Li Shutong is versatile. He is omnipotent in poetry, lyrics, drama, painting, calligraphy and seal cutting. Good at sketching, oil painting, watercolor painting, Chinese painting, advertising, woodcut, etc. He is one of the pioneers of China's oil painting, advertising painting and woodcut. His painting creation is mainly before becoming a monk; Later, he wrote more calligraphy. Most of the works were lost because of the war. We can get a glimpse from the preserved self-portraits, sketches, naked women, watercolors and Buddhist paintings. "Self-portrait" was probably painted before going abroad, with meticulous painting style and detailed expression description, similar to the court portrait in the late Qing Dynasty, with high realistic ability. "Sketch Head" is a charcoal painting with simple and pungent techniques. Under the influence of its teacher, Ito Kuroda, Naked Woman is accurate in modeling, bright and rich in colors, some of which are close to Impressionism, seemingly casual at close range and crystal clear at a distance.
Calligraphy is Li Shutong's lifelong hobby. When he was young, he devoted himself to the memorial hall. His calligraphy works include Entertainment and Brave Struggle. Before becoming a monk, books were beautiful, healthy and chic; After becoming a monk, he gradually became detached and indifferent, and his works in his later years were more cautious, clear, simple and peaceful.