Jinyun artist transforms straw into paintings

A vibrant straw painting created by Li Liying. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Ordinary straw from wheat fields is being transformed into stunning straw paintings, fashioned by the hands of 60-year-old artist Li Liying.

They can be found in a small store that displays the straw paintings, located in Bashimen Street in Jinyun county – administered by Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province – where Li has devoted herself to the folk art.

Li was born into a family that practiced the folk art of paper cutting and for decades she has been promoting the local paper-cutting culture. But she has also been exploring other folk-art forms including straw paintings.

Various designs including landscapes, animals and architecture are represented in Li's pieces. It is said by many enthusiasts that it's amazing that such an extremely common material can create so many different and beautiful works.

Although there are very few people creating straw paintings in Jinyun, Li believes that this folk art, which is eco-friendly and blessed with both natural and humanistic characteristics, will definitely grow in popularity because of its unique charm.

"I also want to introduce straw painting into schools, so that more local children in Jinyun will know about this art," Li said.

She added that in the future, she also plans to use bamboo shoot shells and reed stalks to integrate the concept of environmental protection into artistic creations and to pass on the folk art better.