7 Aug 2012

Creating the cover for Hand Painted Signs of Kratie

Khmer lettering on the cover of Hand Painted Signs of Kratie

Today, after three weeks of checking back on an almost daily basis, I caught Kratie signpainter Chouk Rachana at work on the cover for my forthcoming book, ‘Hand Painted Signs of Kratie’. It has taken a bit of back and forth to get towards a common understanding of what I’m looking for and I think he is now on the right path. Here are some photos and a little video (more here) to whet the appetite, I’ll be checking back again soon in the hope of catching the next application of the paint…

The design you can see in the background shows one iteration of those proposed along the way to settling of the final piece that he is now working on. See more letters created in these videos.

Cambodian signpainter creating a hand painted cover for the book, Hand Painted Signs of Kratie.

At work on the improvised polystyrene signboard being used for this creation.

Cambodian signpainter creating a hand painted cover for the book, Hand Painted Signs of Kratie.

You can see the lines marked on the board which has had a background airbrushed onto it.

Using an upturned beer can as a palette for paints.

An upturned beer can makes for a novel palette for his paints.

Three bags of powdered paint in green, yellow and pink

Here are the bags of powdered paint.

Signpainters studio in Kratie, Cambodia

One corner of his studio with some of his artworks hanging on the wall.

Signpainters shop entrance in Kratie Cambodia

The modest entrance to his studio. He is working here temporarily while his old place on the river front is rebuilt to add a couple of extra floors.

Large sign advertising a signpainter in Kratie

A large banner sign that he uses to advertise himself. It is interesting that he doesn’t opt for the painted form, a clear trend among many other Kratie businesses.

Cambodian signpainter creating a hand painted cover for the book, Hand Painted Signs of Kratie.

Back at work and the title in Khmer is almost complete.

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