Catholic artist paints more than 1,000 pictures of President Ho Chi Minh

Studying and practicing portrait painting since his teenage years, artist Tran Hoa Binh in Ninh Binh has been practicing the profession for more than 50 years.

Over the years, he has diligently produced many works of art, especially works on the subject of Uncle Ho, creating a strong attraction for art lovers. He is a typical example in studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style.

Determined to become a painter with heart and vision

The small house along Highway 10 in Phat Diem Tay Street, Phat Diem Town, Kim Son District, Ninh Binh Province is the workplace of artist Tran Hoa Binh.

Not only did the people in the neighborhood know that he was talented in portraiture, but his reputation was also known to many people inside and outside the province.

Mr. Tran Hoa Binh, born in 1955, in a simple and traditional Catholic family. From a young age, along with the echoing bells of the church, his parents educated him not only to be a person who “respects God, loves his country,” loves his fellow countrymen, but also to be a citizen who is useful to society.

Luckily, he was guided by his father, painter Nam Phong, a talented painter of Kim Son land, who held his hand and showed him the first strokes when he was only 13 years old.

Talking about his talented father, Mr. Tran Hoa Binh said that his father - painter Nam Phong was the one who passed on his passion and was also his only teacher.

As a “God-fearing, patriotic” person, his father lived a simple, diligent life, passionately creating paintings and creating many excellent works of art. Among them is the famous “Our Lady of Vietnam” , displayed at the Vatican.

The qualities in life and in the profession of his father were continued and passed on to painter Tran Hoa Binh. That is why, since the age of 13, remembering his father's words, he determined to study to become a painter with heart and vision like his father.

Artist Tran Hoa Binh paints a portrait of Uncle Ho. (Photo: Duc Phuong/VNA)

Artist Tran Hoa Binh confided that although he had been exposed to pencils, color mixing trays, and his father's paint brushes since he was young, when he started learning to paint, he realized that this was not a simple task.

With his father's constant encouragement and support, he gradually got used to it and his skills improved day by day. In particular, in addition to themes inspired by everyday life, his father guided him to draw portraits of President Ho Chi Minh - a subject considered very difficult for portrait painters, as they had to express the spirit of Uncle Ho. Therefore, in addition to solid skills, meticulousness, and high concentration, one must also have a sacred love for Him.

Passionate about the profession

From the guidance of his teacher and father, artist Tran Hoa Binh constantly cultivated his love and respect for Uncle Ho and always learned more about Uncle Ho through documents and books.

After many attempts, in 1971, at the age of 16, he was able to draw his first portrait of Uncle Ho. This is also a memory that he will always remember.

At that time, the People's Committee of Phat Diem town organized a year-end summary of work, he and his father were invited and he had the opportunity to introduce the portrait of Uncle Ho. When the painting was presented to the entire hall, it received endless applause.

He was very touched to receive encouragement from everyone, which was also an affirmation that his skills had been recognized. This event gave him more confidence and determination to help him continuously learn and improve his knowledge of painting to become a good artist.

With over 50 years of experience, he has created thousands of oil paintings with many different themes. Most of his paintings are about Catholicism, landscapes, portraits, rural life...

In particular, the paintings of Uncle Ho all left a deep impression. He proudly said that the period from 2000 to 2015 was the period in which he created the most portraits of Uncle Ho.

Up to now, with his diligence and passion, artist Tran Hoa Binh has painted more than 1,000 portraits of President Ho Chi Minh. His works have been purchased by groups and individuals and used as gifts during holidays, Tet, and major anniversaries of the country and locality...

Painter Tran Hoa Binh shared: "The most difficult thing when drawing Uncle Ho is his eyes, which are very bright and have an indescribable feeling." That is why he often spends from 4 days to a week, or even longer, to complete a painting of Uncle Ho.

Always attached to and wanting to preserve the family tradition, artist Tran Hoa Binh constantly cultivates and passes on his passion to the next generation. He is proud and moved that all 4 children are now pursuing the career of artists and have stable jobs.

He always taught his children that when pursuing this art, the most important thing is to love the profession, strive to improve, and especially have a heart for the profession.

Ms. Tran Thi Cuc, Deputy Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of Kim Son district, said that studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style has been widely spread throughout the entire Kim Son district Party Committee and many typical examples have appeared in all fields.

In the field of art, there is artist Tran Hoa Binh, a dedicated, hard-working, and responsible person. He has contributed to spreading the love for beloved Uncle Ho. Each of his paintings of Uncle Ho is expressed with all his heart, depicting the most authentic image of the Father of the nation.

Painter Tran Hoa Binh is honored to be one of 65 collectives and individuals honored by Ninh Binh province as typical examples in studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of implementing President Ho Chi Minh's Testament (1969-2024) and 65 years of Uncle Ho's visit to Ninh Binh (1959-2024)./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nguoi-hoa-sy-cong-giao-ve-hon-1000-buc-tranh-ve-chu-tich-ho-chi-minh-post1038449.vnp