Zhao Baomin's Freehand Landscape - Research on the Art of Famous Chinese Painters

Author: Jia Dejiang, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Zhao Baomin, styled Sishan, was born in 1947 into a farming family at the southern foot of Xiangshan in Beijing. He is currently a member of the Beijing Branch of the China Artists Association. Since childhood, he has had a deep love for painting and began self-studying. He has copied the works of renowned landscape painters from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, accompanied by reading and reflecting on their techniques, often losing sleep and forgetting meals in his pursuit of artistic insight. Gradually, he became deeply fascinated with the modern and contemporary masters Huang Binhong, Lu Yangshao, and Chen Zizhuang, delving into the essence of art over the years. Later, he traveled across the famous mountains and rivers of his homeland and received guidance from distinguished painters such as Cheng Zenguo, Li Chunmei, Long Rui, and Wang Yong, beginning his creative career.
A painter's reputation is generally determined by their creative practice and, primarily, the artistic achievements reflected in their works. However, in today's society, while many painters live up to their fame, others do not. There are two main reasons for this. One is as lamented by Shi Tao: "Some artistic endeavors may thunder and shake the world at one time but become entirely different in later generations." The other is that some painters achieve great artistic heights but remain relatively obscure, only gaining recognition and acclaim through historical evaluation. The reasons behind this are quite complex. For instance, these later-generation painters may immerse themselves in painting, dedicate themselves to learning, remain indifferent to fame and fortune, and avoid seeking recognition. Despite their high artistic accomplishments, their works may only be accessible to a few due to various circumstances within a certain time and scope, making it difficult to judge them solely by "reputation."
Of course, artists with genuine talent and the ability to innovate will ultimately not be forgotten by history. As long as they possess exceptional art, it will inevitably withstand the test of time.