The first time that I wanted to draw outdoors, to paint nature, I went first on a Sunday to Gulangyu Island to find some inspiration. Although I like that island because there are no cars there, I found nothing that inspired me. I felt as though humans destroyed the island, changing it into a supermarket island for tourists.

On Monday I decided to go to the beach, to a place where I like to swim. I like this beach very much. So I sat on a dilapidated boat on the beach and wanted to draw a little fishing boat floating on the sea. It was in the afternoon, and two fishermen from this boat came and looked at what I was drawing. They of course recognized their boat and I explained by gesture that it was not easy to draw it because the little boat was moving a lot. So they gave me a large smile, like, “we know, we work in it,” and then went away. Great, now I have a feeling to work from in drawing their little boat. I started to draw but as usual in China people seeing a foreigner came over to me, saying hello, what are you drawing, how long have you been in China, Do you like Chinese food, how much money do you make, etc. I wanted to draw not to talk, so I explained to them people that I would like very much to be alone, then they went away. As every five minutes another group of people came up to me saying the same things, I decided to leave the beach, angry that I did not get to draw the little boat.

On Tuesday, I woke up earlier than usual, and I remembered the little boat, so I decided to go to the beach again, earlier this time, with the hope that the little boat would still be there. Nobody was at the beach, great, and the little boat was there in exactly the same place, probably waiting for me, and offering herself to me, showing me her best aspect to draw. Thank you, little boat. I've caught you on canvas now, but I still remember how you were moving yesterday; so I painted you from your best side, as you prefer, but I painted you moving as I saw you moving yesterday.