Scribbling with sticks

His technique has gone viral on short-video platform Douyin, known as TikTok outside China. His breakout video recording his painting process of Qitian Dasheng (The Monkey King) received more than 408,000 "likes". He has about 200,000 followers on the platform.

In the 36-second video, after several strokes with the twigs that seem random at first, the painter uses a variety of tools, including a painting knife and brushes, for his work. Finally, a lively Monkey King with vibrant colors appears on canvas.

"At first I thought you were kidding. In the end, I found I must be kidding," a netizen comments.

Deng took months to study the character's face through various local art forms. It took him about two months to finish the artwork.