Artist Statement

I celebrate beauty and life through figurative and natural imagery. Working with oil on canvas, charcoal on paper and lacquer on wood, I create works that transcend traditional, cultural and artistic boundaries.

Inspired by traditional Vietnamese lacquer painting, my current work is created using multiple layers of lacquer mixed with pigment, silver and gold. Inlaying eggshell and/or mother of pearl, I finish each piece by polishing with sandpaper and water to create a rich finish.

I walk along the coast often and take lots of photos of anything that catches my eye. When I create a painting, I think about how the natural materials bring the vision I felt onto the board. Each material has its own characteristic similar to aspects of nature. I use shells to help the viewer feel the strength of the rock, the lighthouses, the trees. Silver and gold move with the light to show movement of the water and sky. The materials carry their own beauty. Laying and sanding lacquer creates a beautiful texture that translates the features of what I’m drawn to on the coast. How can I capture the moment of the scene?