Oil paintings by Zhong Biao.[Photo provided to China Daily]

"Online art trading is inevitable. We have to do it and be patient," says Zhong, who is known for creating multidimensional worlds on canvas.

The app buybuyart was launched last year by Jin Jun, deputy director of the design school of the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

Within six months, the platform had about 1,000 artists, most of whom were young art college graduates.

Now, there are nearly 3,000 artists registered on the app. But some, especially established ones, use it only to show their works, says Jin.

The prices of the works sold on the app range from 1,000 to 5,000 yuan, which Jin says is what a Chinese first-time buyer is typically willing to pay.