The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China pointed out that we should "carry forward the spirit of model workers and craftsmen, and create a social atmosphere of glorious labor and a spirit of dedication to work.".

The essence of craftsman spirit lies in focus and excellence. As a spiritual belief, it is not only the adherence of the handicraft industry, but also the requirement for all walks of life. Therefore, the craftsman spirit was written in the Government Work Report, enriching the spirit of the times. The field of art education and creation also needs "craftsman spirit" today, which requires such a serious, dedicated and rigorous attitude. It is an important guarantee to improve the quality of art creation and create more high-quality works of the times.

Art majors in colleges and universities are the new force of art cause. Today, with the explosion of information and the surging of new art concepts, some students of art majors in colleges and universities lack the spirit and attitude of concentration and research. Some people are more willing to pursue fast-food works, and sometimes even despise this traditional values and spiritual pursuit. Some students fail to realize the importance of basic skills and try to win with ideas. They are eager for quick success and instant benefits and blindly pursue the so-called "modern art". Therefore, it is particularly important to strengthen the cultivation of craftsman spirit in the field of art education and creation under the circumstances of rapid social development and multiple impacts on the artistic creation environment.

Strengthening the craftsman spirit is very helpful for cultivating students' concentration, developing their innovative ability and stimulating the teaching enthusiasm of art educators. Basic courses are very important for all disciplines of art. The cultivation of craftsman spirit should be integrated into the curriculum and the training of basic skills: optimize the curriculum configuration, increase the proportion of basic courses, and strengthen the study of traditional culture, so as to improve artistic skills and artistic accomplishment. New students should especially consolidate basic training, such as long and short term sketch, line drawing, color, composition, calligraphy, appreciation, art history, etc. Through strict assessment of these basic courses, students' aesthetic and modeling abilities should be improved. Basic skills and knowledge are like the foundation. Only by consolidating the foundation can we achieve the excellence of artistic creation. Secondly, we need to go out of the strange circle of "teachers don't know students, students don't know teachers" in colleges and universities, learn from the strengths of traditional craftsman apprenticeship inheritance, integrate teacher resources, increase individual tutoring, attach importance to oral and personal teaching, words and deeds, so as to improve students' understanding of art and stimulate their creativity.

Like art education, the field of art creation also needs to be integrated with "craftsman spirit". The craftsman spirit in the field of art creation is not only reflected in the inheritance and development of painting skills, but also in the creativity and truth-seeking spirit permeated by art creation.

At present, a large number of art creators and a large number of art works have emerged in both art exhibitions and art markets. However, some art works lack cultural connotation and are more like "replicas" lacking soul. The form of works tends to be secular, commercial and digital. There are few works of high quality, artistry and appeal. Some creators forget the original intention that artistic creation should express their true feelings. When making artistic creation, the first consideration is not artistry, but whether the market will recognize or accept it. The goal is to become famous and benefit quickly. The artistic works created under such circumstances are undoubtedly against the law of artistic creation and lack artistic appeal. They not only waste artistic resources, but also are not conducive to the spread of positive social energy and excellent culture.

To solve these problems, the field of art creation should start from "heart". First of all, creators should constantly improve their skills, rather than leaving the painting foundation to find a "shortcut" to artistic creation. Secondly, the creators should adhere to their own determination in artistic creation, adhere to the aesthetic value of art, remove the impetuous mentality, refuse the temptation of the deformed market, take seriously the creation theme, shape, color, picture layout and other aspects, and complete each creation in a down-to-earth and stable manner, rather than blindly catering to the needs of some markets.

The art world is "broad and subtle". Today, both art education and art creation should uphold the "craftsman spirit" of perfection, refinement and pragmatism. Artists should be responsible for the times, cultivate new forces of the times, and be diligent in creating art works with cultural connotations and the spirit of the times, so as to promote social development.

People's Daily (November 18, 2018, version 12)

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