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Dou Xizhen, a farmer from Tianjin's suburbs who little more than a primary school education, has never had the chance to travel to the famous Dunhuang Grottoes in Northwest China's Gansu Province, but a number of the figures he depicts in his paintings evoke images from Buddhist murals found in the caves. In one sense Dou is the farmer painter. His subject matter comes from the countryside, rural landscapes, the lives of farmers, local customs and folk tales, and all of it is painted in what appears to be a down-to-earth peasant style. But underneath the surface, there are some strange things going on - subtly exaggerated or deformed figures and objects - which have garnered Dou a fair amount of critical acclaim. In most of his paintings, the dominant features are the strong bright colors and a technique that combines traditional Chinese painting, woodcut and paper-cut. Less obvious but just as important are the semi-hidden figures, some naked, which protrude from the traditional context of the painting. Critics have commented that Dou's works boast rich romantic flavor and capture the essence of Chinese folk arts. Dou began painting when he was a child. Born into a poor family, he had no money to buy paper and pens and so he began by sketching on the ground with a stick. His favorite early subjects included wind, crops and flowing water. He recalls copying the ice patterns frozen on the windows in winter and watching clouds move and change after rain. It was these clouds that made the largest imprint on the boy's mind, inspiring the fairy maiden sketches that have become characteristic of his work. When Dou was less than 20, he was forced to fend for himself after four of his family members were persecuted to death during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76). The young man lived with his younger brother, the only other family member who survived. The two suffered from humiliation, hunger and misery. But no matter how adverse the circumstances, Dou never stopped painting. When the village head sent him away to do labor, he carried his pen with him. It is astounding to learn of the hardships and frustrations Dou has experienced in his 40 years as an artist. He looks younger than his actual age and his painting exude a light-hearted happiness. Dou explains: "I regard every injustice like a cloud that will eventually move away and dissipate. I always feel delight and smile because I don't owe anything to anybody." Dou's works have been displayed in Tianjin and Beijing as well as overseas. In 1995, the artist presented two of his paintings, entitled "Soul of the World Mother" and "Global Women Enjoy Bathing," to the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women held in Beijing. Another piece - "Fairy Maiden in Water" -won the silver medal at the Calligraphy and Painting Competition across the Taiwan Straits in 1996. "Pine and Crane, Symbol of Longevity," a typical peasant piece, won the gold medal in 1999 from the Overseas Chinese Artists Association of the United States under the World Cultural and Arts Research Society. Judges claimed it authentically reflected the spirit of Chinese farmers. A few of his works are now a part of collections in museums around the globe, including some in Hong Kong and Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, France and the United States. The list of Dou's positions and titles is impressive: Member of the Chinese Artists Association, honorable consultant to the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, senior honorable academician in Singapore and guest professor at the Japanese State Arts and Calligraphy Institution. More impressive, however, is the fact that Dou does all this in addition to farming. With an annual income no more than 5,000 yuan (US$604), Dou has to work on his field all day and paint at night. Art doesn't come cheap. Earlier last year, Dou was invited to attend an art show in Hong Kong but he could not afford the 4,500 yuan (US$543) in travel costs. His son has even asked him to quit, claiming Dou's obsession with art might eventually rob them of their house. But Dou says he cannot part with pen. His brain always floods with endless streams of pictures that scream to be put down on paper. The most recent of these pictures has become a depiction of his home town done on a seven-meter scroll. Dou's other plans include publishing an album and holding a solo art show. He even has dreams to tour around the country or go abroad to enrich his work. In order to do this, he will have to contract more land and increase his farming.