“Sawasdee khrap”, my name is Prathoung Kamphat.

Prathoung Kamphat © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“I was born on 25 November 1963 in Chiang Mai, the second of four brothers in our family. My parents, who are tailors, helped us grow up in a warm family atmosphere where we love and support each other. My older brother teaches architecture in Bangkok and my youngest brother works with him as an engineer. Both are doing very well. My other brother has also done quite well running his own business. As for myself, I am happy to just paint and will continue to do so for this is what I really love.

“One of the early challenges I faced in my path as an artist came when I was a teenager. I had studied at pre-technical college in Chiang Mai City for three years but on the day of the final examinations to study at a higher level, I sat in front of a temple asking myself if I really wanted to be an electrician, a television repairman or something like that. My teachers said I could pass the exams easily but on that day I decided this was not for me.

Acrylic on canvas, ‘Victim of an Invader 2′ © Prathoung Kamphat

“My teachers, parents and brothers all thought I was being unwise, saying that it was not easy to get into technical college and that I would be sure to find a job after graduation. None of them knew anything about art or that I loved it. It was a turning point in my life. Even though I had to go back and begin studying art with other students who were four to five years younger, I was very happy.

“After graduation, I worked as a painter improving my skills in the Chiang Mai night bazaar.  It’s the kind of place where those who love art can go and hang out together and work. I ended up working there for 10 years and felt like a brother to the other artists there. In the end, I felt I had to stop and let someone else take my place.

Acrylic on canvas, ‘Victim of an Invader 3′ © Prathoung Kamphat

“This was around 1992. At that time there was only one department store in the city. A few of my friends who were working there asked me to join them and work in the art department, which I did for a few months. It felt quite weird really. I had never worked for a salary and didn’t really feel that this was what I wanted to do. I was not surprised when the owners wanted to talk to me about my performance. It was fun working with friends but quitting was easy as the job wasn’t for me.

“I had more time to focus on my painting and submitted my work to quite a few art competitions. Knowing that people liked my work would make me happy.

“By 2002, my relationship with my wife could go no further and we decided to separate. Our two daughters stayed and studied in Chiang Mai until 2009, when they moved to the USA to stay with their mother. They seem to be doing well there and live happy lives. Life has been good for me too, especially after 2007 when I began to make quite good money. This helped me focus even more and paint whatever I liked.

Acrylic on canvas, ‘Victim of an Invader 1′ © Prathoung Kamphat

“My work is always about the nature of change in time. Different objects represent changes in time and motion that we cannot stop.

“I grew up and live in Chiang Mai city and feel that this is where I will spend the rest of my days. I watch movement and change and feel one with it. Time passes but my love for art never changes. I remain focused on painting all the time and feel very happy to have so many people around me support me in what I love. I truly appreciate the good luck and opportunities I have here.

“Thank you to www.ezistock.com for displaying my work on line. I love my work and put my heart into it. I really appreciate it if you like it.”

Browse Prathoung’s paintings.

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Text by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., 2012 – All Rights Reserved.
Image ‘Prathoung Kamphat’ by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., – All Rights Reserved.
Other images by Prathoung Kamphat © Prathoung Kamphat – All Rights Reserved.
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“My life is very simple. I am happy with what I do and always try my hardest to do the best I can.

Tan Waphet © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“My name is Tan Waphet. I was born on 8^th December 1971 in Phayao Province. My parents are farmers and I have one younger sister. I grew up in a small village where most of the people are farmers so I absorbed the rhythms of life in an agriculture village from my youngest days. Like many villages in Thailand, my village is surrounded by very fertile land where farmers grow rice as the main crop.

Oil on canvas, ‘Sunset’ © Tan Waphet

“When I was young, my parents would take me to the rice paddy with them. I would sit under the shade of a tree or stay inside a small hut in the corner of the paddy. I remember I loved to play with the natural things that were around us. I particularly enjoyed playing with clay as I could make any shape I liked. It could be an animal, some fruit or an insect. This may be one reason why I became attached to art though I always enjoyed drawing in my books as well.

“I am lucky that I knew what I loved from when I was very young. I loved art and have followed it since. Very fortunately, my parents were happy to support me so that I could study art and I was very lucky to be able to pass the entrance examinations to study in an art college.

Oil on canvas, ‘Thai farmer 6′ © Tan Waphet

“Since I graduated, my life has remained focused on work relating to art.

“I married in 2008 but I don’t have any children yet. If I have children one day, I am sure that I will let them follow their hearts and lead their lives in the way they choose. If they like my work and want to learn something from me, I will be happy to teach them.

Oil on canvas, ‘Kwan Phayao’ © Tan Waphet

“I live in Chiang Mai with my wife but sometimes I like to go back to my home in Phayao Province to visit my parents and relatives and observe the farmer’s way of life, the village and the natural environment around it. This is my origin and I am very happy to be a part of it and present it through my work.

“Thailand is very fertile and many people live in the country. In my opinion,the farmers who grow rice work very hard and play a vital role in feeding the population.

Oil on canvas, ‘Sunset in Phayao’ © Tan Waphet

“I would like to thank everyone who browses my work and will be happy if it helps you appreciate the people I represent through my work.”

From 1990- 2012, Tan Waphet has co-exhibited his work more than 19 times all over Thailand. He plans to show his work at least one time per year. In 2003 he won an award for excellence in the “Thai Orchid, natural lines of art” competition at Thammasat University in Bangkok.

Oil on canvas, ‘Thai farmer 2′ © Tan Waphet

In 2007 and 2008, he got second and third prizes in the “Art under the King’s patronage” and the “Art of original Thai embroidery” in Bangkok.

Browse Tan’s paintings.

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Text by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., 2012 – All Rights Reserved.
Image ‘Tan Waphet’ by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., – All Rights Reserved.
Other images by Tan Waphet © Tan Waphet – All Rights Reserved.
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“My name is Nawapoomin Chaichompoo but everyone calls me by my nickname, Troy. I was born in Chiang Mai and grew up with my younger brother in a warm family environment.

Nawapoomin Chaichompoo © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“My mother and father were tailors and I learnt how to sew from them but they also encouraged my feel for art. I used to get upset rather easily in my childhood but I cannot remember why. Whenever I got angry my mother would tell me to draw or paint and I started to learn how to draw and paint from the age of around three. Painting helped me to become calm and I have loved to do it ever since.

“When it came to studying, however, I didn’t know what I could do with art so I chose to study to be a dentist. I passed the nation-wide entrance examination and got a place at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. I chose to be a dentist because I would be guaranteed a job after graduation and I didn’t want to be a doctor who has to deal with people who have serious illnesses and die.

Oil on canvas, ‘Laplang 4′ © Nawapoomin Chaichompoo

“From graduation until the present day I have worked as a dentist but my love for art has remained strong. As a student I enjoyed plays, but I knew no-one who worked on plays. So I produced plays myself, working on stage and costume design. This led me to jewelry design and other artistic interests. Even though I am a dentist, I enjoy doing anything related to art.

“It was Ajarn Dhepsiri Sooksopha (Ajarn means teacher) who really inspired me to study art and taught me what art really is. Meeting him gave me the opportunity that helped change my life. I found out that Chiang Mai University would accept graduate students from any major to study fine art for a master’s degree, and so I entered the program and became very happy during my studies.

Oil on canvas, ‘Laplang 1′ © Nawapoomin Chaichompoo

“I love being involved with anything to do with art and culture and Chiang Mai is a very good place for this since so many related activities and events take place here. My personal interest and the artistic and cultural environment of Chiang Mai has drawn me into becoming a play-writer and director, a movie director, a short story writer and an art and culture events organizer.

“Whenever I am doing anything related to art, it’s just like I am alone in another world. I feel free and happy. I normally spend my mornings working on my art before going to work as the dental clinic in the afternoons. At weekends I am free to work on art projects.

Oil on canvas, ‘Buddha Face 2′ © Nawapoomin Chaichompoo

“My challenge in life is to become fully human. In 2012, I ordained as a monk for 1 month. During this time I studied and practiced the Dharma and I have found that the Buddha teaches the truth. I am now just like many other people who still do things that we know are not quite good for us. So many people can’t even follow the five Buddhist precepts, which are:

1. refrain from killing (respect for all life)

2. refrain from stealing (respect for other people’s property)

3. refrain from sexual misconduct (respect for our pure nature)

4. refrain from lying (respect for honesty)

5. refrain from taking intoxicants (respect for a clear mind)

“I am still not able to follow all of these five precepts but I am trying to do so. I am following the path of the Buddha’s teaching so that I can be fully human, have greater purity of mind and be more than just a person. This is the most challenging task in my life.

“The task for my entire life is to do good things at every step. I realize that what comes around goes around. Doing good things will help take our lives in a better direction and help turn serious trouble into something better. This doesn’t just mean going into the temple, practicing Dharma or donating money and things. It also means thinking good things about people, wishing them well, being happy when other people around us are happy and so forth. This is what good means for me and is what I mean by making a donation.

Mural © Nawapoomin Chaichompoo

“My most remarkable memory is when I had the chance to paint the murals in a temple called Wat Thong Laplae in Uttaradit Province in 2011. I have a friend who comes from this area and there seemed to be something in me that linked me to this place. I spent half a year going back and forth between Chiang Mai and Uttaradit (about 300 kilometers) to paint the murals. I was also asked to design and draw the plan for the temple pagoda and spent one month on it. The pagoda is under construction and I am involved with the fundraising to build it.

“My principle in life is that positive efforts will bring success.

Oil on canvas, ‘Laplang 3′ © Nawapoomin Chaichompoo

“Being able to display my work via the internet is good; it’s like an enormous art space that connects people together well and quickly. I want to thank everyone who browses my work via www.ezistock.com. I hope you enjoy it. We all have different experiences and perceptions of life so I think everyone will get something different from what I present. The inspiration I have behind all of these works also came from different times and emotions.”

Nawapoomin plans to exhibit his artwork at least once a year. Below are his exhibitions in previous years.

2012- Exhibition “Homboon – collecting good will,” Mache’re Chiangmai Art Space.

2011- Mural painting for Wat Thong Lab Lae temple, Uttaradit Province.

2010- Exhibition: “Line and color,” Fine art faculty, Chiang Mai University.

2009- “Art Thesis,”co-exhibition by fine art students, Chiang Mai University Art Hall.

2008- Exhibition: “Different but the Same,” Chiang Mai University’s Art Hall.

2002- Exhibition: “Dheva,” Chiang Mai.

Oil on canvas, ‘Laplang 6′ © Nawapoomin Chaichompoo

Browse Nawapoomin’s paintings.

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Text by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., 2012 – All Rights Reserved.
Image ‘Nawapoomin Chaichompoo’ by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., – All Rights Reserved.
Other images by Nawapoomin Chaichompoo © Nawapoomin Chaichompoo – All Rights Reserved.
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“Nothing is certain in life. That’s why I take it easy, while living and doing the best I can every day. My name is Pipatpong Kandech and my nickname is Aeh. I was born in Phrae province on Valentine’s Day, the 14^thof February 1977.  I have 2 older sisters. My parents worked as school teachers for the government. They always wanted me to study any subject that would lead me to have a secure job. Working for the government, as they did, was in their opinion the perfect example of a secure job. So they never supported my wanting to study art. They couldn’t see how one could earn a living with art.

Pipatpong Kandech © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“I don’t know why I like art. But I remember that I always enjoyed drawing and painting when I was a child. There were activities that made me happy. I also entered competitions my teachers recommended and always got awards, which was motivating.  The turning point occurred when I was 14 years old. One of my sisters studied in a university in Bangkok. There she had friends who studied fine art. During their vacation they came to my home in Phrae. They had several activities related to painting. That amazed me. I would study art!

Acrylic on canvas, ‘Sitting’ © Pipatpong Kandech

“A year later was the difficult time to decide what I’d study next. My average grade was good so I could enter high school without having to pass any exam. My parents also wanted me to study in high school. But I chose otherwise and entered the vocational college.  Later on, I continued to study art and graduated with a bachelor degree in fine art in Bangkok. I made lots of friends there. It was fun and a great experience for me. During that time, I came to Chiang Mai to work 3 months as a trainee for a few friends who studied art. I made quite many friends in this city.

“I had a few friends who worked in the entertainment business. After graduation, they proposed me to work with them in the same company. They warmed me that they were about to leave because of the pressure and because working for somebody else didn’t actually give any security in life. I decided to try regardless. It was actually interesting as I worked in the art department for their entertainment program. After 6 months probation I stayed another month and moved on. My friends and I created some artistic works for people and organizations for the next few years.

Acrylic on canvas, ‘Mickey Mouse’ © Pipatpong Kandech

“One of my relatives got me a job in a casino located in the golden triangle in Chiang Rai province. I witnessed and learned so many things there. I was the artistic director. It was a great experience. It was interesting but odd to see people from all walks of life sharing that same passion for gambling. People can do so many things for money and power, both positively and negatively. I worked a year and a half there. Then one day the Thai-Burmese border closed because of political issues. It was complicated. I left the casino and never want to return there again.

“I went back to my hometown where I was ordained as a monk. It was to give good things back to my parents. According to one of our Thai beliefs, by being ordained monk, any man can pay back the good things his parents gave to him. I liked the monastic life of the Dhammayut order because of its simplicity. There were no rituals and nothing difficult. The way we lived was also very simple. For example we ate only one meal a day, we gathered the meal during a traditional alms round early in the morning etc.

Acrylic on canvas, ‘Amusement’ © Pipatpong Kandech

“I came back to Chiang Mai in 2001 and met up with my friends again. Chiang Mai is a city of art and handicrafts where art and crafts lovers join together. The atmosphere and the personality of Chiang Mai are difficult to describe. Some people call it the business killer. Others call it the rose of the north. It surely has character. As for myself, because of all kinds of art and handicraft the artists and artisans have created for generations, I call Chiang Mai the city of art.

“Hundreds of Buddhist temples in the city make it a fantastic place that captivates people. Chiang Mai also has nice scenery that inspires. One of the most attractive destinations is Doi Inthanon. It’s the highest mountain in Thailand. But there are also other attractive mountains like Doi Luang Chiang Dao, Doi Pui and Doi Suthep. The nice landscapes that surround Chiang Mai and the richness of a culture that began in the 12^thcentury are elements that really make Chiang Mai a very charming city to me.

Acrylic on canvas, ‘Dark Soup’ © Pipatpong Kandech

“I enjoy life in Chiang Mai. The old and the new are intertwined, which creates a unique atmosphere in this city. Here I can survive, at times I do well, with my painting and other artistic works.  I take it easy and I am laid-back. I enjoy meeting up my friends, hanging out with the artists and other interesting people. Chiang Mai is my city by adoption. I will live here for the rest of my life, doing what I love and getting involved with people I enjoy to be with … what else could one need in life?”

Acrylic on canvas, ‘Elephant Coquette’ © Pipatpong Kandech

Browse Pipatpong’s paintings.

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Text by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., 2012 – All Rights Reserved.
Image ‘Pipatpong Kandech’ by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., – All Rights Reserved.
Other images by Pipatpong Kandech © Pipatpong Kandech – All Rights Reserved.
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“My name is Santhan Limpaiboon. My nick name is Ek. I was born in Chiang Rai province on March 4, 1974. I have 2 older sisters and one of them married an artist. My parents used to teach in a private school. After a few years, my father resigned and we moved to Chiang Mai, where he got a job painting signs in Night Plaza. My mother got a teaching job in a private school.

Santhan Limpaiboon © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“My father had such a beautiful handwriting! Every character, every word he wrote on the posters or signs were so beautiful.  I found his amazing and wanted to develop that special ability myself. So I started drawing too. At about 10 years old, I could draw cartoons quite well. It was encouraging so I kept practicing.

Acrylic on canvas, ‘The eye’ © Santhan Limpaiboon

“When I studied in high school I selected art for my major. I got to meet a few older students who were studying in the Fine Art Faculty of Chiang Mai University. We hung out, became friends and I learned more techniques with them. At the university, I enrolled in the Fine Art Faculty, but failed the entrance examination. I tried again the next year but still did not pass.

Oil on canvas, ‘Let’s Play’ © Santhan Limpaiboon

“I felt a bit sad, but it was not the end of the world. So I enrolled in the Teachers College, majoring in physical education. I selected this field and passed the exam thanks to my ability in sports. I ended up representing the school for the northern region in both football and weight lifting. I even got a silver medal in a nationwide weight lifting competition.

“After I got my bachelor degree I did not really know what I wanted. Like so many young people, I was still looking for myself. I also did not have much time, and by then my artistic aspirations had practically vanished. I wandered and somehow worked as a broker in a trust company. I got laid off two years later because of the economic crisis.

Acrylic on canvas, ‘Purity’ © Santhan Limpaiboon

“I then worked as a teacher in a school located in the small town of Mae Jam. But after a few years, I found out that the government office who handled the teachers’ payroll had not done a good job. It irritated me so I resigned. After that I worked in a Thai cooking school for a year. There were so many competitors and our small school could not compete with the bigger ones. So the school was out of business at the end of the year I spent with them.

Oil on canvas, ‘Doi Kong Mu’

“I move to Bangkok and landed a job in an antique shop. There were so many art objects, so many beautiful pieces. It was enlightening as I realized it was something that had been missing from my life for more than a decade. I worked there for 4 years and used my spare time to study painting with my brother in law. I learned so many skills and techniques from him.

Acrylic on canvas, ‘Come!’ © Santhan Limpaiboon

“I knew it was what I liked and felt delighted about it. I really started to focus mainly on my painting. The year was 2006. I am very happy to be back on the right track. Art gets me to do and experience many good things. There are many things to learn about art and life. I still need to study and improve myself more and more.

“I always enjoy observing my surrounding. People, religions, animals, cats, dogs and everything around always keeps me amazed. One might say that I am sensitive and playful but I found that the things surrounding us have an aura. Whether they are people, animals or just objects, they have feelings, which they want to share with us. You can feel it when you really pay attention to them.

Oil on canvas, ‘What are you doing?’ © Santhan Limpaiboon

“Creating art is just like going back home to spend time with my mother. The way I deeply feel about art is just like when my mother hugs me. It is a loving, warm and safe feeling. The most important thing is that it makes me feel very happy.”

Browse Santhan’s paintings.

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Text by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., 2012 – All Rights Reserved.
Image ‘Santhan Limpaiboon’ by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., – All Rights Reserved.
Other images by Santhan Limpaiboon © Santhan Limpaiboon – All Rights Reserved.
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“Hello, my name is Pimon Singhasin. I was born on the 15^th of September 1968 in Ubon Ratchathanee province. I have 6 sisters and 2 brothers and I am the 8^th. Following in my parents’ footsteps most of my sisters and brothers are farmers. My parents were poor but loving and understood each other very well. My siblings also loved and supported each other. I don’t recall any of us having had any argument.

Pimon Singhasin © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“Life was so calm and easy going for everyone in the village. People enjoyed living that way. Their happiness in life rubbed off on me and I’d like to pass this feeling on to my daughter and son as well. I met my wife when I was 19 and we married a year later. Our daughter was born 5 years later and our son 8 years later. My daughter seems to like art but my son is more technically-oriented.

“My passion for art and music came from my surroundings. When I was around 9, my sister sang in a “Mor Lam” band, a traditional singing and dancing form from my province. Lyrics are sung in the north-eastern dialect and music is played with traditional musical instruments. I always liked to attend their rehearsals.

“My friends and I put together our own band. We sang and, for musical instruments, would use anything that would produce sounds. People in the village would attend whenever we played and seemed to enjoy the band. In actuality, we made them laugh quite well and we all had great fun! I think this experience led me to really appreciate music, which I enjoy as much as painting.

Acrylic on cotton, ‘Cotton Dancers’ © Pimon Singhasin

“I remember the movies people who came with their small truck to the village now and then. They would project movies and would try to sell stuff to the audience during the intermission, usually all kinds of modern medicine. The posters they displayed were beautiful. They inspired my friends and me to draw and paint.

“We kept practicing and even set up a cartoon drawing competition at school. It was fun but I also got into trouble because of this competition. I drew kind of an erotic picture featuring a woman and one of my friends placed it on the teacher’s table without letting me know. Once she found out that it was my drawing, she hit me with a bamboo stick.

“As a Thai woman, she found it very rude and disrespectful to draw that picture and give it to her. This event is still so clear in my memory, just as if it happened yesterday. I understand my teacher’s point of view but that punishment did not discouraging me at all. On the contrary, it makes me smile every time I think about it and I still paint the subjects I want to paint.

Acrylic on Thai silk, ‘Sleeping Naked’ © Pimon Singhasin

“When I graduated from primary school, my parents couldn’t afford to send me to school any longer. But my mother really wanted me to study, so I was ordained a Buddhist novice in order to continue my studies. When I was living in the temple, I painted and drew my favorite movie stars, animals or objects around me etc. I would paint or draw with anything I could find on any kind of surface. I even painted on the walls.

“My aunt was teaching in some high school in Chiang Mai. I moved in with her to study at her high school. I told her that I liked art but she enrolled me in French major. I didn’t have any say in the matter but respectfully agreed.  But I didn’t enjoy this. I spent most of the time in the classroom drawing pictures of my teachers. I often went to the Night Plaza during that time. There were many artists who painted there. I liked the ambiance very much.

“I got my high school diploma when I was 18. I moved in with my friends in some dormitory. It was during that time that I failed the nationwide Fine Art Faculty entrance exam. It made me understand that my knowledge of fine arts was basic and that I couldn’t compete with the other students … so I just gave up that plan.

Acrylic on imitation silk, ‘Lonely’ © Pimon Singhasin

“Next I enrolled in a teacher college, majoring in contemporary design. But I didn’t like this major either. I think I was too young to know what I really wanted to study. I just followed others and studied the same. I studied regardless. The only 2 subjects I enjoyed in the classroom were art and psychology.

“The day time I attended just enough subjects to earn the minimum number of credits required to graduate. The night time I practiced my drawing and painting at the Night Plaza. It was my happy time, an open classroom where I could learn, practice and work on what I loved. I initially painted whatever the customers asked me to, which allowed me to build my skills and earn a living in the process. When I became more skilled I started to paint my way. People then seemed to appreciate what I created.

Pimon Playing © Pimon Singhasin

“I became a big music enthusiast during this time. In my spare time, I played the guitar and all sorts of instruments. I also started to compose songs. I used my life and painting experiences in my lyrics, but the result was quite heavy because of the wording I used. So after launching a few albums, I used the traditional musical instruments from my hometown and concentrated on the music only. It turned out to be quite good. I always turned on my music when I painted in the studio. People would hear and follow the music, then saw what I was painting. They liked it.

“I have exhibited solo thrice, in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Starting from my first exhibition, I replaced the canvas with silk. Later I also used cotton and other kinds of fabric. Using silk for my paintings brings back fond memories from my childhood. After a day of labor in the rice field, my mother, like so many other women in the village, would weave silk. She loved her weaving. She did it with happiness as much as many other things in her life. The scene of her sitting at her loom gives me a warm feeling.

“My family, my painting and my music are the most important parts of my life. They’ve grown together and are intertwined. I will continue living my life this way, with my family, my painting and my music. I cannot live without them.

Acrylic on Thai silk, ‘Independence’ © Pimon Singhasin

“To me I live with change and movement. Patterns arise, but I do not stop there. It’s more important to move on, to travel all the time in my work.  Whether it is music or painting, my work never stays still. Making something out of the old, that is what I like, to mix the antique and the modern, to integrate everything that I experience.

“I like the challenge of combining dissimilar elements, of finding unexpected solutions that make sense out of everything, and then move on. That is what makes work so much fun for me, the way it develops and changes and moves on.

“Like a voyage, the concept is always the same yet always move on. I have compiled an album which I would like to offer to the people to help them both to appreciate my art and to listen to my songs with deeper understanding and emotion. I would like to feel that through my music and my painting I can offer to others myself and my friendship.”

Browse Pimon’s paintings.

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Text by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., 2012 – All Rights Reserved.
Image ‘Pimon Singhasin’ by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., – All Rights Reserved.
Other images by Pimon Singhasin © Pimon Singhasin – All Rights Reserved.
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“My name is Aphisit Jromsri and my nickname is Net. I was born on the 8th of November 1982 in Phitsanuloke, a province located in the north of Bangkok. Phitsanuloke is my mother’s hometown. My father came from Samud Prakarn, a province east of Bangkok. I only have one older sister. My parents met and married while they worked in a clothing factory in Samud Prakarn. Sadly, my father passed away a few years later. I was then only 3 years old.

Aphisit Jromsri © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“On my father’s death, my mother resigned from her job and moved back to Phitsanuloke. She earned a living with some grocery business. I lived and studied in Phitsanuloke until I was 15 years old. Then I moved to Samud Prakarn. There I stayed with my grandmother and pursued my studies. I graduated from high school but my grandmother couldn’t support me studying further.

Leather Silhouette, ‘Gold Dragon’ © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“I had to start working with my uncle. He was a government electricity officer but was also running a small business on the side. He employed a few people to handle the work for him. I worked with them for two years. During that time, I enrolled in the Twilight Program of a vocational college. I selected art and enjoyed studying painting very much.

“My life drastically changed when I met my wife in 2002. I was then 20 years old. I fell in love with her and with the art of leather silhouettes carving. Leather silhouettes carving is the legacy that her family passed down and preserved from generation to generation. At that time my wife was coloring the leather. We met about a year before getting married. Our son was born a year later and our daughter five years later.

Framed Leather Silhouette, ‘White Elephants’ © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“I studied leather carving with my father in law. It took me a full two years to master the techniques. It might have taken me much longer time if I hadn’t studied with him. He was so strict and really paid attention to every single little detail. It really stressed me to live up to his high quality standards. But I knew that he has an enormous respect for his art.  This has been his family legacy for generations. So, I was so proud once he finally approved of my carving skills. It’s time for me to prove that his art is in good hands and I won’t disappoint him.

“The other rewarding part of having studied with him is that this experience bonded us. I never have had any life experience with my father. I can’t even remember anything about him. Deeply inside I think that I miss him a lot. But my father in law has been like a father to me. Also I think he thinks of me as the son he never had. We are close now.

Framed Leather Silhouette, ‘Singh’ © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“My wife and her three sisters are all involved in the art of leather carving. They take care of the coloring as well as other processes but not of the carving. Women can carve if they want to, but it is not the custom. Many parents don’t teach carving to their daughters. It might have to do with the detailing and numerous carving steps. It might also be the old custom that men should handle such hard job for their women. Whatever the reason, not many women carve.

“I know that carving leather silhouettes is my vocation. I love it and can’t see myself doing anything else. This art taught me that you can achieve anything when you do things with true love. Not only I enjoy this art but it also has fed me and my family. It also allows me to spend time with my son and daughter.

Framed Leather Silhouette, ‘Garuda’ © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“My children grow up in this leather silhouettes environment. My son seems to particularly like it. I let him participate when he wants to. We would be very happy if he wants to take over and continue the tradition. There are few artisans left who carve nowadays. If the younger generation doesn’t want to take up the torch, this art will surely die out with my generation.

“I had the chance to participate in primitive handicraft exhibitions a few times. I even got an award. I was glad to realize that people seemed to admire my work. This reward was motivating. It also showed me that when you do what you love to do, you will do it well and people will notice it. It’s a message I’d like to pass on to my son and his generation.”

Aphisit at work © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

Browse Aphisit’s leather silhouettes.

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Images and text by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., 2012 – All Rights Reserved.
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“My name is Akkpoup Prukpeeti but everyone calls me “Noi,” my nickname. I was born on 23 February 1969 in the province of Prachuapkeereekan in southern Thailand.

Akkpoup Prukpeeti © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“I’m the youngest of 11 children. My father was Chinese and my mother is half Chinese half Thai. During World War 2, life was very hard in China.  Many Chinese people migrated all over the world to escape the atrocities of war and find a better life. Many came to Thailand.

“Originally from Sichuan, my father escaped with his brother when they were both only teenagers. They arrived in Thailand and started to earn a living with whatever labor jobs they could land. His brother passed away while still a teenager. My father was very sad about this loss as he was his only relative at that time. My father was 79 year old when he passed away in 2002.

Oil on canvas, ‘Morning Light’ © Akkpoup Prukpeeti

“My father was a farmer. He took care of the rice field, he planted trees and vegetables while my mother ran a grocery shop with my brothers and sisters. My mother also took care of us and helped my father whenever she had time. My eldest brother was actually the one who took care of the grocery. As the eldest brother he had to support us all. We owe him and my parents a lot.

“I was very close with my mother when I was young. After school, I would help her and my brothers prepare the grocery stuffs people ordered. After that I would help her with the vegetable garden.  The next day I would then deliver to the buyers at five in the morning.

Acrylic on canvas, ‘Consciousness’ © Akkpoup Prukpeeti

“None of my siblings were interested in art. Some became government officers, some ran their own business. I’m the only one who entered the world of art. It started when I was 9 years old. I was always happy doing all kinds of artistic or handicraft works. I enjoyed building objects with clay or any other materials.

“It would make sculptures, dolls, ashtrays etc for hours without getting bored. I couldn’t craft at home because I had so many other chores with the grocery, the garden and our home. Crafting at home would have made me happy but it was just not possible.

Oil on canvas, ‘Prasart Temple’ © Akkpoup Prukpeeti

“One of my art teachers noticed my drawing skills. He was very supportive and encouraged me to study art further. However, my parents and my siblings weren’t supportive. They couldn’t see how art would put food on one’s table. One of my sisters simply couldn’t understand the concept of me doing something that wouldn’t bring any money to me. As many down-to-earth and practical people, they didn’t see the use or the meaning of art. But I didn’t listen and went further with my studying art anyway.

“I majored in sculpture and worked several places after getting my bachelor degree. For a year I designed patterns and motifs for an apparel company. Next, I worked in a ceramic factory. I ended up working in the audiovisual education section of a government hospital in Bangkok for 2 years.

Oil on canvas, ‘Mountain’ © Akkpoup Prukpeeti

“One of my oldest friends proposed me and other friends to paint with him in a temple in Kanchanaburi province. Off we went. Things were going quite well and we continued painting in a few temples. Then my friend collected the last payment for us all and suddenly vanished. I had nothing left except a small camera which I sold to buy a bus ticket to Bangkok.

“There, I enrolled in the Royal Pages School where I studied stucco for a year. With this specialized knowledge, I got to work on my own. I got several stucco works from temples and ended hiring 12 people.  We worked in Bangkok and other provinces. Things seemed to go pretty well and I got married when I was 27 years old. My son was born 2 years later, just when the economic crisis hit Thailand In 1998.

Oil on canvas, ‘Long Neck Karen’ © Akkpoup Prukpeeti

“Before having my own family I often went out with my friends. After the birth of my son, I stopped all kind of activities that would take my time away from my family. During the crisis, I had to work for a company that paid me a salary for a year. When the economy got better, I got into the wax sculpture business and got a lot of work. My daughter was born a few years later just when I started painting murals for temples again.

“During that time, following this difficult crisis, I was only focusing on working.  I’m not sure why … it might be because I wanted to bring security to my family. I wanted them to feel secure and not worry about money. I wasn’t aware that my work kept me away from my family most of the time. Before I was able to do anything about it, the relationship between me and my wife was over.

Oil on canvas, ‘Nawarat Bridge Morning’ © Akkpoup Prukpeeti

“This separation made me feel sad and down. I didn’t know what to do with my life for quite some time. I would have never thought that this could happen to us. All I always planned for was to have a happy family. This sentiment was very strong as I never really felt warmth as a child. I never felt close to my father. Regardless, I don’t know why I let this happen.

“This occurred at a time when I planned to paint artistic works. I had bought a piece of land in my hometown, where I planted rubber trees years ago. I thought to go back to live there with my family, taking care of the plantation and sell the rubber. I planned to do this and paint in my spare time. However, I moved to live in Chiang Mai province in 2009 with my son. Here I can work with my friends on works we love and we can also support each other.

Oil on canvas, ‘Yellow and Red’ © Akkpoup Prukpeeti

“Working in temples taught me a lot. All the objects that shape and decorate temples and Buddha images are just brick, wood and cement. However, people worship them regardless. Perhaps it’s also got to do with all the artists who created these objects, putting all their beliefs, dedication and worship into them? As one of these artists myself, it is inspiring. I always do my best to create the best religious objects possible.

“I still have to do all sorts of artistic works to earn a living. But this still allows me to create works I love in general. I paint what I feel deeply inside. I use my skills to best present what is in my mind and heart. I paint the beauty of the landscapes and of all the objects that surround us. I put in them the serenity and beliefs of Buddhism. Thus, I hope the art enthusiasts will find meaning in my works, and that this will give them somehow a bit of happiness.”

Browse Akkpoup’s paintings.

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Text by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., 2012 – All Rights Reserved.
Image ‘Akkpoup Prukpeeti’ by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., – All Rights Reserved.
Other images by Akkpoup Prukpeeti © Akkpoup Prukpeeti – All Rights Reserved.
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“My name is Cha-Aim. I was born on the 26th of August in 1993. I grew up in a warm and tight family. Originally we come from Chiang Mai, but we moved to Lamphun in 2010. My father is a researcher and my mother is a housewife. My younger brother studies in junior high school.

Cha-Aim © Cha-Aim

“I study Chinese business at Mae Fah Luang University in Chiang Rai. My favorite subjects are languages and arts. I know both English and Chinese. I also love music. I can play the guitar a little and like singing. Once, I won a singing contest at school.

Pearl and garnet dangle earrings, ‘Fire Passion’ © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“Living and studying away from home has been challenging. My parents are not around to drive me. I miss and love them very much. I live and manage by myself. I have lots of activity and study hard. Nevertheless, I try to make everyday my best and happiest day.

Pearl, MOP and coral necklace, ‘Red Ocean’ © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“I had the chance to become an exchange student and lived in Alaska for a year. I will never forget the amazing year I spent there.  Now, I feel like having 3 new families. I also met people from all over the world. I miss them all so much. During my stay there, I studied art, which turned out to be something I am pretty good at. I can do acrylic painting, charcoal drawing, screen printing etc.

Shell and amethyst pendant necklace, ‘Ocean Master’ © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“I love art. My family has always been involved in artistic works. My aunt, my mother and my cousin design and make jewelry. I have always appreciated the beautiful pieces of arts they create. So I learned from them and started creating my own styles. To design a piece of jewelry is like personalizing who you are and who you want to become. For us girls, jewelry makes us feel special. It is also such a pleasure and privilege to create something that will make people look beautiful.

Sodalite, turquoise and aventurine necklace, ‘Aqua Voice’ © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“It was a great moment when my first piece sold. Having someone actually buy my creation made me feel so happy and so proud. Even though I now solely focus on my studies, I always enjoy designing and creating my jewelry during my spare time and on the weekend.

Ruby and Mau Sit Sit pendant necklace, ‘Belle Princesse’ © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

“The World Wide Web is the new tool that connects people and helps them keep in touch. It is a big chance for jewelry lovers around the world to see my creations. I like this! I hope you will appreciate my artworks. Thank you!”

Pearl, pink moss and garnet pendant necklace, ‘Royal Pride’ © Ezistock Co., Ltd.

Browse Cha-Aim’s jewelry.

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Text by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., 2012 – All Rights Reserved.
Image ‘Cha-Aim’ by Cha-Aim © Cha-Aim – All Rights Reserved.
Other images by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., All Rights Reserved.
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