A short period of training in classical Chinese painting from leading female artist Tien Man-shih enabled him to make a breakthrough in his painting career.
在軍中楚戈除了寫詩、寫評論，也不曾擱下畫筆，他從臨摹米羅、克里的畫冊，訓練繪畫的線條。每逢打野外的休息時間，他就拿出小本子盡情塗抹一番。