The first art master of U San Hlaing was “ Saya Hmat’’ who was a scholar of Saya Myint, who was very famous for drawing Lord Buddha’s Life. U San Hlaing got the traditional art as the art works of the monk cementation festival, fuel place, donation pavilion, etc; from Saya Myint and he served in his master’s duties.

His second art master was Artist Saya U Thein Nyunt who could paint not only traditional art but also the European Style art. In 1938 his elder brother called him to Yangon and presented him to U Ba Tun and A-1 director U Aung Zan who was in British Burma Film Co., Ltd, because of knowing his younger brother’s hobby and aptitude were warmly received as they hailed from Phyapon.

By their contact, U San Hlaing got a golden chance to study art from the artist U Khin Ohn. Later he could study from the famous artists Sayargyi U Ngwe Gaing and Sayargyi U Hla Maung Gyi.

Sayargyi U Ngwe Gaing was a scholar of the old master U Ba Nyan who got a chance to go and study to Europe and when he came back to Myanmar, he carried Academic Art to Myanmar firstly. Meeting with U Ngwe Gaing is a great chance and change in his life for U San Hlaing.

He understood the basics of Academic Art, point, line, shape, and form, and he was able the line drawing skillfully. He might study the style of U Ngwe Gaing along with the outdoor trip.

The old master U Ngwe Gaing who gave not only the painting of art but also the religious knowledge for U San Hlaing, was a pious and religious man. So U San Hlaing believed and practiced more and more in Buddha. He was studying the method of the life of Lord Buddha. Later, he could paint the Buddha’s life paintings skillfully by insertion them with his own creation.

Besides, he studied art from the old master U Hla Maung Gyi too. As he got deeper and chose the field of Art, he got familiar with the Grand Master U Lun Gywe, Sayargyi U Ba lon, Sayargyi U Saw Maung, and Sayargyi U Ohn Lwin.