Another village with hidden flowers and bright willows
【Hope always exists】1
▲Maineng’s paintings and studio.
I clearly remember that I set my life ambition at the age of fourteen. My dream was to become a painter. Years have passed, and now I am living in a dream.
As a full-time art worker, because of my unstable income, I am often questioned: "How do you make a living?" Once this question is raised, it is the best time for me to start witnessing God's grace!
An elder once said: "Money is courage." My elder sister also often said: "Money is not everything, but nothing can be done without money." In this way, wouldn't it mean that I am courageous and incompetent?
Laura, an American painting friend who shared my studio with me many years ago, also said this: "If I were like you (referring to being alone, without a partner, without savings, without a house, she wouldn't have much that I don't have) ⋯⋯) I must have been scared to death!"
I deeply understand that the reason why I haven’t been scared to death by myself is that I am raised by God!
The Domineering Daughter’s Prayer
When I was studying painting at New York Studio School in New York, I was very busy working with charcoal and oil paints all day long. By the third semester, my savings were all gone and I was left with nothing, and I had to face the struggle of suspending my studies. Both parents passed away at that time. Although there were brothers and sisters, they each had their own families to support, and water far away could not save the fire nearby. Like most people, we call on God only when we lose our safety barrier.
Sitting by the lakeside of Central Park, staring blankly at the clattering remote-controlled boats on the water, my head was in a state of confusion... Should I pack up and go back? But I no longer have a home.
"Didn't you bring me out? What do you want me to do now?"
"Who asked you to give me a rich sense of color and keen observation? Why did you make the blood of a painter flow in my veins? If I can't paint, why did you make me like this in the first place?"
"In short, you only have one life, you have to take care of it yourself!"
All I can say is that Heavenly Father loves me very much and listened to this "domineering" daughter's prayer.
God used a pair of brothers named Jian from my mother's association to help me solve my dilemma with wisdom and love. Wisdom - because they persuaded you like this: "We are willing to lend you money, isn't your biggest wish to paint? If you don't do it now, you will regret it in the future." Caring - a few years later, they sent the IOU by registered mail He said to me: "We have forgotten about this a long time ago. I just hope that you can paint healthily and happily. Everything is the grace of God." So, the high debt was canceled like this!
Start with ease and get bonuses
In addition to sending down rain during droughts to help me survive the difficulties, God also protected me from evil and unjust treatment, and gave me wit to pass the test.
In the year of graduation, one honor that all relevant art departments (undergraduate departments and graduate schools) in the school wanted to win was the Kahn Career Entry Awards. In the visual arts finals, only four candidates remained. I shared a showroom with another male classmate. Unexpectedly, the other party had evil intentions and secretly shone the light that originally belonged to me onto the wall of his work.
Fortunately, before I reviewed the paintings, I inspected the exhibition hall and discovered something fishy! Then someone was found to correct the light source and a "disaster" was avoided. As a result, I entered the finals representing "Visual Arts".
After the works are approved, individual interviews will be held, and three winners will be selected from representatives of each department.
The so-called individual interview, to put it bluntly, is to see what "personal charm" you have? Generally speaking, candidates majoring in drama or music usually win. A group of judges composed of representatives of professors from different departments sat around, their heartbeats beating rapidly... My intuition told me that no, this group of people was going to sleep, and they must cheer up.
Looking at the round chocolate biscuits on the table, I decided to put aside the advice that my instructor had given me in advance (he reminded me to act professionally). I prayed secretly in my heart, and after surrendering, I felt a sense of relief rising from my heart... No matter whether I win or lose, just give me back my appearance as myself! So I took a comfortable attitude and talked to the judges about the relationship between cooking and painting. During the conversation, the painting creation concept was naturally described. At the very least, it provoked bursts of laughter. Finally, got the bonus.
Although the Kang's Entrepreneurship Prize is nothing compared to other awards, it is a far-reaching symbol for a newly minted painter. God said to me through it: "Child, don't be afraid, no one can hurt you, as long as you bravely tell the sincere story in your heart, someone will listen. Go forward boldly! Because I will go with you."
It reminds me of the classic scene in the movie "The Last Crusade" - the feet must step out in the air first, and then the "road" will appear. I think it is really not easy for people like Laura who have everything to experience the transition from lack to abundance. The road to creation is like crossing the Jordan River. You must use the eyes of faith to welcome the scenery on the other side that you cannot yet see! Only in this way can we truly sing leisurely: There is no way out despite the mountains and rivers, and there is another village with dark flowers and bright flowers!