Zhao Weihong sold vegetables in Yangzhou's vegetable market while painting oil paintings, and then became popular on the Internet. At the age of 37, she began sitting in a group of children to draw with her teacher.
She used to work in a garment factory, and after being told to be "laid off" in 2002, Ms. Zhao became a full-time wife, taking care of the elderly and children at home. In 2004, she took her 13-year-old son to a painting class to sign up.