Spectres

Spectres is a curated collection of over 110 small artworks made by Tran Nguyen in the past decade. Each painting is a means of exploration—a study whose purpose is to develop a deep understanding of new media. The works depict loosely rendered female portraits or, on seldom occasions, animals. They were created without the restraints imposed by extensive preliminaries that Tran often adheres to as part of her standard illustration process. This study series started out as an outlet for trying new ideas, materials, color palettes and substrates, without the looming pressure of perfection or deadlines. They fulfill Tran's need to be adventurous, which allows her to stumble with her brushstrokes and evolve as an artist. The time spent with each piece was brief—to capture the fleeting moments of her artistic curiosity. This series has helped Tran to freely discover unconventional and unique methods of art-making, which has been incorporated into her gallery and illustration work. This includes the application of pressed flowers and embroidery. What began with a few small-scale portrait paintings has become the stepping stones to hone the technical skills that inform her larger pieces. The works in this book serve as guides into Tran's artistic exploration. Spectres is produced with a premium spot color for interior text, includes blue gilt edges, and a blue foil stamp for the Spectres title on the front cover.