Creating is in my DNA

My path to becoming an artist is rather unconventional. I had always painted my entire life, but my formal education was in Political Science (minored in Art History) followed by an MBA at UC Irvine. Raised by immigrant parents and an immigrant myself (I was born in Vietnam and arrived in America at five years old), the expectation was to pursue the traditional path to success (get high grades, attend a good school, get a great job/salary). After checking off the boxes, climbing the corporate ladder and achieving the “American Dream,” I was ready to pursue my true passion— become an Artrepreneur. In 2016, I opened Inspired Art Wine, an art studio, wine bar and gallery in Costa Mesa, CA.
 

Why not start my art career sooner? I love my corporate career and am grateful for the opportunities it provided me to travel the world for work. A lot of my paintings are inspired by these travels. Experiencing different cultures increased my appreciation for art and for the landscapes that unite us. Many of my paintings are coastal landscapes drawn from where I was raised (Orange County), but also my motherland, Vietnam. In 2021, I launched my art-inspired wine collection, and the wine labels are varnished prints of paintings named after Vietnam. My other passion is wine! Learn more here.
 

My artworks are centered on the theme of finding peace and beauty, regardless of life’s challenges. There is always grace and peace to be found, and hope shines brightest when life is most tumultuous. When the world shut down during Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, I took the opportunity to paint every day; producing 100+ paintings in two years (most of these paintings are over 4 feet).  

My creative process is methodical, but spontaneous. Before painting, I envision where the painting would be hung, map out the theme of the artwork and select the color scheme. Once the creative process flows, I’ll use untraditional tools (i.e. toothbrush, strings, straws, scraper) to add uniqueness to each painting. I pour my heart out so each painting will never have a duplicate. 

Creating has always been in my DNA and it’s truly a privilege to live a passionate life and share the things my hands and heart create with collectors, buyers, and admirers— thank you for reading! You can find my work at my Costa Mesa studio, NY World Trade Center, City Hall, John Wayne Airport, public/private corporations, small businesses and homes, domestically and internationally.