LY (HARRIET) HUONG BUI

VISUAL ART PORTFOLIO

Title: Figure Drawing #1Date: 07/04/2013Medium: Graphite pencil on drawing paperDimensions: 18 in x 24 inAdditional details: Live figure drawing

Title: Figure Drawing #2Date: 07/04/2013Medium: Graphite pencil on drawing paperDimensions: 18 in x 24 inAdditional details: Live figure drawing

Additional details: Using film noir as an influence, I designed a mystery scene for the drawing. The project was completed with help from a model who assisted me with the process of constructing the composition. I focused on building a low key image to deliver an intense atmosphere. The purpose was to tell a puzzling narrative for the viewers to question and solve.

Title: A MysteryDate: 10/21/2013

Medium: Graphite pencil on

drawing paperDimensions: 22 in x 30 in

Title: RootedDate: 09/20/2013Medium: Paper

Dimensions: 8.5 in x 8.5 in

Additional details: Constructing this piece, I would like to describe a situation in which people are not fond of travelling. The immobility and unwillingness for travel is represented by images of human figures turning into trees. These surrealistic images combined with the contrast of black and white colors are powerful to deliver the message.

Title: TravellingDate: 09/20/2013Medium: Paper

Dimensions: 8.5 in x 8.5 in

Title: YouthDate: 09/09/2013

Medium: Acrylic paint and paper

Dimensions: 8.5 in x 8.5 in

Additional details: For this project, I experimented with using lines to create a non representational image. Diagonal and curved lines deliver expressive movements and high energy. Therefore, I applied them to convey the exuberance of youth.

Title: When We Are Awake

Date: 09/09/2013Medium: Acrylic

paint and pencil on paper

Dimensions: 8.5 in x 8.5 in

Additional details:In this piece, there are primary colors like red, green, and yellow with simple shapes, and implied curved. Sometimes, these colors, shapes, and lines overlaps. With this composition, I attempted to convey the fullness of life during the day of a college student.

Additional details: This piece was inspired by my observing the marine diatom microscopic photograph. The diatom carries vibrant colors that draw viewers’ eyes. Therefore, I decided to create an abstract painting and experiment with acrylic paint for the first time. The pure black background serves to emphasize the colors of the subjects on the foreground. Large brush strokes helped me to create a feather-like quality for the subjects that represent the floating nature of the marine diatom.

Title:

Marine DiatomDate:

11/04/2013Medium:

Acrylic paint on paper

Dimensions:22 in x 30 in

Title: Pained BuntingDate: 06/2013Medium: Watercolor on paperDimensions: 8.5 in x 11 in

Additional details: Best of Show 2-D, Annual Northern Arizona Watercolor Student Art Show (April 2012).

Title: OpenDate: 2011Medium: Oil paint on

canvasDimensions: 30 in x 40 in

Title: Fit InDate: 05/2012

Medium: Oil paint on canvas

Dimensions: 30 in x 30 in

Additional details: Inspired by the “Shoes“ painting of Van Gogh, I created my own version of the shoes painting. In society, people wear different suitable shoes for different events. In most cases, people are not allowed to walk barefoot in public. These rules are societal expectations we carry every day. Thus, in my painting shoes symbolize restrictions society imposes on us.

Title: Cup CakeDate: 2010

Medium: Oil paint on canvas

Dimensions: 24 in x 18 inAdditional details:

This painting follows the pop art movement in the history of art. The pop art movement put ordinary objects around us such as soup can, pens, and candies at the center stage. I chose to depict a chocolate cup cake at a diagonal angle, which drew intention of viewer and made the cupcake more inviting.

Additional details: (Representational abstract) Tasseography is an art of telling one's future and characters by reading random patterns of tea leaves. This is a unique feature in Asian culture, which reflects my background. I chose to paint tea leaves in a round cup put on a table. The perspective is from above. The tea leaves are surrounded by the round edge of the cup. The background was painted based on real designs on the table. These features have created a balanced composition for this representational abstract piece.

Title: Tea Leaves

Date: 2010Medium:

Oil paint on canvas

Dimensions: 24 in x 36 in

Title: PassionDate: 2010

Medium: Oil paint on canvasDimensions: 36 in x 24 in

Additional details: (self portrait) The figure of a girl in a dancing pose is my second self-portrait. The composition of this piece was inspired by "The Human Condition" piece by Rene Magritte in 1933, which painted a painting inside a painting. The upper part of my body is in the arts studio. The lower part of my body is in a dancing pose on stage. The lower part matches up with the upper part of my body. The painting inside the painting is in the process of being painted. This piece was created to deliver my two passions for arts and dancing. These two passions together build my artistic personality.

Title: Grow UpDate2009

Medium: Oil paint on canvas

Dimensions: 24 in x 18 inAdditional details:

This is a painting of me wearing Vietnamese traditional dress and make-up. The traditional dress in white color represents pure soul of a young girl. Make-up is often seen to be used by women in adulthood. The make-up was done intentionally in an immature way to show that I was figuring out a way to become a woman. Making mistakes is part of the growing up process.

Title: The StormDate: 03/2013Medium: Oil paint on canvasDimensions: 12 in x 16 in

Title: The BallerinaDate: 05/2013

Medium: Oil paint on canvas

Dimensions: 24 in x 18 in

Title: The Card Dress

Date: 09/21/2012Medium:

Paper playing cardDimensions:

48 in tall

Additional details: I have always been fascinated with fashion. Therefore, for the study of planes in the human body, I made a wearable 3-D dress using only playing cards and staples. The dress fits the model body accurately to reveal feminine curves. The back had an interesting touch at the bottom with a star-like design. I also applied negative space to the back of the dress to create rhythms and varieties.

Additional details: I originally designed and created the stuffed lobsters from fabric for the dance concert at Cottey College. As the property was required to be durable and safe for dancers, the most suitable material was fabric. I have researched and taught myself how to sew. Thus, I have gained significant knowledge and skills on working with fabric, operating sewing machines, and understanding properties of various types of fabrics. This project added to my art vocabulary in terms of materials used to create my art works.

Title: LobstersDate:

11/20/2013Medium: Fiber artsDimensions: 4 feet

tall

Title: Cardboard ChairDate: 12/05/2012

Medium: CardboardDimensions: 32 in x 14 in x

20 inAdditional details:

This cardboard chair is stylish, durable and eco-friendly. It is also made of affordable materials. Using the laminate design, I cut pieces of cardboard into similar shapes and glued them together to create a solid mass. The design is simple; however, it draws the eyes of viewers with soft curves running from the top to the bottom. The curve is an inviting feature that evokes a comfortable feeling, which makes the design effective in persuading viewers to take a seat and relax. Also, the various light brown values of cardboards enhance a rhythmic visual effect . And, the paper grains create interesting texture for the chair.

Title: Shadow Box CakeDate: 12/05/2012Medium: Ceramics

Dimensions: 7.5 in x 12 in x 12 in

Additional details: Based on the Seven Deadly Sins, this shadow box was created to critique gluttony. Gluttony is the sin of consuming more than one’s need. The shadow box is a cake that is delicious-looking outside, which invites more consumption. However, inside the shadow box are broken candy canes, splattered strawberries and lollipops. These images of destruction represent the consequences of gluttony.

Title: CautionDate: 04/15/ 2013

Medium: Ceramics, glaze, iron transfer

decalsDimensions: 14 in x 30 in x

7 inAdditional details:

The female figure has flowers and birds, symbols of nature, on her body to represent the nurturing aspect of women. Her front body is natural and beautiful. In contrast, her back is open to expose her interior with its gears and other movable components. With these images I want to reflect the world in which women are pulled towards two opposite poles. One is the current societal paradigm which has turned many women into working machines, and one is the marital and childbearing role that society still asks women to fulfill.

Title: Tea PotDate: 05/03/ 2013

Medium: Ceramics, glaze,

decalsDimensions:

6 in x 8.5 in x 4 in

Title: PlatesDate: 02/15/ 2013

Medium:Ceramics

Dimensions: 7.5 in diameter, 1 in

thick