What is your Koh Phangan story?
A year ago I decided to go travelling. I had just quit my job, working at a newspaper in Victoria, BC, Canada, and my art business was doing well. But I found that it was really predictable and I was looking for some new experiences and opportunities. I decided I would go travelling in Europe, and after 6 months of travel I met someone who was travelling to Asia, and I decided that I was ready to check out another part of the world. We visited Yangon, Myanmar (where I am now based) and when my visa expired, I decided to go to Koh Phangan. I wanted to see Thailand, and I have always been in love with electronic music! I had heard of the Full Moon Parties, so I figured that the music scene would be thriving! I had also been training in Muay Thai for the past couple years in Canada, and I wanted to be somewhere that I could practice in Thailand. So Koh Phangan seemed to be my best bet!
I had a great time dancing, and training at Diamond Muay Thai, and after the first month I returned to Yangon feeling fit and inspired! I ended up house sitting for someone who was interested in having me paint a mural on their balcony. So I spent a week creating my first mandala painting. My friend posted a photo of the finished product on his Facebook, and a friend of his saw the art and connected me with Why Nam Beach! They loved the mandala and wanted me to paint a similar piece in their beachfront dormitory, so I returned to Koh Phangan once again to do this. I also discovered the Facebook group “Koh Phangan Conscious Community”, and each time I have completed an art piece on the island, I have posted the photos and have been connected to more businesses who want me to create custom art for them. So I keep coming back to the island for these opportunities, and also because I love the beach, the beautiful people, the Muay Thai and the food!
Can you explain your work and what got you into it?
I am an airbrush artist, specializing in body paint, murals and canvasses. I have done a ton of body paint for photo shoots, videos and events. I have done a ton of live painting at music events, where I start a blank canvas at the beginning of the night and complete it by the end of the night. And lately I have been painting a ton of walls, as well as a few cars.
As a young girl I was always interested in art class, and after graduating highschool my father bought me an airbrush because he had always wanted me to paint on his ‘51 Coupe. Shortly after receiving this gift, I found out about an event in my city- Victoria Zombie Walk, and decided to paint myself and my friend as zombies. We had such an encouraging response from everyone who saw us that I decided to offer body painting during a Halloween dance event. I ended up painting on a model who works with many talented photographers in my city, and so we planned a bodypaint photoshoot. When the photos were posted online, I was hired to do more and more photoshoots. I have been bodypainting consistently for the past six years, and along the way I have been connected with people who like my style and also want to have canvasses or murals done for their homes and businesses. It is an amazing feeling to be doing my art around the world, and not be stuck behind a desk. As far as training, I took some art classes in highschool, and a couple of drawing and painting courses at Vancouver Island School of Art, in Victoria. But I soon stopped taking these courses once I started airbrushing. I taught myself how to airbrush by looking at examples of other people’s art, and then experimenting with my own techniques.
What styles of work do you do?
My focus is on airbrushing, but I also practice hand painted designs and collage on canvas. I love creating art with lots of layers, and I love to incorporate many details with stencils and textures.
What are your main inspirations?
People! When I am body painting someone, I am interested in painting them as something that they would love to be! I ask ‘do you want to be pretty or scary? Dark or light? Blue, purple, gold, red? A superhero, an alien, a fairy, something artistic?’ There are many questions, and we will create a character that they would have the most fun being.
I am also inspired by other artists’ work. I love digital visionary art.
And I really love painting myself as a scary character and freaking people out. I think it's hilarious!
In fact, whether I am painted myself, or if I have painted another person, I think it is so fascinating to see how other people respond to my artwork. And I love hearing other people's interpretations of my canvasses and murals, and seeing how it inspires them to think about things, or inspires them to create their own art.
I also love to create live paintings at charity events. Inspired by love, contribution, connection and vision for the future.
What work have you done on Phangan?
I have painted a blue mandala at Why Nam Beach. I have done a monkey mural at Ling Sabai Bungalows, and a mural on a gate for Locco's Pizza Bar. I just did a large wall and two signs for Orion Healing Centre. And I have done two body paint collaborations with photographers Damian Saul and Corey Sinclair.
What do you think of the phangan party scene?
I would love to take some more time in experiencing the scene! I love electronic music and see that there are many events, but often I am painting long days and working in the early morning, so I have been focussing my energy on painting and Muay Thai, and not spending much time partying. I enjoyed my one Full Moon Party experience because I found a stage playing mostly Drum & Bass, but I wasn't much interested in the “club vibe" that was happening on the majority of the beach. I had a beautiful night dancing near Haad Tien, and loved the musical selection, as well as the combination with fire performers and smiling dancing happy people. I look forward to finding out about more bass music events and connecting with more people in the scene.
What are your current and future projects?
I am currently in Yangon, Myanmar and I have a few upcoming projects. The first is completing a series of body paint photo shoots for a calendar that will come out next month. I am also creating a large canvas for someone's new home. I am having some conversations with a few business in Koh Phangan, who are interested in having murals painted on their walls, but I haven't confirmed a timeline for these projects. I imagine that I will be coming back to the island in a couple months to do some more painting. I am interested in booking future projects for the upcoming months, in Thailand, Myanmar and in neighbouring countries. Someone suggested that my art would be a good fit for Bali, so I will try to reach out to the community there. And possibly look into painting in China or Japan? I am flexible, and intend to stay in and around Yangon for the next 6 months, so I am happy to travel this part of the world and keep painting as I go!
What is your life philosophy?
Do what you LOVE, share your talents, inspire others, be positive and be your fullest self expression!
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