The 21-year-old painter sits on the ground painting, surrounded by his peers alike who are suffused with an atmosphere of concentration in a classroom located in a bustling pedestrian street.

Tenzin, coming from the Shigatse Prefecture of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, began learning Thangka painting at the age of 15 in this pedestrian street in Shigatse, Tibet's second largest city.

Now, he is able to create his own works after six years of learning and help his teacher do some fundamental teaching work.

According to Tenzin, considering the complex and difficult creating techniques of Thangka, a painter has to spend at least four or five years learning the fundamentals of painting before he can create works.

Sidar, Tenzin's 38-year-old teacher, began his learning of Thangka painting even earlier when he was 11 years old. Painting for 27 years, Sidar becomes well-known in Thangka painting in the Shigatse Prefecture now.

He was one of the members painting murals for the palace hall of 10th Panchen Lama. Besides, heparticipated in the "2011 International Thangka Art Festival" as the representative of Shigatse.

Creating about 60 pieces of Thangka works annually, Sidar could make an income of over 200, 000 yuan, which may express that Sidar needs to do nothing without painting but live a decent life.

However, he chooses to spend his spare time in teaching of Thangka painting. For free.

From setting up his Thangka art promoting center in the pedestrian street of Shigatse City 19 years ago, Sidar has received a total of 35 apprentices.

"I hope to do my bit in inheriting and developing the Thangka culture. I also hope these kids can have a good time now and a promising future", said Sidar.

Indeed, his free teaching not only helps inherit the Thangka culture, but also provides jobs for his young
apprentices.