Between the ages of 30 to 40, Chang spent most of his time absorbing the essence of works of leading painters in the Ming dynasty.
卅歲到四十歲之開，大千居士馳騁於明末四僧石濤、石溪、八大、漸江，以及明水墨花卉畫家陳白陽、寫意花卉畫家徐文長等人作品的領域裡，臨摹研究中，漸漸揣摹到以上諸家的神髓而能得心應手。