Binh Pho is a critically acclaimed artist, known for an expansive approach to work in wood and glass that includes painting and a unique exploration of positive and negative space. His works feature a highly personal iconography, with imagery that relates to Asian culture and the natural world. The story of his journey from an idyllic childhood in Vietnam to the rise of Communism and his escape to the United States was shared in the book.
River of Destiny: The Life and Work of Binh Pho, published in 2006 in conjunction with a retrospective of his work at the Long Beach Museum of Art. In 2013 Binh Pho collaborated with Kevin Wallace on the new project,
Shadow of the Turning, which focuses on art, philosophy and storytelling, yet is an entirely fictional story, blending the mythic worlds of fairy tale, fantasy, romance and adventure. It creates a bridge between literature, art world approaches to concept and narrative, and craft traditions. The story is illustrated using an exciting new body of work by Binh Pho, which combines woodturning, sculpture, painting and art glass.
As Shadow of The Turning traveled across the country as an exhibition at major museums, Binh was interviewed for a PBS documentary, as part of the American Experience Series.Last Days in Vietnam, directed by Rory Kennedy, featured extensive interviews with Binh and was nominated for an Academy Award. Attending the awards ceremony with Kennedy and Stu Harrington, a US Army officer in charge of the evacuation of the Vietnamese Embassy during the Fall of Saigon, was truly an American Dream.
Binh Pho is in demand as a lecturer and demonstrator. His work is exhibited internationally and in the permanent collection of numerous museums including The White House Collection, Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian of American Art, and Museum of Art and Design (NY).
AIRBRUSHING TECHNIQUE ON TURNING
- Airbrush and accessories selection
- Prepare your turning ready for airbrush: seal the wood, applying frisket and/or masking tape, etc
- Color selection: Opaque vs. transparent, dye vs. color.
- Airbrush techniques: Special effects, transparent color mix, Fading technique, etc
Are you unfamiliar with airbrush? Thinking that airbrush is for artist on canvas… you need to come to see this demo: it’s easier than you think. I will go through the airbrush 101 from tool selection to how to spray acrylic paint and dye on wood and curved surfaces.
- Using conventional bowl gouge to turn a thin wall, open bowl in green wood
- Using light source to gauge wall thickness
- Using home-made scraper to shear scrape the surface
- Drying process and preparation for airbrush and/or piercing
I will demonstrate how to use a conventional bowl gouge to turn a bowl with 1/16” wall thickness, using green wood and a light source to gauge the wall thickness. If you are intimidated with the thin wall turning now, please come to see this demo, I guarantee that it will change your mind.
PIERCING and TEXTURING TECHNIQUE – SURFACE EMBELLISHMENT
Bowl or vessel preparation for piercing.
- Piercing tools selection, their availability on the market
- Image transfer, drawing and design possibility
- Piercing techniques
- Texturing techniques
Confusing about what kind of tool can cut the intricate lacey like pattern, I will demonstrate the piercing technique that I use the ultra speed dental drill to cut 1/16” thickness wood like butter. Using same tool to texture the surface.
INSPIRATION SLIDE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
This slide presentation is not just the slides of my works, it’s about how I derive from an image, a story, an emotional experience to my work.
- Seven levels of learning, know where we are and what is your next target to be achieved
