It is said that when Wu Daozi was a beginner in painting, he once took an ordinary painter as his teacher. Although the old painter didn't even leave his name in history, he knew a lot about the art of education. He coaxed and taught all his painting skills to the student Wu Daozi without reservation. When he found that his disciples' painting skills had surpassed his own, he suggested that Wu Daozi choose another normal school and continue his studies. What's more commendable is that he used the experience and lessons he summed up in his life to educate his disciples. If he wants to make outstanding achievements, he must break the routine and dare to take the road that others have not taken. When Wu Daozi was about to leave his master for a study tour, the old painter told him such a meaningful sentence: "Daozi, the master lived all his life, but he was just a country painter. Now your skills are really above mine. With your skill, you can naturally travel. " However, you should remember my words: if you want to succeed in your career, you must' break the routine and find another way'. "
The words "don't stick to the rules, find another way" are the crystallization of the old painter's hard work for half his life. He has been painting hard for many years, but he learned from his own lessons that if he wants to achieve something, he must be unconventional and bold. He told his disciples the lessons of this painstaking management without reservation, showing his tireless noble character. "Don't stick to the rules, find another way" has become the motto of Wu Daozi's lifelong study and struggle. He followed the teacher's road of constant innovation and progress.
After Wu Daozi left Mongolia to become a teacher, he first broke the old rules in his study according to the instruction of "not sticking to one pattern and finding another way". He didn't worship the painter as a teacher, but the calligrapher Zhang Xu as a teacher to learn creatively. Zhang Xu was a famous calligraphy master of Crazy Grass in Tang Dynasty. He was praised for his eclectic and innovative spirit. People praised him as "crazy", which is an affirmation of his creative spirit. Wu Daozi learned calligraphy from Zhang Xu, on the one hand, he absorbed nutrition from his cursive art, on the other hand, he learned Zhang Xu's creative spirit. After hard work, he finally combined painting and calligraphy into one, and pioneered the technique of "orchid leaf painting". When he finished this learning task and was ready to leave Zhang Xu, he told Zhang Xu his thoughts. He said: "My disciples had studied Dan Qing's paintings, but it's a pity that today's painting methods are out of date. Disciples aim at innovation. Fortunately, I occasionally came across the teacher's calligraphy, which was magnificent. I suddenly realized that if I can paint with calligraphy, I can change the painting style of the previous generation, so I worship my teacher. Now I'm leaving, I'm going to visit mountains and rivers, go to temples and re-create landscape painting skills! " Wu Daozi's bold creative spirit deeply admired Zhang Xu, who always dared to create without learning from the ancient method. He had to admit: "extremely smart and crazy, gave birth to a unique son!" " "
Later, following the instruction of Mr. Meng, Wu Daozi traveled the magnificent rivers and mountains of the motherland and learned from nature. Inspired and edified by the colorful nature, he created "splash-ink freehand landscape painting" without sketching, and eventually became a famous painter with pioneering spirit in the history of China fine arts.
The appearance of Wu Daozi is a glorious page in the history of figure painting in China. He absorbed folk and foreign painting styles and established a new national style. Wu Daozi is also honored as the "painting sage of one hundred generations".