黄靠天（1923-1997），原名黄明生，苗族，锉花艺人。
黄靠天出生于泸溪县踏虎乡踏虎村一个叫山脚坪的小村子。世代以农为主业，以手工剪纸（锉花）为副业。他小时读过几年私塾，从十二岁起，跟随父亲和祖父学习锉花技艺，由于他生性聪敏，勤学苦钻，在先辈指导下，耳濡目染，不几年便成了名噪一时的锉花艺人，其技艺远在先辈之上。但锉花艺人当时并无社会地位，只在苗乡土塞卖花样谋生，生活清苦，家境贫寒。
新中国建立后，他积极参加清匪反霸、土地改革等农村基层工作。1952年加入中国共产党，先后担任过农会治安委员、大队治安主任和副大队长等职。在搞好工作的同时，仍时刻不念锉花技艺，带过不少徒弟，让徒弟外出卖花，自己在家当“师傅”，创造一些新式花样。
在县文化部门的具体帮助下，他的锉花艺术日趋完美，其作品具有独特的民族风格，如凿的组画《白毛女》和连环画《杨玉翠》等先后在《人民日报》、《人民画报》、《民族画报》和《湖南日报》等报刊上发表。1957年被湖南省美术家协会吸收为会员。1960年被中国美术家协会吸收为会员。他的艺术成就和生平业绩由胡万卿编了一本书叫《黄靠天剪纸技法》，1982年由湖南美术出版社出版，该书收集了64幅代表作品，印刷8000余册，在全国各地新华书店发行。
1982年9月，黄靠天的100余幅锉花作品印制成套随同湘西其他民族工艺品一起，到日本由日本国旭日世界公司在东京、大阪等地展出，当场销出100套500幅。1987年，他的32幅锉花作品，参加了南斯拉夫国际博览会展出。
1992年，黄靠天的100多件作品，由民族院校赴美考察团带往美国，作为馈赠礼品送给了很多国际友人。1993年5月，中央电视台“百苗图”摄制组专程到泸溪将踏虎锉花情况摄入了专题系列片。
1993年9月11日至14日，应湖南省师范大学艺术学院的邀请，县委、县政府带着黄靠天有盘瓠内容的锉花艺术作品在长沙省书画院成功地举办了“湘西泸溪盘瓠锉花艺术展暨经济开发展示会”。展览期间还举行了“盘瓠锉花及菊花石工艺研究会”。展览会通过“文化搭台、经贸唱戏”的方式，两方面都取得了较大的经济效益和社会效益。
为了使锉花技术后继有人并发扬光大，踏虎乡党委和乡政府从80年代起至1993年止，先后投资3万多元，共举办了10期锉花技术培训班，先后培训了805人次。1992年培训班结束时，州、县领导亲临踏虎祝贺。同年踏虎乡被州文化局命名为全州首批13个“独具特色的民族艺术之乡”之一。1994年又被省文化厅命名为全省首批3个“特色民族艺术之乡”之一。
由于黄靠天的辉煌业绩，从80年代起，先后被推荐为县政协一、二、三届政协委员，自治州政协五、六、七届政协委员。
1997年因病故于踏虎老家，终年74年。

Yellow rely on a day (1923-1997) , huangming gives birth to original name, miao Zu, file spends actor.
Yellow rely on a day to be born in Lu brook county to step tiger countryside to step the hamlet that tiger village calls the foot of a hill level ground child. For generations with farming give priority to course of study, with manual paper-cut (file is spent) for avocation. His hour has read a few years of private school, since 12 years old, follow father and beautiful craft of grandfather study file, as a result of sagacity of his natural disposition, learn frequently to be gotten painstakingly, in ancestors guidance falls, be influenced by what one constantly sees and hears, the file that did not become gain considerable fame among one's contemporaries a few years spends actor, its craft is far over prevenient generation. But file beautiful actor does not have social class at that time, sell pattern to fend in a place of strategic importance of Miao Xiang earth only, life Qing Dynasty is bitter, family circumstances poor.
After new China is built, he enters the job of rural basic level such as clear bandit opposehegemonism, land reform actively. Joined a Chinese Communist 1952, had held the position of the duty such as director of public security of committee member of peasant association public security, group and assistant great team leader early or late. In do well the job while, always still do not read aloud file to spend craft, had taken many prentice, let prentice outside sell a flower, oneself are in family belongs " master " , create a few new-style pattern.
Below the concrete help of prefectural culture branch, his file beautiful art is perfect with each passing day, its work has distinctive ethical color, if the group of authentic is drawn " white Mao Nv " with comic " Yang Yucui " wait to be in early or late " People's Daily " , " people pictorial " , " ethical illustrated magazine or newspaper " and " Hunan daily " etc publish on the press. Was absorbed to be a member by association of Hunan Province artist 1957. Was absorbed to be a member by Chinese artist association 1960. His artistic achievement and career outstanding achievement made up a book to cry by Hu Moqing " law of ability of yellow paper-cut relying on a day " , by Hunan art the press was published 1982, this book collected 64 masterpiece to taste, presswork more than 8000, in countrywide each district Xin Huashu inn is issued.
In September 1982, yellow the beautiful work of more than 100 file that relies on a day prints handicraft of other people of West Hunan of whole set be accompanying one case, exhibit in and other places of Tokyo, Osaka by company of world of Japan the rising sun to Japan, sell on the spot give 100 500. 1987, 32 his file spend work, attended Yugoslavia international exposition to exhibit.
1992, yellow many 100 work that relies on a day, by ethical school the investigation group that go to the United States takes past United States, as the gift gift gave a lot of international friend. In May 1993, CCTV " 100 seedlings pursue " group of produce a film will step tiger file spent a circumstance to absorb special subject serial to Lu brook on a special trip.
Came 14 days on September 11, 1993, should the invitation of institute of art of Hunan Province Normal University, the government is taking county Party committee, county to fizzle out the file that relies on a day to have dish of Hu content spends work of art to saved courtyard of painting and calligraphy to be held successfully in Changsha " brook of West Hunan Lu dish Hu file beautiful art is exhibited and economic development is revealed meeting " . Still held during the exhibition " dish Hu file flower and seminar of chrysanthemum stone craft " . Exhibition is passed " culture builds trade of stage, classics to act in a Chinese opera " means, two respects gained bigger economic benefits and social benefit.
To make file spends technical succeed somebody to carry forward, party committee of countryside stepping a tiger and country government come to stopped 1993 since 80 time, invest early or late 30 thousand multivariate, held 10 period file to spend a technology to groom in all class, groomed early or late 805 person-time. Groomed 1992 when the class ends, leader of city, county visits congratulation stepping a tiger. Of the same age steps tiger countryside to name entire administrative division by city culture bureau first 13 " the countryside of the ethical art that has distinguishing feature alone " one of. Name complete province by province culture hall again 1994 first 3 " the countryside of characteristic folk art " one of.
Because fizzle out,rely on the brilliant outstanding achievement of the day, since 80 time, be recommended to be prefectural the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference early or late one, 2, committee member of 3 the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conferences,
1997 because die of illness at stepping tiger native place, all the year round 74 years.