to strengthen my theoretical study to teach the students, so my own painting skills have improved significantly over these six years."
Reporter: Aihui Li
This article was first published on [Bead Bracelet · Xianyunxuan] http://www.xyx-gy.com/archives/category/chanpin/gudiangongyi, [Calligraphy and Painting Wholesale · Xianyunxuan], specializing in the creation of calligraphy and painting crafts, operating in calligraphy and painting wholesale, bead wholesale, bead bracelets, landscape paintings, Chinese painting wholesale, Chinese calligraphy, ink brush calligraphy, and other high-quality artworks and hand-carved wooden products. Professional quality, trustworthy, welcome to discuss cooperation. For more detailed information, please visit the official website: http://www.xyx-gy.com!
[Chinese Friendly Link Platform http://www.cnlianjie.com/ provides quick friendly link exchanges and transactions; webmasters can freely post exchange links, sell links to make money, and buy links to increase weight on our platform.]
Related theme articles:
- He traveled through impoverished mountainous area middle schools, looking for students who needed help.
- The origin of Chinese art painting and Tang Dynasty landscape painting.