The great masters of the Lingnan school all love animal themes. Chao Shao-ang, a master Au has admired all his life, created marvelous works featuring birds, flowers, plants, and insects. Xu Beihong once expressed his admiration for these in verse: "There is a worthy heir to the southern tradition / Gentleman Chao captures the very spirit of birds and flowers." Au's animal paintings are also first-rate.
當然，嶺南奠基在於臨境寫生的真功夫，寫生除了寫景，動物也是大自然的一環，所以嶺南畫派的幾位大師都愛畫動物，歐豪年終生景仰的老師趙少昂，一筆花鳥草蟲更是極品，徐悲鴻曾為詩讚嘆：「畫派南天有繼人，趙君花鳥實傳神。」