These were the two main pieces of advice that eight Chinese contemporary female artists passed on to students from Mount Clear College on a visit to the school last week.

The artists, from the Chinese Contemporary Women Artists' Association, exhibited 16 new artworks and talked about their artistic inspirations and culture with staff and students in the school's Confucius Classroom, which showcases Chinese culture.

Artist Fang Yuqin said she had never learnt painting but started to do graffiti five years ago.

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During the visit the group visited art classes and demonstrated their various techniques of drawing bamboo and birds, helping students produce their own paintings and also dropped in to other classes and dance sessions.

While in Ballarat the Chinese Contemporary Women Artists' Association also held a workshop at the Art Gallery of Ballarat as part of the Harmony Festival. The school has close ties to China, teaching Chinese language and culture from years seven to 12 and taking regular school trips to the country.

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