How To Be A Farang Artist In Thailand?

[hanseman]

Hi everyone,

I apologize for my not perfect English, hope you can get the main idea anyway.

As a new member on this forum I would like to introduce myself.

I am 67yo retired Swedish artist working with paintings and Digital Fine Art; just now looking over the possibilities for moving to Thailand. I want still go on painting; therefore I am very curious about the working conditions for farang artists in TH. I have searched the net for information but it seems to me that there is very little to find.

Maybe there are more artists who have the same problem. In my opinion this forum can be a gold mine for this matter; at the same time inject more energy and generate more writers. I understand there are farang artists working in TH.

I would highly appreciate if some of you could share your experience; tell us about the arts market, how you can exhibit a.s.o.; as well as the price level for artist material, oil colors, canvas, and framing.

It would be interesting if someone know about how to work with Digital Fine Art in Thailand.

In October I will stay in Khon Kaen for 3 weeks. My intention is to collect as much material and impressions as possible for further work when I am back in Sweden.

Well that is a good start I guess,

Best regards to my artist colleagues

//hanseman//

[nostrel]

there is plenty of thai painters trying to scratch a living , bring your own materials if you use better than student quality .

[jdinasia]

I know of four people that have had exhibits in several bars and bookstores and coffeehouses around town ....

but overall ... I know little about the subject. I have had offers on prints that I have done for friends ... but since I do not consider myself an artist I just had them py the printing fees and left it at that

[hanseman]

there is plenty of thai painters trying to scratch a living , bring your own materials if you use better than student quality .

Thank you nostrel, and jdinasia

So artists materials are that bad in TH! Are you talking about the situation in Khon Kaen or in TH in general? It's hard to believe that the professionals in TH only use student quality. Maybe it is in Bangkok where the quality materials are to find?

I have looked over this homepage,

http://www.rama9art.org/artisan/male/male.html

and there is many very professional Thai artists.

//hanseman//

[nostrel]

we dont know what quality you work to , do you use 'old holland' or 'mike harding' quality oil paints that would cost too much for the average thai painter. best quality linen or cotton canvas ? and how long do you expect your paintings to last? i dont recall seeing any top quality oil paints on sale anywhere .

my guess is that acrylic is most easilly available.

[sun_sailor]

There is alot of painting materials avail at the big Emporium shopping center

in BKK, a number of different brands of imported oils and acrylics, I buy some

there , and bring most from the usa.

There are lots of creative options to show work in Thailand, Cafe's , shops ., resorts etc,

Does anyone know if you need a work permit to be showing work in Thailand?,

[phusingpete]

there is plenty of thai painters trying to scratch a living , bring your own materials if you use better than student quality .

Thank you nostrel, and jdinasia

So artists materials are that bad in TH! Are you talking about the situation in Khon Kaen or in TH in general? It's hard to believe that the professionals in TH only use student quality. Maybe it is in Bangkok where the quality materials are to find?

I have looked over this homepage,

http://www.rama9art.org/artisan/male/male.html

and there is many very professional Thai artists.

//hanseman//

Hi, I have just returned from a brief trip to the uk so have been out of touch. Re art materials, I work in oils and had a lot of canvas and oils shipped out with some household gear.However it is possible to buy good quality oils out here. I have found suppliers in Sisaket in Issan who sell Winsor Newton oil colour, which I am used to in the uk and they appear to have good permanence value. I understand that canvas is available in Bangkok, I have also heard of a supplier in Ubon,but have not checked this out yet.Thing is you cannot bring oil paint out with you on the air craft so you would need to ship it out by sea. This would surely entail extra costs and stress at customs.

Exhibiting and selling has not been an issue with me as I am just painting to build up a body of work out here and when I have enough I thought I would ship them back to the uk. Seems that we may have difficulties with exhibiting and selling out here,work permit wise, but not sure about this. cheers......Peter

[aussman]

hi.....im a budding (hopeful) aussie artist living at kk university.........and a beginning digital artist. i draw.... ink and coloured pencil....and have no trouble obtaining reasonable quality materials....though im not sure about paints. there are a few specialist art shops around the area. paper prices are cheaper than home and good framing about 1/3 that of that in aus.

apart from places like bars hotels etc...the only place i know for an exhibition is the art gallery opposite the memorial hall situated just inside the uni gates.

from what i have seen...thailand is well endowed with clever and innovative artists....so finding a market here might be difficult..............im trying to arrange something myself.....but it is slow going....and prices are not very high.

it seems that thais with a disposable income are more likely to put an expensive frame around a portrait of the king to hang on the wall......i know this from my wife..hahaha.

anyway....give me a pm when you get here and we can have a chat over coffee..

cheers