学画，不一定要进美术学校或学院，这并不是说美术不需要由院校传授。美术，如同其他艺术门类一样，有“技”和“道”两个层面，都可以通过学校加以培育，但这不是唯一的途径。尤其当美术教育形成凝固、僵化的体系之后，对有才华的青年人的深造反而有害无益。再进一步说，不论绘画中的“技”还是“道”，也是可以通过自学这条途径获得的。
自学者要取得成功，恐怕有两个不可或缺的条件：一是天资，二是顽强的努力。天资之所以重要，因为这是基因，是人与生俱来的先天条件，十分宝贵。不过，如果认为一个人仅凭天赋便能成才，那是不现实的。后天的努力，勤奋、执着，锲而不舍的追求，在成功的道路会起决定性的作用。
有机会看到李雄伊的绘画作品，他是一位靠自学一步步地走进艺术的青年。从他的速写、油画人物和静物看，他有敏锐的艺术感觉，能捕捉对象外在形和内在神的特征，线条流畅而富于变化，色调和谐而丰富，构图也不落俗套、自有特色。特别引起我注意的是，雄伊在线、形和色彩等形式语言中，流露出自己炽热的感情，这种感情出自内心，毫不矫饰，使人感到自然、亲切。显然，雄伊是一位有艺术天分和悟性的人。他通过观摩前人的作品，通过自己的实践，很快领悟到绘画的基本原理，掌握了作画的技巧，在作品中自由表达面对客观自然的真实感受。
更让人感动的是，李雄伊很勤奋，大概他在绘画中寻找到了无穷的乐趣吧，他画得那样轻松自在！他还自觉不自觉地在探索各种表现方法，或迷恋于直观的印象，或沉醉于幻想中的漫游，或发出哲理的思考……在他的作品中我们可以看到他纯真、清彻而激动的心灵。
只要李雄伊不断提高各方面的修养，永远保持对自然和艺术的虔诚，他的绘画前途是光明的，我认为。
文/ 邵大箴
2010年7月于慧谷寓所
Innocence and passion——The paintings of Xiongyi Li
It is possible to become an artist without formal training and education. There are many skills that need to be developed to become a good painter. Painting, like other arts, has two levels, one is skill, and the other one is measurement. These skills can be taught at a formal art school or college. It is possible to learn certain skills to become a good artist. However, in fact the formal education may stifle the intrinsic creativity of a talent artist, especially when the Arts Education becomes a solidified and rigid system. The technical skills of composition, placement and color mixing can be learned in a formal Arts Education program or informally by yourself.
To be successful as an artist, it is essential that you possess both talent and persistence. The talent is something that great artists are born with; often you will hear the phrase “he was born to be an artist”. To become truly great, you cannot rely on talent alone, it is also important that you work hard and hone your talents. To hone your talents you must practice your talents and skills on a regular basis.
Xiongyi Li is an artist who learned by self study, using a step by step learning guide to add skills to his naturally occurring talent. When you see Xiongyi Li’s paintings, you will observe that he has a keen sense of how to paint in a manner which captures the object’s shape and also the internal characteristics. His brush strokes create lines that are smooth and richly varied, the usage of colors are dramatic and yet harmonious at the same time. The composition of his painting is also unique and unconventional.
What attracted me the most were Xiongyi Li’s composition, lines and color choices which reflect his enthusiastic attitude towards life. These enthusiasms came from the heart without pretense, and come across as completely natural and friendly. Xiongyi Li has a natural talent and has proven himself as a savvy artist. Using the power of observation, he studied great works of previous artists and learned what great art looks like. He realized the basic principles and skills of drawing. Next he practiced his natural creative talents and developed it into a skill. His artwork reflects his own feelings for freedom and nature.
The important thing which makes me emotionally is that Xiongyi Li enjoys painting; when it is fun to do something it does not feel like hard work, it is more like playing. So when he is painting, he is having fun. He draws with such ease and it comes very natural to him. He is always sub-consciously exploring a variety of painting methods. From being obsessed with visual impression or indulging in fantasy art, or includes a measure of philosophy into his work. In his art, we can see his innocence and passion.
I think about that all the time. If he continues to do the following: continue training his natural born talents and maintain his creativity and heavenly-mindedness in nature and art, Xiongyi Li has a very bright future as a painter,
Dajian Shao
HuiGU Apartment
July, 2010