Ta Van Tiep meticulously trims every detail in every wall painting he undertakes - Photo: HA QUAN
Those are the images in short clips that many people on TikTok in recent days have seen and shared a lot. The image of a friend in a military uniform seemed to dance on the walls and a unique painting gradually appeared, captivating viewers.
He is Ta Van Tiep (30 years old, from Bac Giang). His TikTok account called Tiep Tien Tien has so far attracted over 41.000 followers, with nearly 420.000 likes for clips sharing how to create 3D murals.
TA VAN TIEP
The passion of a demobilized soldier
In a clip with nearly 2 million views, the demobilized soldier was quite humorous with his poetic performance: "I've finished the painting, I don't know if you're satisfied or not." An older man's response was equally humorous: "If asked, I'll tell you that my daughter is not married yet," making many people laugh and say, "The young man chose the right father-in-law."
Next, you guys take advantage of your breaks and free time to record clips, then cut, edit, add music and upload them to TikTok for fun. Yet, it received a lot of support, so it took more effort to produce clips.
"There are many aunts and uncles who want to be my son-in-law, but up to now I still don't have any girlfriend to accept me as my husband" - Tiep smiled while meticulously instructing students on how to mix mortar and get the core of paintings.
The mural painting workshop is about a few hundred square meters, nestled in a deep alley always littered with cement near Thang town (Hiep Hoa, Bac Giang). Wearing the familiar soldier's uniform, Tiep said that at first he chose to learn the refrigeration trade, but after half a month he gave up and decided to study painting and has been working on murals ever since.
It is easy to say but difficult to learn. When he first came to Hanoi, Tiep applied for a job as an assistant to learn an apprenticeship. Once you have mastered the technique, make a product and sell it to save money to buy school supplies. Whenever I see someone going to work, I ask to come along, no problem.
“The first time I completed a countryside painting, I was highly appreciated by everyone in the class and the teacher. I feel like I chose the right career, the right passion" - Tiep laughed.
Having a job, this guy from Bac Giang travels everywhere to take jobs, sometimes in Hung Yen, sometimes through Quang Ninh, Nam Dinh, regardless of sun or rain. Coming from a military background, Tiep told himself that "the military trains you to have the will to endure hardships and hardships" and considered challenges at the beginning of his career as training tasks, once done, must be completed.
However, sometimes it's too difficult, Tiep wants to give up. But remembering what the captain of the 86th Chemical Defense Brigade once said, "Comrades who will later join the army, try to find a career to stick with and develop, no matter how hard or difficult it is" leaves behind the effort.
Share professions, create jobs
Taking advantage of projects that have not been done yet, receiving 20 students, including those who have studied drawing for many years, and some farmers who have never held a trowel, trowel, or drill. The weather in the North is drizzly, humid, and the wet ground sticks to our shoes wherever we go, but everyone is excited, pointing out each petal and vein on the leaf as they work.
The lifeless walls through the hands of the soldiers' class students seemed to be brought to life. The peacocks that were just drawn in black ink a few minutes ago suddenly became solid as if they were about to spread their wings.
Teacher Tiep said that creating wall paintings requires meticulousness and care, plus some artistic talent and aesthetic eye to create the most vivid details.
"To create beautiful paintings, everyone must learn the basics, from how to turn mortar to cut blocks, trim flowers, trim branches" - Tiep said while instructing students how to use two fingers to tilt the trowel at a 60 degree angle. Cut the mortar fibers firmly, pointed at both ends to create blocks.
A complete and beautiful painting, according to Tiep, must have depth, harmonious composition, sharp details, bright colors and express the soul of the subject.
Asking about his income, he proudly showed that many customers pay up to 8 million VND/m2, while for normal paintings he only charges about 3 - 5 million VND/m2, sometimes even lower if the customer lives nearby. Each month, he and his assistants can do about 30 square meters, so the income is quite good.
He said he really likes people to call him Tien Tien Tien. He is still learning new techniques and will expand vocational training for those who are passionate about wall painting.
"When I have a certain amount of capital, I will accept more brothers, maybe demobilized soldiers with the same passion but difficult circumstances, and give them vocational training for free" - Tiep talked about his upcoming plans.
Inspire and practice willpower
Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Van Thang - political commissar of the Military Command of Hiep Hoa district (Bac Giang) - said he was the one who shared Ta Van Tiep's TikTok Tiep Tuc Tien page to spread the soldier's spirit. To see that even after military service ends, each soldier still retains the will and energy to overcome difficulties, work well and transmit positive energy to those around him.
According to Mr. Thang, the military environment helps Tiep have a working spirit and actively teach vocational training and create jobs for other young people. “I hope that more young people will continue to dedicate, study, and perform military service to build bravery and will, and when they return to their localities, they will promote their soldier spirit and become good citizens. , contributing to society" - Lieutenant Colonel Thang expressed.
