小草最早发青，透露了春消息，于是柳绿桃红，都来争春。三月天，枣树依然挺伸着倔强的身躯，缓慢的吐芽，不争春，只求秋天结枣。刘永明不争春，只顺从自己生命的规律成长，结果，他是枣树。

　　刘永明曾是我班上的学生，他也是从西洋画入手、写生入手，深入大自然。他走得稳、走的苦、走的远。在祖国的土地上走下去，必然会与傅统爷爷相晤相识，遇到知音。我们长期共同学习和工作，曾一同到新疆阿尔泰和四川大凉山写生，他对艺术的真诚和踏实的作风予我深刻的印象。他在自己的土地上不息耕耘，不怕贫瘠与严寒，不羡南飞雁。

　　风格是果实，人们羡慕果实。制造风格，仿佛制造假酒假药。刘永明痛恨假酒、假药、假风格。我看他的作品逐渐形成了自己的风格，寓严谨于豪迈。

　　刘永明奉献自己的收获：山里的包米和枣。

与吴先生在大凉山

吴冠中

1992年

　　Wu GuanZhong

　　Early grass speaks of spring's arrival, setting off a budding contest amongst every living tree and flower. Except for the Chinese date tree. Even in March, the warmest month of spring, the Chinese date tree patiently reaches for a small piece of sky above. It buds slowly, at its own and unaffected speed. A date tree does not vie for early blossom in spring, it only humbly asks for a fruitful basket in autumn. Much like the Chinese date tree, Mr. Liu Yong-Ming does not compete for early recognition, but simply follows his own path in the world of Art.

　　Yong-Ming is my student. He begins his art career with training in Western painting, and eventually develops a focus on nature as his main subject. His journey into the heart of China has been and continues to be far and hard. But with each footstep, Liu Yong-Ming acquires knowledge and wisdom.

　　Along this journey, he is destined to gain exposure to the great tradition of Chinese painting, and to meet people who sincerely appreciate his work. Ever since his first embarkation upon this trail, we have been working and learning together. We visit the far Altay village in Xin-Jiang and the Liang Mountain in Sichuan to sketch. His sincerity in art and down-to-earth style impress me greatly. He cultivates relentlessly on his motherland at his own speed, regardless of how barren and difficult the environment has become.

　　Every artist develops a style as a result of the hardships he has endured. People long for a distinct style but fail to recognize that styles must be developed through time, not copied. Attempting to duplicate someone else's style is analogous to producing adulterated liquor or counterfeit drugs, which never goes unnoticed. It is with my great pleasure to watch Liu Yong-Ming develop his own distinct and irreplaceable style. Like a strong and rich Chinese date tree, Liu Yong-Ming now provides the world with his fruitful basket of dates, his works of art.

作者：吴冠中