JIANG QINGBEI is a well-known oil painter in Dafen, Longgang District, and also serves as a vice president of the Longgang District Association of Literary and Art Circles.

    In more recent years, though, Jiang has built a reputation in Dafen as a painting instructor for people who are physically challenged.

    “I was rejected by Jiang when I told him that I wanted to learn oil painting from him,” said a junior painter in Dafen Oil Painting Village who preferred not to be named. “I wanted so much to learn from him that I was willing to pay a dear tuition fee, but he turned me down. He said he would only take students who are handicapped.”

    For the past eight years, Jiang has taken in around 100 disabled students who are deaf or have other physical defects. All his classes are free of charge and he provides all the paints and brushes his students use.

    “I didn’t start offering these training classes for money,” said Jiang, adding that the reason he only instructs those who are physically disabled is because he doesn’t have much time for other people. As the president of the Painters’ Association of Dafen Oil Painting Village, he also wants some time to paint for himself.

    Jiang said he would continue coaching the disabled junior painters for as long as he can.

    (SD News)