Liu Tiejian, a farmer from Pingdingshang city in central China's Henan province, has succeeded in painting with natural seeds.

Local newspaper the Henan Daily, reports that the 41-year-old has been an art-lover since his childhood. Along with teaching himself how to do pencil sketches, water colors and traditional Chinese paintings, he also developed his own methods for doing pyrography and egg-carving.

Inspired by a TV show, Liu Tiejian started painting with natural seeds in 2005. The specially-processed seeds are glued onto cardboard, glass or wood blocks. Through careful design, the natural texture and color of the seeds form artistic compositions, combining elements of both traditional Chinese and western painting aesthetics.

As his seed-painting craft matured, Liu Tiejian began to grow experimental plants in order to collect their seeds of varying color. He also taught his skill to fellow villagers, saying that he was quite willing to teach those who also love art.

Liu Tiejian, a farmer from Pingdingshang city in central China's Henan Province, uses pincers and toothpicks to paint a running horse with natural seeds, in this undated photo. This undated photo shows a picture called "A Kid's Fun", which is made from natural seeds such as millet, sesame, rapeseed and shallot. The artist Liu Tiejian, is a farmer from Pingdingshang city in central China's Henan Province. 
 
(CRI.cn June 13, 2007)