He Xingzhang

He is He Xingzhang, a farmer-painter over fifty years old from Hedonggou Village in Gaojiabao Town. Entering He Xingzhang’s home, you’ll find the courtyard spotlessly clean, with several potted bonsai arranged in the corners. On the walls of the main hall hang numerous calligraphy and painting works, filling every corner of the courtyard and hall with an elegant atmosphere. The basement serves as his studio—a single painting desk, stained with ink and colorful pigments into a unique watercolor-like pattern, neatly arranged alongside brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, bundled stacks of newspapers and books, and his own artworks. His deep affection for these items is evident.

　　Since childhood, He Xingzhang has been multi-talented with broad interests, especially fond of calligraphy. His passion for calligraphy laid a solid foundation for his later painting endeavors. He says that brushwork, composition, and aesthetic sensibility in calligraphy are essentially相通 with those in painting.

　　He Xingzhang recalls that his transition from calligraphy to painting was accidental. In October 2014, while on a business trip to Handan and chatting with friends, he mentioned his interest in calligraphy and painting. A friend from the National Painting Academy asked him to paint something to see his skill and style. After receiving brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, He painted a piece titled “Green Bamboo.” “I never expected my friend to praise it endlessly, saying my painting had great charm and unique qualities, and encouraging me to pursue painting seriously,” He recalled. That compliment gave He confidence and deepened his obsession with painting.

　　Starting in 2015, He Xingzhang began independently studying and exploring, absorbing strengths from various calligraphy and painting works. During free moments, he communicated with fellow artists nationwide via WeChat and phone calls to improve his skills, gaining profound insights. Initially, plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums were his preferred subjects. Though exhausted from daily work, he would often stretch out rice paper late into the night to paint. To him, the “Four Gentlemen”—plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum—each possess distinct elegance and beauty, and he wanted to capture their spirit through his brush. However, a seasoned artist advised him to focus on depicting loess landscape and local characteristics, as such works would be more compelling.

　　At the time, He Xingzhang worked near the Shimao Ruins (Shimao Village). In recent years, due to the TV drama “The Ordinary World” and the archaeological excavation of the Shimao Ruins, Gaojiabao has gained public attention. As a local resident, he used his brush to document and narrate the transformation of Gaojiabao Ancient Town and the daily lives of older generations, expressing his love for this land through art.

　　His work and living environment provided fertile ground for creativity. When inspiration struck, he immediately pulled out his sketchbook to capture key elements. Sometimes, seized by inspiration but too busy with work and life, he couldn’t immediately translate ideas into paintings. In the latter half of 2015, he resolutely quit his job and devoted all his time and energy to artistic creation. He jokes: “My true painting career began at age fifty.”

　　Leaving behind a well-paid job brought ample time but also criticism. At first, people mocked him; even his wife, Gao Zhao-di, thought he’d lost his mind, saying it was pure fantasy for a man of fifty to suddenly take up painting as a livelihood. But He firmly believed: “One may live in extreme poverty, but one must not lack dreams. It’s never too late to start striving for a dream.”

　　As time passed, the over-fifty-year-old He Xingzhang, driven by his passion for painting, evolved from the naive clumsiness of early depictions of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum to the lively, delicate style of rural scenes—from meticulous gongbi to spontaneous xieyi—all learned from ancient techniques in books and enriched by personal innovation. Of all his works, he is most proud of his panoramic painting of his hometown, Hedonggou Village. Last December, after spending three days reacquainting himself with his village, he spent over twenty days creating a 7.2-meter scroll titled “Loess Landscape,” capturing the full panorama of Hedonggou. “I grew up there; I have a special bond with every blade of grass, every brick and tile. Creating this piece flowed naturally and filled me with passion,” he said. Once, while painting until 3 a.m., he didn’t notice the stove had gone out until he shivered from the cold and realized how late it was.

　　Art, like farming, yields what you sow. Today, He Xingzhang’s paintings have not only stunned those who once ridiculed him but have also been sold across Hebei, Shanxi, and beyond, with individual pieces fetching up to 200,000 yuan. He says: “Painting demands perfection. Never hand someone a careless piece—even if it takes longer, quality must be guaranteed. I write down every commission so I won’t forget.” As the saying goes, “Art reflects character,” and this holds true for He Xingzhang.

　　He Xingzhang says that although he never received formal art education, through countless acts of writing and painting, he has developed his own understanding of calligraphy and art. To date, he has created over a thousand pieces, mostly featuring his beloved plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, along with local customs and traditions—including farmers working, the evolution of Gaojiabao, and the Shimao Ruins—all natural sources of inspiration.

　　Art knows no bounds, and diligence is rewarded by heaven. Today, as Vice Chairman of the China Yi Yang Calligraphy and Painting Academy, a painter at the Lishan Creation Center of the Shaanxi Artists Association, and a member of the Yulin Artists Association, he dedicates each day to painting. When tired, he returns home to enjoy time with his grandchildren; when inspired, he resumes work in his studio. He regards painting as the supreme joy of life. “Painting doesn’t just enrich my life—it shapes me in multiple ways, making me more optimistic and happier!”