Tsai Chen-hsiang, an artist under Lin's father's employ, noticed how Yu-shan, though not yet ten years old, would watch with great interest as Tsai painted, and so he diligently began to teach the youngster how to sketch, dye, prepare pigments and mix colors.
家中聘請的畫師蔡禎祥看到不滿十歲的林玉山總是興致勃勃地看著他作畫，便認真地教他下筆、染色、調色，還有顏料的製作。