This document provides information on various artworks created by Harriet Huong Bui between 2009-2013. It includes 20 separate entries for pieces in a variety of mediums including drawings, paintings, sculptures, and ceramics. The entries include the title, date, medium, dimensions and additional details on the creative process and concepts explored for each artwork. Overall the document outlines Harriet's visual art portfolio and body of work from her studies during this time period.

1. LY (HARRIET) HUONG BUI
VISUAL ART PORTF

2. Title: Figure Drawing #1
Date: 07/04/2013
Medium:Graphite pencil on drawing paper
Dimensions: 18 in x 24 in
Additional details: Live figure drawing

3. Title: Figure Drawing #2
Date: 07/04/2013
Medium:Graphite pencil on drawing paper
Dimensions: 18 in x 24 in
Additional details: Live figure drawing

4. Additional details: Using film noir as an influence, I designed a mystery scene for
the drawing.The project was completed with help from a model who assisted me
with the process of constructing the composition. I focused on building a low key
image to deliver an intense atmosphere.The purpose was to tell a puzzling narrative
for the viewers to question and solve.
Title:A Mystery
Date: 10/21/2013
Medium:
Graphite pencil on
drawing paper
Dimensions:
22 in x 30 in

5. Title: Rooted
Date: 09/20/2013
Medium: Paper
Dimensions: 8.5 in x 8.5 in
Additional details:
Constructing this piece, I
would like to describe a
situation in which people are
not fond of travelling.The
immobility and unwillingness
for travel is represented by
images of human figures
turning into trees.These
surrealistic images combined
with the contrast of black and
white colors are powerful to
deliver the message.

6. Title: Travelling
Date: 09/20/2013
Medium: Paper
Dimensions: 8.5 in x 8.5 in

7. Title:Youth
Date: 09/09/2013
Medium: Acrylic paint and
paper
Dimensions: 8.5 in x 8.5 in
Additional details:
For this project, I
experimented with using
lines to create a non
representational image.
Diagonal and curved
lines deliver expressive
movements and high
energy.Therefore, I
applied them to convey
the exuberance of youth.

8. Title:
When We Are Awake
Date: 09/09/2013
Medium: Acrylic paint
and pencil on paper
Dimensions: 8.5 in x 8.5 in
Additional details:
In this piece, there are
primary colors like red,
green, and yellow with
simple shapes, and
implied curved.
Sometimes, these colors,
shapes, and lines
overlaps.With this
composition, I attempted
to convey the fullness of
life during the day of a
college student.

9. Additional details: This piece was inspired by my observing the marine diatom microscopic
photograph.The diatom carries vibrant colors that draw viewers’ eyes.Therefore, I decided
to create an abstract painting and experiment with acrylic paint for the first time.The pure
black background serves to emphasize the colors of the subjects on the foreground. Large
brush strokes helped me to create a feather-like quality for the subjects that represent the
floating nature of the marine diatom.
Title:
Marine Diatom
Date: 11/04/2013
Medium:
Acrylic paint on
paper
Dimensions:
22 in x 30 in

10. Title: Pained Bunting
Date: 06/2013
Medium: Watercolor on paper
Dimensions: 8.5 in x 11 in

11. Additional details: Best of Show 2-D, Annual Northern ArizonaWatercolor Student Art Show
(April 2012).
Title: Open
Date: 2011
Medium:
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions:
30 in x 40 in

12. Title: Fit In
Date: 05/2012
Medium:
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: 30 in x 30 in
Additional details:
Inspired by the “Shoes“
painting ofVan Gogh, I
created my own version of
the shoes painting. In
society, people wear
different suitable shoes for
different events. In most
cases, people are not
allowed to walk barefoot
in public.These rules are
societal expectations we
carry every day.Thus, in
my painting shoes
symbolize restrictions
society imposes on us.

13. Title: Cup Cake
Date: 2010
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: 24 in x 18 in
Additional details:
This painting follows the pop art
movement in the history of art.
The pop art movement put
ordinary objects around us such
as soup can, pens, and candies at
the center stage. I chose to
depict a chocolate cup cake at a
diagonal angle, which drew
intention of viewer and made the
cupcake more inviting.

14. Additional details: (Representational abstract)Tasseography is an art of telling one's
future and characters by reading random patterns of tea leaves.This is a unique feature
inAsian culture, which reflects my background. I chose to paint tea leaves in a round cup
put on a table.The perspective is from above. The tea leaves are surrounded by the
round edge of the cup.The background was painted based on real designs on the table.
These features have created a balanced composition for this representational abstract
piece.
Title:Tea Leaves
Date: 2010
Medium:
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions:
24 in x 36 in

15. Title: Passion
Date: 2010
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: 36 in x 24 in
Additional details:
(self portrait)The figure of a girl in a
dancing pose is my second self-
portrait.The composition of this piece
was inspired by "The Human
Condition" piece by Rene Magritte in
1933, which painted a painting inside a
painting.The upper part of my body is
in the arts studio.The lower part of my
body is in a dancing pose on stage.The
lower part matches up with the upper
part of my body.The painting inside
the painting is in the process of being
painted.This piece was created to
deliver my two passions for arts and
dancing.These two passions together
build my artistic personality.

16. Title: Grow Up
Date2009
Medium:Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: 24 in x 18 in
Additional details:
This is a painting of me wearing
Vietnamese traditional dress
and make-up.The traditional
dress in white color represents
pure soul of a young girl. Make-
up is often seen to be used by
women in adulthood.The
make-up was done intentionally
in an immature way to show
that I was figuring out a way to
become a woman. Making
mistakes is part of the growing
up process.

17. Title:The Storm
Date: 03/2013
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: 12 in x 16 in

18. Title:The Ballerina
Date: 05/2013
Medium:Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: 24 in x 18 in

19. Title:The Card Dress
Date: 09/21/2012
Medium:
Paper playing card
Dimensions:
48 in tall
Additional details: I have always been fascinated with fashion.Therefore, for the
study of planes in the human body, I made a wearable 3-D dress using only playing
cards and staples.The dress fits the model body accurately to reveal feminine
curves.The back had an interesting touch at the bottom with a star-like design. I
also applied negative space to the back of the dress to create rhythms and
varieties.

20. Additional details: I originally designed and created the stuffed lobsters from fabric for the
dance concert at Cottey College. As the property was required to be durable and safe for
dancers, the most suitable material was fabric. I have researched and taught myself how to
sew.Thus, I have gained significant knowledge and skills on working with fabric, operating
sewing machines, and understanding properties of various types of fabrics.This project
added to my art vocabulary in terms of materials used to create my art works.
Title:
Lobsters
Date:
11/20/2013
Medium:
Fiber arts
Dimensions:
4 feet tall

21. Title: Cardboard Chair
Date: 12/05/2012
Medium:Cardboard
Dimensions: 32 in x 14 in x 20 in
Additional details:
This cardboard chair is stylish, durable
and eco-friendly. It is also made of
affordable materials. Using the
laminate design, I cut pieces of
cardboard into similar shapes and
glued them together to create a solid
mass.The design is simple; however, it
draws the eyes of viewers with soft
curves running from the top to the
bottom.The curve is an inviting
feature that evokes a comfortable
feeling, which makes the design
effective in persuading viewers to take
a seat and relax. Also, the various light
brown values of cardboards enhance a
rhythmic visual effect . And, the paper
grains create interesting texture for
the chair.

22. Title: Shadow Box Cake
Date: 12/05/2012
Medium:Ceramics
Dimensions: 7.5 in x 12 in x 12 in
Additional details:
Based on the Seven Deadly Sins,
this shadow box was created to
critique gluttony. Gluttony is the sin
of consuming more than one’s
need.The shadow box is a cake that
is delicious-looking outside, which
invites more consumption.
However, inside the shadow box are
broken candy canes, splattered
strawberries and lollipops.These
images of destruction represent the
consequences of gluttony.

23. Title: Caution
Date: 04/15/ 2013
Medium:
Ceramics, glaze, iron transfer decals
Dimensions: 14 in x 30 in x 7 in
Additional details:
The female figure has flowers and
birds, symbols of nature, on her
body to represent the nurturing
aspect of women. Her front body is
natural and beautiful. In contrast,
her back is open to expose her
interior with its gears and other
movable components.With these
images I want to reflect the world in
which women are pulled towards
two opposite poles.One is the
current societal paradigm which has
turned many women into working
machines, and one is the marital and
childbearing role that society still
asks women to fulfill.

24. Title: Tea Pot
Date: 05/03/ 2013
Medium:
Ceramics, glaze, decals
Dimensions:
6 in x 8.5 in x 4 in

25. Title: Plates
Date: 02/15/ 2013
Medium:
Ceramics
Dimensions:
7.5 in diameter, 1 in thick