paintings

Hand-carved of sese wood, a charming monkey promises to keep your valuables safe in this decorative jar from Ghana. Anna Yawson designs the jar, painting the monkey in black and bright green.

Coated in glossy black lacquer, Subin Tositarat's pair of decorative boxes feature a lively bamboo motif. Thai artisans hand carve the pair from mango wood, coating each box in several layers of lacquer before painting the bamboo with Impressionistic flair.

Gliding majestically down a wide river, the royal boat or suphannahong is a regal sight. Nantana Sompamitre depicts a scene inspired by ancient Thai temple paintings. Depicted in golden foil on lacquered mango wood, it graces a box for business cards.

Hand-painted with a stunning black and ivory motif, Nikom's parasol is just the thing to brighten your home. To create the parasol, the Thai artisan stretches handmade saa paper over a sturdy bamboo frame before painting the surface with a contrasting Buddha motif.

Thailand's Pang and Ni paint by hand a precious mango wood decorative box with an intricate design. colourful specks, floral motifs and intense waves embellish the whole item, making it unique. The final touch is in the black wood beads on the lid, joined by a sturdy waxed cotton cord.

Thailand artisan Nantana Sompamitre hand-crafts this exquisite wood photo frame to treasure your most beloved memories. She decorates the picture frame with gold foil on black in Thai floral motifs. The frame, which is designed to hold a vertical 5x7 photo, is a sophisticated and stylish decorative accent.

Crafted of reverse-painted glass over wood, this home accessory provides a handy place for collecting trash. Working together, the Ortiz Family carries on the Peruvian tradition of reverse-painted glass, diligently hand-painting elegant floral motifs on the underside of each glass panel. Beneath the floral motifs, this elegant wastebasket features a solid black colour.

Costa Rica's Karolyn Cruz chooses a palette of vibrant hues to create a tropical mobile from recycled plastic. After painting each detail meticulously, the artisan creates an eco-friendly home accent with a radiant toucan dangling cheerfully at the bottom of the work. The accessory also comes with a little brass jingle bell and a galvanized hook for easy use.

This beautiful decorative box made of kail wood will be one of your favorite decorations. Indian artisan Niyaz follows a long process to achieve this stunning finish that will add an elegant touch to your rooms. After placing the papier mache on the wood and letting it dry, Niyaz polishes the box to get a smooth surface. Then, he begins to hand-paint every detail of this enchanting jungle on a graceful black background.

Walking through a forest of golden foliage, a family of elephants enjoys a day of leisure. This scene of tradition is inspired by the mural paintings of central Thailand. Nantana Sompamitre hand-carves the statuette from mango wood and coats it with several layers of lacquer, which she prepares from the Gluta usitata tree and ashes of burnt rice paddy husks.

Sompamitre executes the moving scene with a traditional gilding technique called lai rot nam (watered pattern). First the patterns are engraved free-hand with a sharp-pointed tool, and then the piece is dusted with a wooden powder. The black background is covered with a yellow gummy paint, which comes from a tree resin that has been placed in water for a day. After that, a thin coat of lacquer is applied to the entire surface and, before it dries, gold leaf is placed over it. The piece is then left to dry for approximately 20 hours. Finally, the whole lacquerware is thoroughly rinsed in water rinsing out impurities or unattached gold leaf. The result is a piece of rich artistry, where shimmering gold engraved designs contrast against a high-gloss black background.

A glossy bowl of mango wood showcases Nantana Sompamitre's art. This exquisite bowl is lacquered inside and out, the outer surface is richly adorned in gold. She lathes the mango wood into the desired shape and coats it with lacquer. When dry, it is polished, and another coat is applied – up to twenty times – before as many six coats of pure lacquer are applied. The final layer is polished with powdered fired clay. The piece is gilded with a technique called lai rot nam, and it is dusted with a wooden powder. Then the background is covered with a gummy paint, and dusted again. A thin coat of lacquer is applied to the entire surface and, before it dries, gold leaves are placed over it and firmly pressed into place.

Leaning on a log, a whimsical elephant contemplates his role in Thailand's timber industry. Nantana Sompamitre crafts a charming pencil holder in gilded black lacquer. She carves rain tree wood into the desired shape and coats it with lacquer. Once dried it is polished, and another coat is applied – up to twenty times – before as many six coats of pure lacquer are present. The final layer is polished with powdered fired clay. The piece is gilded with a technique called lai rot nam. Sompamitre engraves the motif free-hand with a sharp tool, and the piece is dusted with a wooden powder. Then the background is covered with a gummy paint, and dusted again. A thin coat of lacquer is applied to the entire surface and, before it dries, gold leaves are placed over it and firmly pressed into place. Brass rings protect the openings.