(Minghui.org) Through reading Master's lecture “Teaching the Fa at the Discussion on Creating Fine Art,” I realized that throughout history, no matter how many classic artworks there have been or how many schools of art have come into being, they are all for the same purpose of laying the foundation for the Fa-rectification and saving sentient beings today. Such art forms include painting, calligraphy, sculpture, etc. This is true in both Eastern and Western societies.
Dafa practitioners who specialize in fine art have on their shoulders a mission to introduce Dafa and clarify the facts to save sentient beings with their special talent. The process of carrying out such a mission also concerns our own cultivation, how we fulfill our pledge, and how to walk our path righteously, so that we can also inspire this sector to help return it to its traditional orthodox art forms.
I was deeply moved after watching Shen Yun Performing Arts and seeing the paintings in the Art of Zhen-Shan-Ren exhibition. I was also inspired by the artworks by Dafa disciples and reading sharing articles on the Minghui website, and I started to create some works of fine art myself.
In the process, Master and Dafa gave me endless wisdom and inspiration. The technique I use is also detailed and accurate, which I handle skillfully. I only need to have a wish and put it into practice, and Master strengthens me to finish the piece. The effect far surpasses my imagination and skills. My cultivation has been improving at the same time. Thank you, Master!
I'm very grateful to fellow practitioners who use art in making truth-clarification materials to spread the truth to people, because only by us cooperating as one body can such artworks play their role in saving sentient beings.
I also have many shortcomings and regrets. As I became a professional artist, most of my early paintings and calligraphy were done according to what my clients wanted. I didn’t put much thought into the relationship between what I painted and my cultivation, between the artworks and their viewers, or the basis for creating such artworks. I didn't do much in clarifying the truth through fine art and also missed many opportunities to save people.
Through Fa study, I saw my attachments to selfishness and fear. I was being irresponsible and treated art, which can help spread the truth and resolve confusion, as merely something to make a living.
I started to rectify myself according to the standards of the Fa and let go of those degenerate modern notions and techniques through cultivation. I became clear-headed about specific characteristics and requirements of orthodox Eastern and Western paintings.
Through further study, I abandoned the degenerate style of painting that combines Chinese and Western techniques, and started to use pure traditional painting techniques to express beauty, purity and brightness, to do away with the violence, extremes, sharpness and madness imbedded in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) culture.
As I started to do that, I noticed that my heart became calmer and calmer and my appearance more peaceful. My paintings also became more and more refined and elegant. I regard my profession as part of my cultivation, and people also seem to appreciate my paintings more and more.
When I talk with my clients, I try my best to spread the divine culture and to do away with the CCP's atheism. At the same time, I clarify the facts about Falun Dafa and encourage them to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Sometimes, I also give them truth-clarification materials.
Most of my clients agree with my creative ideas for the artwork. Sometimes, I also give them calligraphy or paintings to replace the ones hanging in their homes that are full of deviant CCP influence. When in class or sharing with other artists, I also try to make good use of such opportunities to clarify the truth to them.
I feel that as Dafa practitioners, we should validate the Fa instead of limiting ourselves merely to traditional painting techniques and calligraphy. Some fellow practitioners have very good painting skills and technique, but they only copy ancient paintings or write ancient poems; some have been influenced by the lowly market demand and have painted many vulgar, degenerate paintings with modern concepts, and have gone along with the corrupted cultural market. I feel that this is something we really shouldn't do.
Even if we can paint with skills as high as those in the Song Dynasty and have completely acquired the ancient techniques, we are still only validating the past. If we are not validating the Fa in our paintings, then we would have failed to honor our responsibility and the arrangement made for us.
I felt very sad when I heard that some fellow practitioners who had very good painting skills passed away or became paralyzed. It's such a loss, at this time when we need more people to validate the Fa.
Such incidents have also brought about some negative impact on the validation of Dafa. We should reflect upon ourselves and check whether we have failed to walk our cultivation path righteously and dig out the root cause of the problem.
I have noticed that there are not many works of fine art on the Minghui website, let alone professional paintings. I hope that more fellow practitioners in the fine art sector can make good use of their professional skills and do well in validating the Fa. Walking righteously on the path of fine art is also cultivating ourselves.
The above is my personal understanding and suggestions at my current stage. Please kindly point out anything improper in what I've shared.
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Category: Improving Oneself
