Art helps paint a picture of prosperity in rural area

"Corn is a typical locally grown food," Jiang explains. "I think it can best show who we really are."

Jiang admits coyly that she was somewhat embarrassed at the beginning by the moniker "Sister Corn"."But then I realized this is how the public recognizes my work and effort, and now I'm very pleased when people address me like that."

Before she took up painting as a "serious hobby", Jiang's daily life was a bit monotonous, with routine farm work, house work as well as parenting. "Now more colors have come into my life," Jiang says. "And it isn't bad at all to win honors and earn more money!"Jiang is among more than a thousand farmers who have benefited from courses provided in the art training camps established in Zitong township, which in turn are the result of a province-wide "rural revitalization through art" campaign in Zhejiang. Since 2019, when Dujing village became one of the first villages to take part, over 20 prominent artists have been attracted to the town, setting up permanent shop and offering regular tutoring to local residents.