Zeng has said that as an artist, he “treasures the weaknesses of human nature, such as irrationality and fragility,” and tries to tap into these qualities when making his art.

His signature of using watercolor, ink and on hand made raw barks paper pulps of texture paper has fully highlighted his series collections of works: “The Header”, “Childhood Days”, “Spare Time”.

Jianyong paintings capture the innocence and tumult of childhood. By showing the subject trademark looks of heavy silver big-eyed, slightly over large heads, empty looks against the neutral soft background - luminously faded look - a look of faraway urgency. The children’s silvery eyes are telling the audiences what their mind are thinking and speaking of. 

The tensions are created and by providing a focal for the audience to this imagery spaces of the world of these children looking through the window of how their miserable rules are governed and believed by signifying themselves with the prominent “ black scarf” worn around their neck and above the shoulders.

Zeng uses a mixture of eastern and western drawing techniques and philosophies to create his characters. These children are the witness of the societal change of modern days.