鹦鹉在啄食曹志画的花生
Cao's paintings have packed in more than 5 million fans on the popular short video platform Douyin. Many of his works have garnered more than 1 million views each, with the highest reaching 5 million.
It is an understatement to say Cao's art, covering a broad range of subjects, is jaw-dropping. With a knack for perspective and a keen understanding of angles, he cleverly uses light and shadow to create mind-bending 3D images. From wildlife to humans, the talented artist can pretty much bring anything to life.
"Creating 3D paintings requires patience and practice. The basic principle is to trick the mind, which interprets signals our eyes send," says the 40-something artist.
Cao was born in a rural household in Suqian, East China's Jiangsu province. "I had a knack for art since early childhood. I doodled whenever I could," he recalls.
He began basic training while in middle school and eventually took up art education at Suqian Higher Normal School in 1997.
After graduation, Cao taught at a local middle school for two years before he made his way to Shanghai in 2003. "I wanted to explore opportunities in a big city," he says.
He landed a job as a designer at an advertisement company and worked there for three years. By 2007, Cao had gained adequate experience and saved enough money to open his own studio in the city.
"Livestreaming was a rage, and I dabbled in it for fun," Cao says. The turnout on the ground was disappointingly thin. Just when he was about to give up, Cao chanced upon anamorphic art, also known as 3D painting, online. "I had never seen anything like it before. It was mind-boggling and I wanted to give it a go," he recalls.
"No one was there to teach me. I had to explore on my own, so there were many detours. I guess the best way to learn the art is through constant study and practice," he says.
In late 2018, Cao released his first 3D work, a red rose, and it immediately drew more than 1 million views online. "It was a huge boost for my confidence, and I began spending more time perfecting the art," he says.
"The objective is to pique interest and convey a message. Creating 3D art involves science and takes a great deal of patience, but if you are willing to put in the effort, the results can be stunning," he adds.
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