Festival night

   When I was little I went to Hang Ma market with my older sister every year to celebrate the Full-moon Festival. I remember roaming the street all night long under the glittering light and colorful lanterns. We used to spend all of our 'saving' for toys or treats and then went totally bankrupt  in the next morning...

   This is the drawing of the little store that me and my sister used to come over in Full-moon festival. Every time I look at this drawing, it brought me back to the old day when I was hand in hand with my big sis, strolling around the street in the red lantern night.

Masks - The many faces of Viet Nam

  One thing must not be missed when exploring Vietnam culture is the traditional costumes such as ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress), non (a cone shaped Vietnamese hat) and masks. Despite not popularly mentioned in cultural books and articles, traditional masks play a unique role in Vietnamese culture.

  From the hilarious face of Teu - a beloved character in Viet Nam traditional folktales to the elegance and stunning features of Hang Nga - a beauty living  on the moon in the old mythology, each mask will tell a different story about the country's custom and heritage. By taking time to read and study their origins, you can uncover the many face of Viet Nam you may not see before...

https://www.artlimited.net/m6e75c8aa

OIL PAINTING ON PAPER

   One way to improve your oil painting skill quickly is to paint on paper instead of canvas. There are several reasons why paper is favorable among art learners and professional artists. The main reason for this is that paper has the ability to absorb the drying oil (commonly linseed oil) in the paint, which in turn help to speed up drying time. Another reason why artists may prefer  because of the paper's texture and drag. Some art students may also choose paper for experimenting and painting with oil because of its availability and cheap price. Instead of spending money on an expensive piece of stretched canvas, these artist can now use papers for their daily oil sketches.

Gazing, Multimedia on paper, 50 x 70 cm

  The portrait shown above is an oil painting on paper I just finished recently, and it is one of my very first attempt to paint oil on the surface of paper. After just a few day working with paper, I was able to finish the artwork quickly and effectively. The rough and beautiful pattern on paper is perfect for me to test out different types of brush strokes, and the old, yellowish color of the paper create a perfect background for the painting...

   After completing this portrait of a little girl, I realized just how much fun working with paper would be. However, in order to preserve the quality of your artworks, it is also important to keep in mind that having a high quality piece of paper is critically important. Not only should you choose the paper that is thick enough to carry the paint, but also to cover its surface with a thin and even layer of gesso. For this portrait, I used a piece of Canson paper to paint and acrylic gesso to further preserve my work. I also mix my paint with a little bit of turpentine oil to make it thinner and easier to use.

EXPRESS YOURSELF THROUGH MONOPRINT

On the run, 2016, monoprint on paper, 40 cm x 40 cm

   'On the run' is a monoprint painting created in the most unexpected way. After many trials and experiments, I decided to reuse a printed plate for create this piece. My intention was just to use this piece as an experiment, however I was totally surprised by the result. The texture of the print was absolutely stunning and the details in the painting was perfectly printed in just one trial. I guess sometimes our most satisfying work can be made in the most surprising and simple way.

Underwater 1, 2016, monoprint on paper, 40 cm x 40 cm

   The colors and pattern of this piece was created with a combination of ink and water based medium, namely acrylic and water color. The texture of this painting was created with painting gears like rough edge brushes, roller, net and liquid acetone. Of all the works in this series , Underwater 2 is 'hand down' the most challenging work to create.

Deep sea, 2016, monoprint on paper, 40 cm x 40 cm

   Texture of this painting was especially hard to create. Because I want to create bubble like texture and soft transition of color, it was extremely difficult for me to find the right color medium. With just the use of ink, I was able to create the transparent effect of water. I also use roller I was able to smooth the paint on the painting plate. The shape of bubbles and the net were made with the use of acetone drop and a small piece of washing net.

Underwater 2, 2016, monoprint on paper, 40 cm x 40 cm

A PAINTING OF HANOI'S STREET

  Hang Dau Tower is a poster color painting I did in the year 2014. The painting was done with a flat and smooth surface of color and prestigious details of the building or the landscape. Hang Dau Tower is a historical building with the French Architectural style and a beautiful surrounding. I have always been in love with this particular building and painting this piece really help me express my feeling for this old but beautiful site.

Hang Dau Tower, 2014, poster color on paper

HOMETOWN LANDSCAPE- TRANH PHONG CẢNH ĐỒNG QUÊ

PHOTO

 Read in English      đọc Tiếng Việt

   One thing I love doing in my spare time is visiting my hometown in Ha Tay and paint some landscape sketches. Nothing better than the beautiful scenery and fresh air that you cannot find in the city. The preparation for an outdoor trip might seem costly and time-consuming as you have to spend your earning in specialized gear such as painting easel, pochade box, mixing palette... However, you can have a cheap and productive outdoor painting trip by preparing just the necessary things. With just a cheap and adjustable metal easel, a paper bag or a box to carry painting medium, knife and brushes, a bottle of water, a roll of paper and I'm read to go. I also tend to choose color medium like water color or pigment color as it is portable and can be easily cleaned after...

The River, Pigment and poster color on paper, 40 x 60 cm, 2015

Empty Field, Pigment and poster color on paper, 40 x 60 cm, 2015

Sunny Day, Pigment color on paper, 40 x 60 cm, 2015

Mặc dù sống ở Hà Nội nhưng nhiều lúc mình vẫn thích vẽ phong cảnh làng quê. Những lúc mệt mỏi với cuộc sống đô thị ồn ào thì không gì bằng việc về quê tận hưởng không khí trong lành và "trổ tài" khắc hoạ phong cảnh thiên nhiên quê hương mình.

Làng ven sông, bột màu và màu goauch, 40 x 60 cm, 2015

Đồng vắng, bột màu và màu goauch, 40 x 60 cm, 2015

Ngày nắng, bột màu trên giấy, 40 x 60 cm, 2015

THE PROCESS OF ART CREATING

   One of my very first creative work is an oil painting called "Grandpa's work space". The painting was finished in the year 2015, and despite its simple look, this piece of artwork took me over four month to paint.  Painting this artwork might be a long and difficult journey, but finding inspiration and finalizing the draft of the artwork is much more challenging. In order to create balanced composition and accurate value for this artwork, I had go through a rough pencil sketch and a monochrome painting. By creating a black and white draft using pigment color, I was able to rearrange different objects in the painting without worrying about color and texture.

Gramp's work space, 2015, black and white sketch in pigment color, 30cm x 40cm

Gramp's work space, 2015, oil paint on canvas, 60cm x 80cm

    I consider this piece of work as the beginning of my journey with oil paint. Despite a long and hard process I had to go through, I'm still very much satisfy with the knowledge and experience I had gained