Paintings of zodiacs bring audience closer to traditional fine arts (Photo: VOV)

The zodiac has long been a source of inspiration for artists. Initially it was just a hobby and a way for the artists to start the spring. Later the artists created a line of zodiac paintings, which are popular during the Lunar New Year. In the Year of the Cat 2023, young artists of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts chose "silk" to start the workshop series featuring cats.

Drawing zodiacs at Nam Huong communal house (Photo: VOV)

Painter Hoang Lan said: "Silk is a traditional material of Vietnam but not as popular as lacquer or oil. Such workshops teach people about silk. This year is the year of the cat, so our theme is drawing cats. Cats are also very close to humans, especially in Vietnam."

To create a picture of a cat on silk, the painter needs to perform many steps, some of which need to be meticulously detailed. First, they make a sketch on paper, and then a sketch on silk. The last step is to use watercolor to create nuances for the picture.

Painter Dang Thuy Linh said: "Silk is a light and thin material, so when drawing, it is necessary to make the sketch lines flexible and light. Especially when drawing cats, we need to focus on the eyes to show the cat's intelligence and agility."

Foreigners are interested in drawing cats (Photo: VOV)

Drawing cats on silk is not easy for those who are not majoring in art, but brings a new experience to them.

Dang Linh, a Hanoi resident, said: "I've never drawn before. I'm trying it out for the first time. It's very interesting. The cat and the silk have a certain compatibility because both of them are soft and gentle. Drawing cats is a nice experience. Here you not only draw but also see the paintings of the artists."

Creating art in an ancient space like the Nam Huong communal house, the young artists hope to bring the public closer to traditional art. In the near future, they will conduct other workshops of drawing cats using other traditional materials like lacquer, oil paint, and dó paper at communal houses, pagodas, temples and other historical sites in Hanoi.