Later, with two friends, Hsu took up the study of painting, but found the photographs he took of scenery which he intended to use as subjects for painting more compelling and meaningful.
廿一歲至廿八歲期間，他與兩個朋友定期拜師學畫，三人常出外用水彩與油畫寫生，其中徐清波的成績最差。