As for the beetles that love gnawing on crops, the nearly extinct wild rabbits and mice near the fields, and the obnoxious birds, they were depicted on the clay boards like wanted criminals.
To help the natives accurately understand the process of plants from seed to maturity, Chen Zhou racked his brains. With his limited botanical knowledge, he drew the entire transformation from seeds rooting and sprouting, growing robustly, flowering and bearing fruit, to finally wilting and dying.
After sketching the final stroke and taking a sip of water, Chen Zhou felt immensely exhausted.
He originally wanted to push through and illustrate content such as composting, fertilizing, watering, and pruning tree species like apricot and orange trees as well.
But his usual paintings were for relaxation, drawing whatever he felt inspired to create, producing works rich in beauty and artistry.
