Causing a Splash

OMG - we have just experienced our first day of Songkran. Even though we were soaking wet for 10 hours, it was so much fun!! In the morning, we hired a tuk tuk and went to Wat Phra Singh to cleanse the Buddha with holy water and give offerings (which include lighting candles, incense and donating some money). It was quite a wonderful sight with the all the Thai families, water, monks in their orange robes...

Image from www.smh.com

Photo: Somchai Poomlard/ Bangkok Post

Afterwards, we took part in the massive water fight which takes over the whole city. All around the moat is where all the action is! There were mini concerts set up along the main roads, fab food stalls, dancing but just a feeling of pure joy & happiness! The weather was quite warm but overcast so by the end of the day, we were a little bit cold. It was the ice water that really chilled you to the bone! 

Photo: Somchai Poomlard/ Bangkok Post

Photo: Patipat Janthong/ Bangkok Post

We were also lucky to be blessed with 'Buddha water' as we watched the parade of buddhas. This is the water that has cleansed the buddha and is considered 'good luck' to be anointed with the water. I think we've been cleansed more than enough and are all set for a new year of good karma & prosperity. There are 4 more days of celebrating here so we have resigned ourselves to getting wet and wild whenever we step our door!!

Desk Snapshot - Clea's Garden 4

I've been painting so many butterflies this week

that I actually had my first butterfly dream this morning!

Flowers

Every week, I visit the flower markets to buy something new for our apartment. 

How gorgeous are these ginger flowers?

Happy Songkran!

We're getting ready here for Songkran - the traditional Thai New Year Festival from the 13th - 15th April. It is a celebration that embraces goodwill, love, compassion and thankfulness, using water as the means of expression. Chiang Mai is THE PLACE to be!! It's basically going to be a huge water fight for the next 3 days to 'cleanse and wash away the bad luck' for the new year. Everyone gets absolutely drenched! 


It's also a time to visit a Wat and give offerings to Buddha. For good karma and prosperity for the New Year, you also pour fragrant water over the Buddhas to cleanse them and collect the water afterwards. It is this water that supposedly you are to throw on other people to bless them. 


Unfortunately, I don't think I will be able to take any pictures as my camera isn't waterproof but here's some pics of previous Songkrans to give you an idea of what to expect. I must remember to keep my mouth closed as more often than not they use the water from the moat which is not the cleanest LOL!

Image from http://www.treetopasia.com

Image from http://thailandmusings.thaivisa.com

Image from www.divaguesthouse.com

Image from http://www.hellomagazine.com

Handicrafts Market

I thought I'd show you some of the various handicrafts that are on display here in Chiang Mai. This is a traditional Thai artform made from cowhide or the dried skin of a cow....

The artisan hammers the design into the cowhide

using a mallet and hole puncher thingy

The work is quite labour intensive

and is then hand coloured, usually depicting a scene from a famous Thai Story

Desk Snapshot - Clea's Garden 3

The butterflies actually take quite alot of time to paint..

but gradually they start to come to life

 and I feel like they're flying off the paper!

Desk Snapshot - Clea's Garden 2

First goes on the background wash

After the texture has been added...

Painting the leaves in....

Then the branches...

I love seeing the painting come to life!

Detail of the leaves.

I couldn't have said it better myself!

Here's a quote by famous Chinese Artist Wu Guangzhong on painting with oils and inks. I would love to have come up with something so eloquent to say about my painting media (in my case, acrylic and inks). However, the reason why I paint in both media is just because I get bored doing the one thing all time!

Acrylic Detail - Caesar's Table 2010

Ink detail - Enlightenment 2009

Desk Snapshot - Clea's Garden 1

I am currently working on a commission based on one of my previous paintings Hanami. Over the next few weeks, I will show you some snapshots of the progress of this painting every couple of days or so.

Original Hanami Painting

This commission is going to be a diptych.

Working out the colours

Final layout with bouganvillea and butterflies....now the fun part begins!

Singapore Biennale

A few snapshots taken at the Singapore Biennale last weekend.....really interesting and alot more 'accessible' than other Biennales where you wonder "what the hell were they thinking?, I don't get it!"...

Bodyscape by Indonesian Artist Titarubi

Wings by Alfredo & Isabel Aquilizan

Made from rubber thongs (collected from prisons)