Art teacher's chalk pastel horse drawing goes viral

Teacher Vu Mac Khue Tram depicted eight horses in vibrant colors on a blackboard, conveying the message "horses bringing success" for the new year.

Art teacher Vu Mac Khue Tram's stunning chalk pastel drawing of eight vibrant horses on a blackboard has recently captivated social media. Commenters were impressed by her use of color and the lively depiction of the animals.

Teacher Vu Mac Khue Tram's artwork, "horses bringing success". *Photo: Provided by subject*

The intricate piece took Tram four days to complete, with her dedicating saturdays, sundays, and free teaching periods to the project. More time-consuming than her previous mascot drawings, this artwork demanded detailed attention to each of the eight horses, capturing their spirited expressions, agile movements, and distinct eyes. Tram meticulously applied four to five layers of chalk to each horse, creating rich variations in light, dark, and hue. Many students and teachers were surprised and eager to take photos with the finished drawing, according to Tram.

Tram began decorating blackboards for Tet (Lunar New Year) in 2023. She recalled that during the Year of the Horse (Binh Ngo), she felt drawing just one horse would be too simple. This initial inspiration led her to the idea of portraying eight horses, a concept she later applied to her recent "horses bringing success" piece for the Year of the Dragon. In addition to Tet, the teacher regularly adorns the blackboard for monday morning flag-raising ceremonies or parent-teacher meetings.

The teacher's drawing celebrating the Year of the Dragon (Giap Thin). *Photo: Provided by subject*

Having worked with various mediums such as oil, lacquer, and silk painting, Tram chose chalk pastels for her school art to be more relatable to students. She noted that while chalk pastels have durability limitations, they create a distinct impression. Outside of teaching, she also paints with oil and decorates everyday items to pursue her passion for art.

Born in 1987, Vu Mac Khue Tram teaches art at Nguyen Van Troi Secondary School in Dak Lak. She completed her college studies at Khanh Hoa University and is currently pursuing a university transfer program at Hue University of Arts. During Tet Quy Ty (Year of the Snake), she also participated in an art exhibition.