ABOUT CHONTICHA
Chonticha is a Belgian-Thai painter and digital nomad, working mainly with gouache to create colorful, slice-of-life scenes. Since 2014, she has been living and traveling abroad, finding small sparks of joy in everyday moments such as spotting a stray cat or enjoying a quiet ritual, which continue to inspire her work.
Raised between cultures and without access to many simple comforts she longed for as a child, Chonticha turned to drawing as a way to build an inner world of joy and imagination. This early habit shaped her artistic voice, focusing on small victories, personal rituals, and moments of everyday happiness.
In 2013, she earned her degree in Graphic Design in France, choosing a stable path before pursuing art professionally. In 2022, she returned to her creative roots and committed fully to painting.
Ever since, she has developed her skills through years of daily drawing, personal study, and constant experimentation. Her learning process is grounded in observation, letting go, and a continuous curiosity about color and emotional expression. Her works can be found in private collections around the world.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My paintings are known for their bright, neon palette and the subtle balance between playful abstraction and emotional intimacy. I use gouache to paint seemingly insignificant scenes from everyday life that feel personal and precious: from still lifes and peaceful moments alone or with friends, to the simple joy of dressing up in bold and expressive clothes. These calm scenes are often interrupted by the appearance of a cat, my personal idol of confidence, adding a touch of humor or quirk while preserving the overall sense of peace.
Blending feminine figures with semi-abstract decor to strike a balance between mature complexity and childlike simplicity. I like combining different gouache techniques: layering dry brush strokes, creating soft gradient washes, and adding thick patches of color to bring a lively texture to what first appears flat. The touch of abstraction often emerges when I try to quiet my overthinking, simplifying everything and focusing on the pure enjoyment of painting, and by extension, enjoyment of life itself.
Ultimately, I create art to celebrate the kind of life I once dreamed of but couldn’t have. As a child, I longed for safety, quiet moments, and the gentle joys of everyday life, like eating a proper meal, wearing new and colorful clothes, or simply feeling like a “normal kid” who didn’t have to worry about surviving the next day.
With no access to that world, I began drawing the girl I wished I could be, creating an inner world where I felt free, joyful, and whole. Through my work, I want to invite viewers to notice the beauty hidden in the mundane and to find joy in the everyday. What may seem like small, mundane moments is sacred to me, and through my art, I hope others can feel that too. Each painting is a way of holding onto these moments, a quiet reminder that happiness is never far, even if it once felt out of reach.