In the filed of painting, the subject of 12 animal designations has always been attractive to the painters. There are painters who just create paintings of 12 animal designations from temporary inspirations but there are also ones who are specialized in subject.
In the filed of painting, the subject of 12 animal designations has always been attractive to the painters. There are painters who just create paintings of 12 animal designations from temporary inspirations but there are also ones who are specialized in subject.
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| Painting of goat of Le Van Duy. |
From painted drawings…
Painter Nguyen Tu Nghiem has been widely known among painters for his paintings of 12 animal designations. According to painter Do Phan, Nguyen Tu Nghiem’s animal paintings have a fascinating attraction. He often draws animals using gouache, bringing viewers a sense of ancientness, taciturnity and magnificence.
Painter Le Tri Dung is also quite famous in drawing animal designations although he has only drawn horses. The horses in Dung’s paintings are drawn with free brush-strokes and contain the meaning of deep thoughts. The image of horses embodies the dreams and freedom as well as constant desires.
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| Calligraphy with image of monkey of Le Vu. |
Other painters who often draw paintings of 12 animal designations are Thanh Chuong, Do Phan and Pham Viet Hong Lam, etc. While Thanh Chuong is renowned for his paintings of buffalo, Hong Lam and Do Phan are specialized in drawing snake and goat respectively.
In Khanh Hoa Province, drawing 12 animal designations has been not popular. Le Van Duy is one the few painters in the province having passion for this subject. According to Duy, it is difficult to draw paintings of 12 animal designations because this is a hard subject to express the romantic recreation.
Le Vu is another painter of Khanh Hoa who often draws animal designations paintings. The animals in Vu’s paintings are often created by string of New Year wishes and greetings. His unique and beautiful paintings have been favored by many people.
…to sand paintings
Artisan Tran Thi Thu, owner of Hong Chau Sa sand painting shop (Nha Trang), often makes sand paintings with images of 12 animal designations to serve the visitors at Ponagar Temple and Hon Chong Club House. The animal paintings of Thu are diverse, from realistic paintings of animals to paintings made basing on folk pictures. Her painting of chicken was awarded gold medal at the national handicrafts exhibition 2005. She has been preparing to make paintings of monkey for 2016 Tet painting market.
Reportedly, the painters in Hue Province often welcome Lunar New Year with paintings of 12 animal designations. The most beautiful pictures will be selected to display at exhibitions. Hopefully, there will be such an interesting playground for painters in Khanh Hoa.
Xuan Thanh
Translated by H.N
