Chabot Spectator

Issue date: 3/29/07 Section: In Focus

This is entitled, "The Beautiful Girl and Cats" and shows her love for felines.

Media Credit: Photos Courtesy of Hang Phan This is entitled, "The Quiet Corner" and represents the beauty of motherhood.

Media Credit: Graham, Paige Hang Phan sits with her album of art.

The vibrant colors and bold black lines that fill the many sheets of special transitional paper painted by early childhood development student, Hang Phan, are a direct reflection on what she is all about.

For those that know her, it could be said that the vibrant colors, which Phan uses in her paintings, are reflections of her charismatic and welcoming personality. The bold black lines that outline each color act in the same way that God guides Phan in her life.

Phan, 29, was born and raised in Vietnam as a Catholic. She is devout in her religious practices, praying everyday and living life with a humble heart.

"I believe God is a great Father," said Phan. "Everything I asked for, God answered."

She recalls a time in Vietnam when an art teacher at the Fine Arts University (Saigon) believed that Phan was unable to pass a competency test. With no prior experience in drawing the naked human form, Phan asked for God's help, and afterwards, with some effort, she passed.

Phan later received a bachelor's degree in fine arts in June 2001 from FAU (Saigon). In April 2003, she relocated to Hayward, Calif., along with her husband, Hoang Le, whom she met at the university and is also an artist.

"If he doesn't help me, I can't go to school," said Phan. "He really encourages me."

They have an adorable 3-year-old daughter, Julie Vy, who was born in San Jose, Calif.

In Julie's infant years, Phan stayed home to be a full-time mother. After that period, in 2005, Phan found a job her first paying job at Subway making sandwiches for customers.

While working at Subway, she not only made sandwiches for customers, but chatted with them. Eventually, a regular customer offered her a real estate job, where Phan, to this day, still works.

Immediately after arriving in the U.S., Phan attended Hayward Adult School, taking ESL and other classes. Phan was a typical starving artist, and one day, she brought her portfolio to school.

Two classmates immediately recognized the talent, and the results were two 8-by-10 pencil sketches that sold for $50 each. This was Phan's first art deal in America.

Phan's portfolio shows how versatile an artist she is, with works ranging from wood-carving and crystal-cutting to oil paintings. She mentions that "powder color is my favorite, but cannot keep long like oil."

Each of Phan's paintings is as won-derfully vivid as an illustration from a children's book. It also has the artistry that appeals to all ages for its simplicity and realism.

Phan explains that there are two types of art.

"One is for business and the other is real art," said Phan. "Art that I can put my feelings into."

Aside from her artistic abilities, Phan is an award-winning writer and fares well in singing too.

Phan claims to receive her creativity and talents from both her grandfathers, singing and art from her maternal grandfather and writing from her paternal grandfather. Phan's parents were farmers and denied their creative side.

Phan is a petite wonder who has significant talents and even bigger goals.

While working in Vietnam at a non-profit organization, Saigon Children's Charity, Phan realized that she loved kids, and with her passion for art, she developed the idea to run a school where she can "teach young children art." It was also the same place where she learned English.

She hopes to earn a second degree in childhood education, as well as receive a master's in fine arts.

Phan also wants to open a gallery for her art, but explains that the costs are not yet affordable. She does not want to post her pieces online because she fears plagiarism.

Hang explains that most of her inspiration comes from her culture.

"Through my art, I can show the world Vietnamese culture," said Hang. "I'm proud of being Vietnamese."

To view the artwork, Phan encourages those who are interested to e-mail her at na2_ho7@yahoo.com and she will reply instantly or call her at (510) 305-7483, she says.

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