The art room is well-equipped with plaster busts for basic sketching, as well as an assortment of painting tools and supplies in the adjacent storage room at the Gala Boarding Elementary School at the Gala township of Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province. [photo by Luo Wangshu/CHINA DAILY]

Enriching the lives of boarders

The school, housing 1,314 students, including about 600 boarders, has seen a remarkable shift in student engagement.

"Wu's presence has greatly supported our art education and enriched the lives of our boarding students," said Mao Chengjun, the school principal.

Wu takes only Sunday mornings off to gather inspiration outdoors. By 2 pm, he returns to school and informs the students that they can come to the art room to paint starting at 3 pm, according to the principal.

Wu, a graduate in oil painting, believes his primary role is to guide and inspire.

"I encourage students to draw confidently, as many haven't had professional guidance before and aren't familiar with many art tools," he said.

He has started providing sketching lessons to 12 students, observing notable progress in their work. One student, he highlighted, showed remarkable improvement after just three attempts at drawing basic shapes. "This is a very talented student," Wu said.

Wu's approach goes beyond mere instruction; he aims to foster self-confidence among local teachers who previously lacked professional training in art education.

"Art is innate, and many teachers here understand beauty but lack confidence. I hope to convey this idea and encourage them to inspire their students to create," he said.

Principal Mao supports Wu's vision, recognizing the impact of having a professional art educator.

"Students have shared how Wu has taught them not just to appreciate art but also how to start creating it. We hope to continue utilizing the art studio effectively even after his departure," he added.