When I was studying in Paris, I published many articles, which were praised by many people. There are some articles that I think are good, but I always think they can be written better. I just suffer from no guidance. I was secretly looking for the secret to my career. Until I was 25 years old, I finally found this secret. It came from a great man and changed my life from then on.
It was a weekend. I went to Maidong to visit Rodin. "Maybe you'd like to see my studio?" He said affably, "I'm afraid there's nothing interesting. Don't be bored." I followed the master to his studio, a simple room with huge windows. The table is full of sketches, and some finished statues are placed on the ground. The rest are clay sculpture parts: an arm, a hand, a finger, and some even tiny details such as finger joints... I was absorbed in the sight, and turned around to find that Rodin had put on his work clothes and was standing in front of a wooden shelf. "This is a new work." He carefully lifted the wet cloth, and a bust of a girl appeared in front of him. It was a small sample made of clay, with soft lines and lifelike details. I couldn't help but exclaim: "it's perfect!"
Rodin looked sideways at the statue, stepped back and stared at the girl in a trance. The tall, broad shouldered old man with white hair seemed to have become a young man in love. He said softly, "the lines on his shoulders are still too thick. It's almost here..." the master picked up the scraper and gently slid the wooden blade through the moist and soft clay, leaving a soft luster on his skin wherever he went. Rodin walked up and down in front of the shelf, turning the sculpture table from time to time. His powerful hands kept shining in his eyes, "and here... Well, here..." he said to himself as he revised, nodding excitedly at times, and then his eyebrows locked. (www.lz13.cn) he pinched a small lump of clay, stuck it to the statue, and then scraped it open with a wooden knife. A strange and vague sound came from his throat.
So half an hour passed, an hour passed... Rodin didn't say a word to me. He forgot me and the whole world. Apart from the works in his hand, he has no second thing in his eyes. His focus was as if God were creating the world.
I don't know how long it took. Luo Dan took a sigh of relief, threw down his scraper and smiled with satisfaction. He picked up the cloth again and carefully covered the girl, as if he had put his shawl over his lover. His face was warm and caring. Then he walked briskly to the door. Suddenly he saw me and was surprised. He stared at me for a long time before he remembered me.
Rodin became a simple and hospitable old man again. He felt embarrassed and flustered for his faux pas: "I'm sorry, sir, I completely forgot you. I mean..." but I didn't mind. I held the master's hand with gratitude and worship in my heart.
It was this afternoon in Maidong that the master gave me more enlightenment than all the things I learned in school combined.
I have learned the necessary ability to achieve all arts and great undertakings - concentration, which is the ability to concentrate my will on the work in front of me, big or small. Only then did I know what I lacked. There is no secret to a successful career other than concentration.