Photo Studies Selling: Acrylic On Canvas by Greg Balster
While living in Chiang Rai, Thailand, in the North near the Golden Triangle, I was lucky to live close to a border town called Mae Sai. Mae Sai, Thailand offered numerous art subjects and also a laid back place to cross the border into Myanmar (Burma) to renew my tourist visa when needed. On one day trip to Mae Sai, Thailand I spotted the Akha hill tribe woman in the picture below.
This Thai woman was wearing traditional Akha hill tribe leggings and dress hawking lettuce. Since the street and surroundings were a bit crusty, I thought it would be nice to paint the Akha hill tribe woman in a a better environment. My final painting on the subject titled Selling, Acrylic on Canvas places the Akha hill tribe woman in traditional Akha dress approaching stone steps to an entryway. Lettuce in hand, and a full basket of lettuce on her back.
There are many indigenous hill tribes in Thailand, the Akha hill tribe is but one. As an artist I am intrigued by the Akha costumes, traditional dress and fortitude to make a living. The second picture shows a Thai hill tribe woman and child hand in hand. For those of you familiar with Mae Sai, Thailand, this picture was taken on the downward sloping road to the left of the boarder crossing into Myanmar. Mae Sai, Thailand is a popular tourist destination for those touring Northern Thailand. The open air markets offer a wide variety of fruits, nuts, clothing, toys and appliances delivered from both Myanmar and nearby China.