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Songwoot

"I'm Songwoot Khaowiset, I am married and my mother lives with us. My father is a retired soldier and my wife is a tour guide who often travels because of her work. We are a happy and supportive family so I never feel lonely, even when my wife is away.

"Ever since I was a child, I've always loved to draw, so it was an obvious choice for me to study a BA in Fine Arts. My friends studied a vocational career to ensure they could get a job, but I wasn't letting money decide for me. I knew I had made the right choice when I saw people's reactions to my work.

"At first I had no problem selling my paintings in street art markets, but the economic crisis and the rise of fuel prices have affected sales. I got a job at a shop in Chiang Mai's Night Bazaar, but then that had to close down after two months because of the financial situation. I decided to start my own studio/ workshop where I could sell my paintings, and though times are still hard throughout the country, I'm getting by.

"My motto is to do the best I can in everything I do, because it will have an effect in my future. I do not lay my hopes on others, and if something doesn't work out the first time, I keep on trying until it does. To me, health is more important than money for if we were rich and in poor health, what would be the point of it?

"One of the greatest challenges I have met as an artist was holding my first exhibition. I was so worried about what people would say, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how they accepted my work. They bought all of my paintings!

"My inspiration comes from my love of painting. I will paint for as long as I can. Painting relaxes me as I am able to externalize my thoughts and my feelings. I specialize in pointillism, which I've learnt from the masters I admire such as Gorge, Sherdt, Vengo, and Sith. I also incorporate my experience into my works, as well as my admiration for Buddhist art and the classic stylizations of ancient Lanna. I hope that through my art I contribute to preserving these legendary Thai art forms.

"I like the effect I get with acrylics when I paint in pointillism, it causes a 'soft' effect. Sometimes I use brighter colors to contrast with the lighter hues. Not many people use pointillism because it demands a lot of time, but I enjoy it."