Hà Giang II

This is one of the first oil paintings I've done of the Vietnamese Landscape since first moving here. Done in December 2019, I was on a motorbike tour around the northern countryside in Hà Giang Province, when I came across this breath-taking mountain scene. I stood there capturing its beauty on the back of the motorbike for five hours, meeting people from all walks of life in the process. The friendly faces of the local Vietnamese and tourists alike who stopped to talk to me will forever be in my memory. Upon arriving back in Hanoi one week later, I spent another five hours giving this painting some finishing touches in the studio. When I look at this painting, it takes me back to those first five hours and what an incredible experience it was. Painting en plein air in Vietnam is more than just about the painting, it's about the curious individuals who stop to along the way with such light in their eyes, and for a moment, share the appreciation of this beautiful country together.