Friday, February 5, 2010

Sawadee!

Sawadee is the Thai version of "Aloha," or at least that is how I translate it! I really miss Thailand. The smiling people and beautiful temples, lovely silks and spices with colorful orchids everywhere ...

I lived in Bangkok for a short time with my family when I was a teenager and spent time there on and off for almost 5 years. What got me thinking about it was that I found one of my friends I met there on Facebook last week! Social networking can be a crazy time-sucker but when you are able to find an old friend (in Israel, no less!) it's pretty wonderful.

"A journey is best measured in friends,
rather than miles."
~Tim Cahill

Sepia Ink on paper

I took a photo of this man during my first extended stay in Bangkok. He was standing completely still in a huge crowd of people, eyes closed, as if he where meditating. I caught the moment in black and white with my old manual 1970s Minolta. Unfortunately the photo was a bit overexposed so I decided to do a pen and ink drawing of him. I actually love this drawing. I say "actually" because I don't often say that about my own work but I think this piece just brings up so many wonderful memories of a city and people I love.

"Once you have traveled,
the voyage never ends,
but is played out over and over again
in the quietest chambers.
The mind can never break off from the journey."
~Pat Conroy

14 comments:

ArtSparker said...

This is so lovely. Talk about making a virtue of necessity I mean with the overexposed photograph. I'm going to link to this in my post on monday on the Unexpected.

jane said...

sawadee! this is wonderful. i know what you mean about facebook. i´m on facebook, but never go. i´m afraid once i´m sucked into the abyss i´ll never get out.but then i think of lost old friends and i´m tempted again...

Heather Jacks said...

Fantastic work! I can imagine him standing in the crowd just as you described.

valeria said...

Lovely post. You were so lucky, as a teenager, to be able to live in such a beautiful environment. I bet you have so many good memories and it's so amazing you could locate your old friend on FB.
I tilted when I read "lovely silks", I so love oriental silks and sarongs!
You have a great skill, I am amazed, that portrait is outstanding.
Ciao from Verona xxx

Ann Marie said...

wow. such a lovely post! my favorite thai restaurant is called "sawadee." i never knew what it meant...now i do, and it's so wonderful! that sketch of yours is amazing...so many wonderful and creative talents you have!

erin's art and gardens said...

how lucky to have lived in such interesting places! love your pen and ink! you really caught his expression. and i completely understand about not "actually saying" you love your work. i wonder why that is........

Karena said...

So interesting a life you have led!! I love your blog title cobalt Violet is a favorite color I like to use!
Karen

Cobalt Violet said...

Thank you! ... or rather Kop Khun Ka!
Actually, I have to admit that that is the extent of my Thai, but thank you guys for the lovely comments!

red ticking said...

i have not heard this in years... i used to travel to bangkok all the time for work and just loved it... the people are beyond amazing... and stayed in a hut on the beach at koh samui at least 17 years ago... they had just finished the runway at the airport! one of the best trips of my life... hope you had a great weekend... xx pam

Diana Strinati Baur said...

It's really a lovely drawing, and catches the emotions. I saw myself in your use of the word "actually". It's hard to straighten the back, nod the head and say "Yes, I did this, and it works well." The sentiment of your blog really speaks to me.

Ruthie Redden said...

Lucinda, what a wonderful piece of work, i am very partial to pen and ink drawings, this is so delicate and full of feeling. I understand exactly too about the social networking, but i also found a long lost friend through facebook and am so thrilled.

Theresa said...

This is wonderful.

A Brush with Color said...

This is beautiful--you so captured this wonderful face and his reverie. Thanks for visiting my blog and saying such nice things--I am glad I discovered you as well. Your work is stunning! You have such a talent.

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