Lin Tao, who quit his job in 1991, perhaps was the first freelance artist of Chinese painting in Xiamen. It needed some real guts to "break one's bowl" in that era and many friends questioned his future development. More than ten years passed, Lin Tao has proven it was a successful and wise decision.

　　Almost each year his works participated in exhibitions at provincial and national level and received many awards. Last year, he was even awarded the Chinese Painting Talents Prize endowed by the Chinese Ministry of Personnel. On the other hand, his enlarging fame also brought him a good share of the market. His paintings are selling well and his name has appeared on the artists list in an art collectors manual published in Taiwan.

　　Lin's perception of art is keen and enthusiastic. Normally, a large Chinese painting of flowers and birds takes him a month to finish, but he never sought another short way to earn money, like hiring dozens of assistant workers to help as many other freelance artists did. Instead, he is so particular, even fastidious about every detail concerning his art works that he insists on making dye used in his paintings by himself. He collects plants in the mountain and then extracts colors which give an impressive touch to his paintings. Attitude decides everything. "I think that's why many freelance artists dropped out over the long period while I survived." Lin said.

　　Fan Dian, the associate professor of the Central Institute of Fine Arts and a well-known art critic, speaks highly of Lin Tao: "His works, of flowers and birds are in a state of magnificence which is the outcome of his bold exploration and practice in the artistic language." "His works is permeated with warm luster, twinkling with flares and remarkable spells of antique fragrance of the South." (By Vivian Chang )