Ji Youquan, artist [Photo provided to China Daily]

Ji was invited by a culture-and-art organization to join a Chinese delegation to visit the United States in 2013, when he painted in front of dignitaries and friends at events. He also held an exhibition on the first floor of the United Nations headquarters in New York and received praise from UN officials as well as ambassadors of different countries, he says.

He sent three pictures of his artwork to the UN office and the embassy of China in the US as gifts.

Ji's family name means "hope" in Chinese. This is much like the subject of his paintings, he says.

Contact the writer at jiangyijing@chinadaily.com.cn