Qijiang farmers' journey into creative fields

Li was introduced to the art at 17, when folk paintings started to flourish across the country in the early 1980s. Li Yili, a passionate artist who was in charge of the Qijiang Cultural Center, wanted to enrich the cultural lives of local farmers. He mobilized local artists to establish over 20 rural cultural stations that offer free printmaking classes in some 10 Qijiang's townships such as Dongxi, Ganshui and Zuantang.

The teenage girl, who had never taken a painting class and had to do farm work all year round but could hardly make ends meet, showed keen interest in printmaking. Two years later, she became one of the first of over 300 locally trained farmer creators.

"I had only seen local people paintings on rocks before, while this emerging art form had suddenly made our lives more colorful and vibrant," says Li Chengzhi.

Art comes from life. Li Chengzhi's bright, colorful hues and unconstrained style on themes like farming, children, joyful festival celebrations and local legends, soon became popular.

In 1992, a customer's order to make children's prints for an elementary school earned her the first reward of 25 yuan ($3.45).