Picture perfect

While his pupils enjoy views of green fields and riverside life, Pe (or Khru Pe, as he's known) intently eyes the shore looking for a scenic spot where he can drop anchor and his students can begin painting.

After floating for more than an hour an hour, Khru Pe stops at a river bend near an old shipyard.

During the two-day course, students learn the intricacies of watercolour painting from an artist with more than a dozen years experience and they get to see him at work.

Khru Pe wastes no time setting up and begins painting with bold brush strokes.

The task is harder for the students because they're novices and still unsure how to begin. Khru Pe tries to ease their anxiety, saying, "Imagine the view is like an object. Don't concern yourself about getting the colours right. Try to capture the light, the shadow and the weight instead."

Then he smiles and says, "And since you can't fight on an empty stomach, let's break for lunch."

The Bt3,000 course doesn't include meals. Students shop for food at Lam Pra Ya, the River Market, in Nakhon Pratom before climbing aboard the boat.

Roughly three hours later, students finish their watercolours. But the class isn't over until Khru Pe critiques their work and offers suggestions.

Sansanee Kappiyaputra, one of seven students taking the course, says watercolour painting is challenging, requiring students to learn several processes and techniques.

"If I didn't learn to paint from a professional, I wouldn't know which colour should be used first to get the best results," Sansanee says.

Printhip Jeampong says the field trip is a fine way to cap the painting course, which began in Khru Pe's studio.

"Sitting in the studio and painting objects is so different from going outdoors and painting nature," Printhip says. "I enjoy this course because I get to learn both techniques."

Students take the field trip after they've mastered painting with three colours during the first two classes, which are held in the studio. The river cruise takes at least six hours - sometimes longer - due to the time it takes to get to the location, paint the painting and assess the results.

Story: Suwicha Chanitnun

Photo: Pramote Putthaisong

The Nation