Sugar painting creations by Shi Jianfeng. [Photo by Gu Biqing for en.nantong.gov.cn]

Shi Jianfeng, a sugar painting artisan in Tongzhou district, Nantong, uses a spoon as his brush and melted sugar as ink, crafting lively sugar paintings that express sweetness.

"The first step in making sugar paintings is to boil the sugar, typically using granulated sugar, maltose, or rock sugar," Shi said while stirring the syrup in a copper pot. As he stirred, the syrup gradually took on an enticing golden sheen. "The syrup should neither be too thin nor too thick, allowing precise control of its flow during painting and ensuring the patterns are smooth and exquisite," he said.

With focused eyes, he said, "Creating sugar paintings is entirely different from traditional painting. In regular painting, you can slowly outline with each stroke, pausing and adjusting as needed. However, with sugar painting, once the syrup flows, you can't stop; it must be completed in one go. This requires us to be thoroughly familiar with the order of strokes for each pattern." As the sugar spoon moved, the horse's mane became distinct, its tail flowing, and its hooves in mid-air, bringing to life a vivid horse full of energy and readiness.

As a representative inheritor of the sugar painting project, recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of Nantong, this post-80s craftsman has dedicated 15 years to sugar painting. From being influenced by his grandfather and father in childhood to now turning this passion into a lifelong commitment, Shi has not only preserved this traditional craft but also infused it with vitality through innovation. He has created relief sugar paintings by incorporating techniques from traditional Chinese painting and carving into the multi-line sugar painting tradition.

To further promote this craft, Shi established a sugar painting studio in 2017, attracting over 100 enthusiasts to learn. He said he plans to continue promoting this intangible cultural heritage through social media, ensuring that the art of sugar painting remains vibrant.

As the Year of the Horse approaches, Shi has specially crafted sugar paintings featuring the Chinese character "Fu" in the shape of a galloping horse and three-dimensional lantern sugar paintings, each embodying his hopes and best wishes for the new year.