Support, an illustration by Liu Zhengnan. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Huang Yongyu, among the older artists, has made a colored ink painting that shows a red cross and a hand making a victory sign, with an inscription reading, "The Chinese live in a commanding manner." The 96-year-old retired professor from the central academy has painted other pieces to reflect the plight of people at this difficult time and boost their morale.

Wuhan native Lyu Zhongyuan, another retired teacher and designer from the same school, has expressed his mixed feelings of worry and hope for Hubei province's capital, the epicenter of the outbreak, with a watercolor titled Homeland that shows rays of sunlight breaking through the clouds to shine on the city's main railway station.

Medical workers and soldiers on the front line of the fight against the epidemic are portrayed in many of the artworks. Some have adopted a metaphoric approach to show the artists' respect for them.