The promulgation of modern Taiwanese art owes much to the influence of Japanese painters like Ishikawa Kinichiro, Siozuki Toho, Gohara Koto, and Kinoshita Seigai. Chen Cheng-po began his study of Western painting under the tutelage of Ishikawa Kinichiro. Ishikawa not only mastered capturing Taiwan’s stunning bucolic scenery in his watercolor paintings, but also introduced the concept of en plein air painting to many of his students at this time. While studying at the Taipei National Language School, Chen followed Ishikawa’s lead and grew to love traveling and sketching outdoor landscapes. Many of these plein air works leave detailed records of the time and place of the painting's composition. The profound effect of the plein air painting style can be readily seen in Chen's work, even in its early stages.