The Art Process

Santa Barbara artist, Morris Squire has produced over 90 pieces of lacquerware art during his frequent traveling to Vietnam. This opportunity has allowed Squire to work closely with Vietnamese artisans in their workshops, utilizing their techniques of art production.

Each lacquerware painting begins as an initial idea which is then translated into a computer generated image. Once the image is created and laid out, it is then sketched onto pressboard and hand painted in oil. Gold and silver leaf produced in a specific village is then applied with adhesive to complement each image. Mother of pearl and crushed eggshells are added in a painterly fashion. This process consumes many hours of numerous steps of production. Multiple coats of lacquer are then applied and rubbed down with water, sand paper and finally human hair are used to polish each piece. The resulting surfaces are clear, perfect and shiny. The art of lacquer dates back 2,000 years to the early temples of the region and has proven to be extremely durable over time.

Squire utilizes Vietnamese traditional skilled artisans in his quest to express his ideas. He often works side by side with the crafts people, learning the details of each step of the lacquer process. The artist spends full days working, eating and socializing with the Vietnamese people whom he collaborates with.

Squire's intention is to record the daily life and beauty of the Vietnamese people through experiencing first hand the country and its culture. Only through intimate and sustained contact with the people around him can this artist begin to express his ideas.

"In order to know myself,
I must be able to to empathize
and reflect upon the subjects
of my portraiture. To enter
their lives is to better
understand my own."