The Girl Makes Clay Blossom

Phuong Chi completing a mud clay painting

Through Phuong Chi’s skillful hands, mud clay truly “blooms”.

The flower-loving lawyer

Despite not studying art, pursuing a career as a lawyer, and having a busy personal life with two young sons…none of these have caused Phuong Chi to lose her passion for “painting” with mud clay. Talking about her journey into this hobby, Phuong Chi says, “I have loved art since I was young. When I got married and had children, I took a temporary break from work. My husband was afraid of me feeling sad, so he encouraged and supported me to pursue my passion for mud clay. Until now, I feel that creating art that suits my personality is more suitable for me than being a lawyer. I am a person who loves flowers and loves painting, so mud clay flower paintings harmonize these two passions.” According to this lawyer, “when it comes to this art form, I am very interested because it provides me with an effective spiritual therapy and even the finished products help viewers relax and love nature more. Perhaps that’s why the more I love and become passionate about it.”

Roses, chrysanthemums, orchids, sunflowers… any type of flower can “bloom” from mud clay. Mud clay flowers look delicate and lifelike like real flowers, to the point where if you don’t look closely, you might easily think you’re lost in a flower garden when visiting the Hoa Tay Xinh gallery-workshop on Le Thi Hong Gam Street (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City). To create mud clay flower paintings, in addition to being meticulous, skillful, and investing time, the artist must have a solid knowledge of painting. “I learned the basics of clay flowers at the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association, and I learned to paint since I was in school. I also buy books on art and the techniques of flowers from world-renowned artists to self-study and improve,” Phuong Chi shares.

Furthermore, in order to mold a lifelike flower, the artist must study the shape and color of the flower. For example, sunflower petals have a tongue shape and a shiny yellow color, while rose petals are round and come in various colors from red to white to pink. The stamens of orchids and chrysanthemums are also different… If not observed carefully, clay flowers may look rough and less vivid. Creating a flower from mud clay that looks exactly like the real thing is indeed a challenge that not everyone can overcome. However, Phuong Chi doesn’t stop at just the story of molding a flower or a clay flower!

What makes Phuong Chi stand out from other clay flower artists are her mud clay flower paintings under the brand “Phuong Chi Art”. These are paintings that combine painting and clay flowers. While clay flowers made by others have only one color, Phuong Chi’s flowers are painted with different shades to match the context in the painting. When asked about the challenges in the creative process, Phuong Chi modestly says, “The difficulties only arise when you lack perseverance and patience because to create a completely handmade product, you have to go through many stages. But I think, when you truly love and have a passion, you can do it.”

Unveiling her craft, the lawyer reveals the process of creating a mud clay flower painting: “First, you must have an idea. Then, you will paint the background of the painting according to your idea. Then, mix oil paint or acrylic paint into the clay to create colored clay blocks according to your desired colors. The third step is very important and requires carefulness and skill: shaping flower petals, molding clay flower petals, leaves, and branches according to the initial idea before drying. When the flowers are dry, you will continue to paint them, and then place the flowers in the painting as the final step.” A mud clay flower painting becomes more eye-catching when it is combined with a picturesque scenery by adding some young birds or autumn colors with oil paint. Even some flowers painted with oil paint or acrylic paint will give the mud clay flower painting depth.

In addition to the skillful hands and creative force of the mind, the quality of the mud clay material is also one of the factors that make the flower painting perfect. “The mud clay I use is imported from Japan or the United States… this type of clay is much more expensive than the ones available on the market so far, but the effects and durability are completely different,” Phuong Chi reveals. The price of a painting varies depending on the size of the painting, the level of complexity, and the materials used. In terms of durability, the paintings can last from 8 to 10 years if not subjected to external forces.