By Jinsheng Chang/ Canada
I have been studying painting for over 50 years. Although I have explored landscapes, figures, flowers, and birds, the art world always prefers my "Snow Peony" pieces, considering them particularly vivid. There are two reasons for this:
1. Compassionate Heart
Fellow Maitreya followers, are you able to take the ‘Pure of Mouth’ vow? Because all animals have life. With a compassionate heart, one cannot bear to kill. When I am sketching flowers, they seem to be swaying in the wind and waving to me! Over time, I have come to feel that plants are also alive, just like animals. In the lifetime of a plant, it encounters and endures the wind, sun, rain, dew, mist, frost, snow, and many other conditions. Plants welcome the morning sun, fear the scorching sun at noon, dance in the wind, sway in the evening breeze, and curl up to sleep at night. Flowers have similar emotional expressions as human beings, such as joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Flowers can communicate and connect with us. As a result, it is natural to draw flowers that are brimming with life!
2. The Impermanent Mind
Teachers have told me that, in terms of the theory of art, spring flowers are no match in comparison to winter landscapes. I recall a time in 1990 when I was studying in New York, the flowers were blooming in April when a sudden wind and snowstorm struck. It was such a shock, just like how life is full of uncertainty and unpredictability.
On that day, I immediately created my first “Snow Peony painting, accompanied by a verse:
Spring flowers are like snow in winter,
As life is impermanent.
Only by enduring hardships can one cherish blessings,
Truly attaining a wonderful life!
So far, this style of painting does not exist in China. I am very grateful to the Divine Mother for Her timely lesson, revealing the wisdom of impermanence and inspiring me. This experience has opened my mind and enriched my artwork.
