Our interview is with Kannika Soonthornyankit from Bangkok, Thailand. You may remember seeing a painting of her’s called Tramonto a Venezia that I featured here on The Watercolor Gallery.
It just so happens that Kannika’s painting is, by far, the most popular painting in our archive. When I asked my wife Eliza to assist me with picking some of the artists from our archive to interview for this series Eliza’s first choice was Kannika. For all of these reasons and more I’ve decided to make Kannika our first interviewee so let’s get started.
Kannika, how did you get started with painting in watercolor?
It was always fascinating to see watercolor paintings in galleries, magazines, websites, etc. and thought I would like to do it someday.
In 2007, I started oil painting and after a couple of works, I thought I’d try watercolor. Since then, watercolor has been my favorite choice.
How have your tools changed from when you got started until now? And, what are your favorite tools currently?
The major changes was the number of brushes that I used and progressing to paint tubes.
My favorite tools are: Big flat brushes (for some reason, I always go for flat brushes, if I were to choose one). Rough paper, Arche or Bockingford. Toothbrushes. Salt. Spray bottles!!
How do you prefer to work? Plein air, from a photograph, from memory? At a desk, outdoors, in a closet?
I prefer to work from my traveling photographs, in particular and at my familiar desk where I can grab anything when needed.
What has been your favorite painting or painting experience?
My own favorite painting is the one called “The Departure”.
“My favorite painting experience was when I joined the BANGKOK SKETCHERS GROUP, when we went to a Gold Mountain Temple. Everyone were looking for temples, when I thought it was too hot and sunny outside, so I decided to chill in a coffee shop. It turned out that I found a little fish bowl, painted it and love this piece since then.
This made me realize that any special thing can happen both intentionally and unintentionally. Just dont be too focused on one particular thing expecting too much from it. On the other hand, free your mind, and find the gem from ordinary things.
Perhaps you could recommend an artist or two that inspire you?
“Alvaro Castagnet and Keiko Tanabe.”
I’d like to personally thank Kannika for taking the time to do this interview and for sharing so much of her work. She provided the above images via email and I think we can all agree they’re great.
You can find Kannika on Flickr, and on Facebook.