Artist Ngo Binh ignites passion amidst Da Lat's Mountain Town

Finding the flame of profession in the Mountain Town

Ngo Binh, born in 1988, has been a pyrography artist in Da Lat for more than seven years. Originally from Nha Trang, he left his hometown in 2016 to build a career. Few people know that before pursuing art, Binh endured many hardships to make a living. While studying, he worked a variety of jobs, from waiting tables in restaurants to serving coffee. At times, he was even cheated out of money by customers. Frustrated, he often wandered around the night market or drew portraits at tourist sites just to survive.

At that time, Binh mainly sketched portraits in pencil, painting purely out of passion. He travelled to places such as Vung Tau and Buon Me Thuot to nurture his artistic interest, but it was only upon arriving in Da Lat that he truly found the inspiration that suited him. From then on, the “city of flowers” became both his home and the starting point of his journey with pyrography painting.

After encountering artisans working with pyrography, Binh tried it himself and has since devoted his career to the craft. “I used to focus mostly on portrait sketches. One night at the Da Lat night market, I saw people making pyrography paintings and was immediately fascinated. I had already bought the tools, but never used them. It wasn’t until 2018, when I stopped sketching and had more free time, that I began to study the art seriously”, he recalled.

Artist Ngo Binh carefully creates depth for a portrait using a fire pen. (Photo: Thuy Nga)

With innate artistic talent, Ngo Binh didn't take long to master this art form. According to him, fire pen painting is a unique art form but not widely known. The coastal young man decided to commit to this art form to bring it closer to the public and as a chance to engage in healthy competition with peers, contributing to making fire pen art more popular.

Sitting across from him, we noticed his right hand wrapped with adhesive tape between the fingers. He smiled lightly when we asked: “This injury is from having to rush a portrait for a recent event. I had to paint continuously from 9 AM to 2 AM the next day to finish it. The wood was hard, requiring more hand force. Maybe due to the friction, my hand got blistered.”

Currently, Ngo Binh has completed nearly 3,000 fire pen artworks, covering a wide range of subjects from portraits to landscapes. Each piece is priced from a few hundred thousand to several million VND, depending on the size and complexity of the work.

Meticulous in every drawing

To complete a piece, Binh must prepare various tools, including wood, a fire pen, and pencils. He carefully selects the wood, preferring white, grain-free types for clear images. The main pen, self-made, has strong power suitable for detailed depiction. Accompanying it is a transformer box—a mandatory device to operate the pen at 12-15V. This box, also self-made from wood, contains a fan and cooling system for stable operation.

The first step in creating a fire pen painting is sketching. Next is heating the pen. The pen, made from a copper tip connected to two heat-conducting wires, heats up as electricity flows through, ready for drawing. The pen's tip touching the wood creates distinctive burn marks. The artwork's shades and colors result from a combination of hand force and temperature. “To darken colors, I increase the heat; for lighter tones, I lower it. I constantly adjust the temperature to match the hand's speed,” he emphasized.

Each product is meticulously completed by Binh to ensure customer satisfaction. (Photo: Thuy Nga)

Without guidance, Binh's approach to fire pen art was entirely self-taught. Initially, he struggled to craft a pen to his liking and control the burn while painting. He recounted: “There were times I felt discouraged. Sometimes I accidentally dropped the pen, burning the floor, or carelessly touched the pen, burning my hand.”

We observed that while painting, Binh held the pen and used a phone flashlight. Upon inquiry, we learned that besides observing the model, this light helps him discern light and dark areas, allowing for more precise strokes. He shared that the more depth created with the fire pen, the more beautiful and durable the color on the wood. Conversely, if the color is too light, it will quickly fade over time.

Throughout the painting process, each stroke is meticulously crafted, from sketching and shading to completing the color scheme. Some images require higher techniques, but he remains undeterred. “The more challenging an image, the more I think of ways to paint it, rather than getting discouraged. The harder it is, the more determined I am to complete it,” Binh confided.

Aspiring beyond borders

Binh shared that he enjoys painting portraits of the elderly due to their distinct wrinkles and facial features, which are easy to capture. He also finds children easy to paint due to their chubby, round faces with little variation among them.

As a customer who discovered Binh through social media, Do Huy Anh Vu (43, Lam Dong) expressed satisfaction upon receiving a portrait painted by Binh. “The portrait is of my father, who has passed away. Every time I look at it, it feels so real,” Vu emotionally shared, adding that he would seek Binh’s services again if needed.

Not only attracting art enthusiasts like Vu, Ngo Binh's fire pen paintings also intrigue those in the creative industry. Nguyen Duy Quang (45, Hanoi), with over 15 years in tattooing, stumbled upon this art form on social media and was quickly captivated after viewing Binh's work. “I wondered why this art form was so fascinating. I then started exploring whether I could do it and proactively contacted Binh,” he said.

The Da Lat station painting was continuously created by artist Ngo Binh over 5 hours. (Photo: NVCC)

Impressed by Ngo Binh's works, Quang decided not to seek guidance elsewhere but traveled from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat to learn. After working together, he noted that the young artist is open, not secretive, and willing to share advanced techniques. “Binh doesn’t just give a basic introduction but also guides on advanced techniques, helping me gradually complete my works. I’m fortunate to have met Binh, a skilled and dedicated artist,” Quang affirmed.

On social media platforms, Binh frequently shares newly completed paintings, participates in groups with international artists for feedback, technique exchange, and updates on creative trends. Thanks to friends' introductions, some of his works have found a place in international clients' collections.

As a dedicated artist, Ngo Binh not only strives to develop fire pen painting domestically but also hopes his works will have opportunities to reach international markets. He believes that fire pen art once experienced a “golden era”, but now few know and pursue this art form. Therefore, he aspires to develop fire pen painting both domestically and internationally, contributing to the “revival” of this unique art form.