Congratulations to apprentice Vilailuk (Som) Watchakittikorn, whose artwork, Eternal Love, was selected as a finalist in the Richeson75 Art Competition Animals, Birds, & Wildlife. This selection is even more exciting as this is the first time that she has been juried into an exhibition! You can learn more about Som’s artwork below.
“As a child, my family often took me to natural places, and one day, I saw a live hornbill cared for by national park staff. With its large, beautiful, and striking exterior, especially the head with its unique casque, I was impressed from the first sight. After that, I did some research and found out that the special thing about hornbills is that they choose to mate with the same partner for life, without looking for a new mate when the original one dies or disappears. They are considered birds of a monogamous nature. They symbolize true love and the health of the forest. So, when I started my first drawing project, I didn’t hesitate to draw this bird, which is also the local bird of Koh Yao Noi Thailand. With this piece I wanted to incorporate aspects of traditional Thai drawing and realism to connect the past with the present and share my love of this bird with the viewers.”
