Hey guys,

Thanks so much for all the notices I've gotten about the blatant art theft.  I hope the whole thing resolved quickly and the douche bag gets what's coming for him.  It incredible to see his interviews with the stolen artwork on his wall.  I can't believe what some people can do.

On a brighter note, I'll be back in Vietnam starting Monday to visit family and to paint for a couple of months.  This is the end of a very long trip and I am so looking forward to it.  I moved to the US fifteen years ago and this is my second time back.  I hope to get lots of painting done there.

Also, if there are any of you who are in Saigon for the next week and would like to meet up for some sketching or coffee, let me know.  I'd love to see what you're all up to.

Sorry for the lack of updates, travels and work have been keeping me away from doing much personal work.  I have been sketching a lot though, so that's good.  Hope to update with some art soon.

Again, thank you all for your generous support.

Bao


**
Hey guys,
A little desperate here.  If any of you are in Saigon right now and knows of some good art supply stores please let me know.  Particularly, good canvases.  I'm having a difficult time finding quality paints and canvases in this city.  I need to get it before the third when I go back to my hometown, and they definitely won't have any supplies there.  

Thanks much in advance,
Bao

Hey guys,

Just updating that I'll be in Barcelona for a week starting tomorrow.  Does anyone have any recommendation for cool art galleries or art/book stores.  Would be very helpful:]

Will update soon.
Bao

Hey everyone, just popping in really quick to say that I am now in Paris and will be here for two weeks.  I am still taking commissions, but there is a queue now just so everyone knows.  If you've contacted me, I am working on them, but my internet is so limited, I don't have time to get back to all of you. When I have something to show I will email for sure.

If there's anyone in Paris that wants to hang out, let me know.

A tout a l'heure,
Bao

Update:
Thank you all so much for the support on the last piece.  I'm so glad you all saw something in it for yourself.  

I'm currently in Tintagel, Cornwall, UK.  It's breathtaking.  I won't have internet again until Saturday, and so I just want to say thank you now.

I'm still taking commissions by the way.  Something like Dark Velvet.  Just send me an email with the picture you want me to work off of.

Thank you all once again, you've all made my already awesome day!

Bao




Hey everyone, currently in Bath, UK and also thinking of accepting commissions.  Check out the blog for an example [link]

Email me for more info if interested.

Thanks,
Bao

Thanks for the welcome back everyone.  I know it's been a long while.  My time in London have been fantastic.  I still have a couple more weeks here, so it's just going to get better.
I've uploaded some close-ups and steps for the recent piece "Pearl".  Go here to see them  [link]

Thanks again, and I will keep the updates coming.

Hi everyone!
I'll keep it short.  I'm planning on being in New York city for two weeks starting from the 22nd.  If anyone knows of available rooms, would you let me know?  I have something in mind, but I'm keeping my options open.

Thanks in advance!

Hey guys, I finally got around to putting the painting video up.  Hope you all enjoy.
[link]

Check this out!
[link]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to respond to the oil pieces.  It's been a long time since I had done them and you all have fueled me to do a lot more.  To answer some of the questions I've gotten:

. All the oil pieces I've been posting were done in January for a show early February.  They were all done in the span of a month, so you won't be surprise to know that I painted almost everyday that month.  The smaller still-lives were done a single sessions of about 2 to 3 hours.  The larger pieces, as well as the portraits were done in two sessions each.
. I paint with a live model and objects, the best way to learn in my opinion.
. I use a combination of Filbert bristle and some synthetic flat brushes.
. Paint wise, I use Windsor-Newton artist's oil, a slight step above the student grade.
. I stretch my own canvas.  I lay down four layers of gesso, sanding each layer before applying the next.  It helps produce a smoother surface and help reduce drag.

Thank you again for the support and motivation.  I've been doing some plein-air this summer, so I hope to have some good stuff to show for that

Alright, I got three.   , , and .  They're all getting something.  SumpremeX2, sorry dude, good fake though.
You know, I originally thought it would be random, but quickly realized otherwise.  Sorry to those that didn't catch it, although it seemed like some of you had a little party on the main page. I'll try to do something else next time.  Something less stressful for me

Show me you're the 400,002nd person, get a free sketch.

It looks like the ImagineFX site has put up the tutorial I did for them awhile ago.  If you haven't seen it follow this [link]
There was also a video, but that's not up.  I guess you'll just have to make due with a couple of videos of my sketchings [link]
I hope they show you a bit of the way I work.

If you have a couple of hours to spare watch this lecture [link] of Randy Paush [link] .  If you don't have time, try to make some because it's worth every single second!

I had no idea who Randy Paush was until I stumbled on this recording of his lecture.  In it, he talks about achieving his dreams and the things he learned along the way.  I won't say much else, but give it a watch or a listen, you won't be disappointed.

So, did I fool anyone with Harvest

It's actually done with Photoshop, not "oils of canvas".  

I've recently discovered how to apply a pattern to my brushes so that when I paint it picks up the pattern.  So, something like these [link]

[link]
Eventually, I stumbled on this tutorial [link] which uses a texture, in this case a canvas texture.  It's funny why it never occurred to me to do that, but anyway, I scanned in a piece of canvas I had and started painting and go Harvest.
Now, I don't try to make this a goal or anything, but it's an interesting way to paint.
There are some parts that give it away, but I'm sorry if I mislead you all.  It's just another experiment:}

Check out Great painter!

Her latest

I guess I don't have to say how overwhelmed I am from all the responses to Mek.  And I don't really know how to say thanks, except for this [link]

I started answering the first hundred or so comments, but they kept coming, so I decided to be more selective, but they still kept piling up, so I think this is a saner way to answer some of the questions I received.

- Mek, as a demon, is associated with fire and lightning, so that's what the blue streak is about.  I had to sneak that in somewhere.
- I had to fight the urge of making her pale because she is described as being tan/bronze.  You can see what happened in the progress shots
- I didn't use any photographic references for her, but definitely for the peacock feather.  Her anatomy is referenced off of me using a mirror.
- Yes, her hand and torso do seem tilted a bit, but who's gonna look lol.  Seriously though, it's nick-picking to me, but I'll definitely pay more attention to it next time.
- I'm sorry, I can't take on anymore commissions, for those who are wondering.
- Finally, I will do a tutorial soon!  It's a bit overdue imo:]

Happy summer!

bao

Been meaning to update, but had no time to do it.  Have a lot going on, but i'll keep it short.  
-I graduated last Saturday, a two hour ceremony, torture.
-I have to set up my BFA show next week, freaking out about that.
-A couple of commissions to finish, always fun to do
-Started a blog to post sketches and such, like this one
<img src="[link]" border="0" alt=>

    bao22.blogspot.com

He's Hensil.  He's not up yet, but there are three others that are though.  Drop on by, leave a comment, pop a question, let me know i'm talking to someone

-And finally, after 11 years, my family and I are going back to Vietnam in two weeks.  It's a bit trip and we're all going crazy getting ready for it.
It's been a crazy month, and I'm so ready for a vacation!!
Hope you guys get a chance to have one too

bao

Happy Holidays everyone!  How's going lately?  Relaxing I hope.  That's what I've been trying to do lately since winter break started.  I was able to finally finish up a commission started months ago, so that was great relief.  I will post that sometime soon
Break has been really nice, no snow and it's 45 degrees outside, not a typical winter in Iowa, it should be white and freakin' freezing this time of year, but either way is alright.  I've been helping a friend of mine put together a website for his gecko business, it's been going slow cause I suck at it.  Makes me think of making a website of my own, but that will have to wait I think.  I took on a couple more commissions and trying to put together a "portfolios", which is going slow as well.  
I'm gonna be working all break to earn some more moolas, but since it is break I thought I would start taking more portrait commissions.  I know, a bit late for christmas, but hey, the holiday season is still on.  

For more details on the commissions, please go here

Commission Info

A couple of examples if you'd like [link]

I will leave five spaces open for now.  First come first serve!
1.  
2.
3.
4.
5.  


I think that's about it.  Thank you all so much for everything.  Have a great and safe holiday people and Happy New Year!!

Btw, I have some more photos of my school. This time at night.






guess what created the lights in this one

Yes yes, school had officially started two weeks ago, and I practically dissapeared from DA, and i'm sorry to say, but that's gonna happen more and more these days.  I have five classes this semester, four of which are studio classes.  I usually have two and that was enough, so I must've been cucko when i signed up for four.  Needless to say, i have lots of assignments, most of which i'll be doing this weekend, but I'll post something for you guys.  And about commissions, i'm working on one now, but I don't think i'll be doing more when I'm done with that one, at least not until some big break from school.

So, lots of classes, but good classes, and great teachers, can't really complain can I?:]  I'm taking a Lithography class right now and it's amazing.  We're printing with stones, heavy stones I might add.  It's a very interesting process.  Don't know lithography? search of Mucha, that's how his prints are made.
I also wanted to share some photos of the new Art Building, where i have most of my classes.  It's a bit over the top, but I gotta admit, it's beautiful.



Not much plant life at the moment, but i'm hoping that'll change come next year.




the protruding structure is part of the new art library, the view from there is  great.  They also have these cranks on the books shelfs that you can use to move them, pretty cool.

Well, that's all that's going on with me right now.  It's a great year so far:]

So, i will now have to call the first round of commission done, because someone had to pull out unfortunately, and i'm gonna move on with another commission.  When that's done, i'll start a second round, and hopefully you'll all be back

News?  turned 21 last Sunday, had my first shots...s'alright, heh not much of a drinker.:]
I'll post the portraits i've done so far soon, but meanwhile, here's a lil something i did

heh, it's a bit big...




*EDIT*

so, a lil story on "Fro", mostly for :]

So, one of my jobs is scanning documents for various clients, and one day, i was scanning stacks of private documents, then this caught my eye   Now, i scan hundreds of pages at a time, and i had no idea why one of those "pictures" was the one that stopped me.  So, now guess which one was the main inspiration for "Fro":]  Anyways, i made a copy of it, then sketched it there, then went home to paint it, so there you go, The Story.lol