For years, Hangzhou-based oil artist Tong Yanrunan has been painting faces of real personalities whom he would ask to sit right in front of his canvas, within the same dimensions — 41 centimeters high and 33 centimeters wide.

He is more into exploring the mental state of his models — he sees it as a moment of one opening oneself to the world by having his or her portrait done. Also, he tries to bring forth the strength and the connection between himself and the models with his weighty shades of thick pigments.