Child, deer and pomegranate tree, painted by Li Yansheng. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

To learn the life of deer, Li visited many deer farms across the world, as far as Sarnath, the Buddhist sacred land of India. He’d already consistently watched elks in Beijing’s Nanhaizi Elks Field. He is so attached to deer that sometimes he forgets anything else.

According to Li, the expression of spirit is a painting’s key to success. He tactfully adds traditional spirit to his modern deer paintings by mixing water, ink and color, which helps to achieve a harmonious beauty of strength and rhythm. Appreciating his art feels as if you were enjoying a national concert or wandering in a peaceful village.