INTERVIEW:
In 2026, bkk UNZINE is working with our featured artists to develop the themes for each month’s issue.
bkk UNZINE is excited to present this month’s featured artist sra ree, whose unique style caught our eye with its evocative linework and soothing color palette. Consistent with her chosen theme, “Pause to Breathe,” it’s refreshing to come across work that’s truly innovative and sra ree discusses with us her inspirations, process and hopes as an artist in contemporary Bangkok. Be sure not to miss sra ree’s video interview with Sketchman Boris as well as her and other artists’ submissions in the June 2026 issue of bkk UNZINE here.
Thanks so much for agreeing to be bkk UNZINE’s featured artist this month. Can you tell a bit about your background?
Hello, my name is Kulisara, but you can call me Ged. My artist name is “sra ree,” which is a play on my real name and sounds like the word “salary.” I hold a bachelor's degree in packaging and product design from Naresuan University, and I recently completed my master's degree in design at Chiba University in Japan. Currently, my main job focuses on creative graphic design and illustration.
Did you always like to draw since you were young? Were there any artists or other things, such as cartoons or comics or anything in entertainment, that inspired you and influenced your art growing up?
I have been drawing since I was 12 and started my art page 8 years ago. For the past 2 years, I have also been actively participating in art markets and exhibitions. My passion for art began at a young age; I've always been a huge fan of Studio Ghibli and Makoto Shinkai's work. The beautiful art style, breathtaking locations, and elements that are seamlessly integrated into their films, including the cozy atmosphere and soundtrack. They influence how I create the mood, tone, and unique line work in my own pieces.
And how about some of the Japanese influences? I see some of that in the locales you depict…
My style reflects everything from my experiences to my surroundings. For instance, having the opportunity to study in Japan was a massive inspiration for me. My latest collection features scenery from Shizuoka and Chiba prefectures, showcasing various tourist destinations alongside snippets of my life in Japan.
Your art style is very unique. Did you always work in this style? How did you have the idea to use lines in such a way? And is your process initially hand-drawn or is it all digital?
Before switching to this current style, I used to focus on traditional hand-drawn art. I began by drawing my favorite anime characters from Naruto and Studio Ghibli movies before transitioning to female portraits and eventually evolving into the “sra ree” style, which is characterized by its distinctive line work.
When I developed this style, I wanted it to be minimal yet cute. Even though the straight lines look simple, each piece actually takes a lot of time, care, and thought to create.
Color is also an important part of your work, since it’s basically the color that defines the lines... Can you talk about your color palette and how you use color to define the images?
The color palette I use is mostly bright; I feel that vibrant colors make the illustrations look more alive. These tones are heavily inspired by nature: the colors of leaves, the sky, tree bark, and natural skin tones. My color palette gradually developed from my previous work, where I would add colors one by one until it evolved into the cohesive aesthetic I use today. I want people to feel calm, relaxed, and inspired when they look at my work, making it easy and comforting on the eyes.
“Now that we’re halfway through the year, it’s the perfect time to step back from all the hard work, stress, and fatigue. It’s about taking a moment to relax, breathe deeply, and just look around… This gentle pause is meant to help you recharge and reset, giving you the strength to move forward once again.”
I see that you also do a lot of fan art; are these commissions or just things you like to create for fun? Which characters do you like drawing most and why?
I mostly draw characters or people that I already love, but I also take on commissioned work. Both are really fun for me! However, commercial work is more challenging and comes with higher expectations because I always want to deliver my absolute best. As for my favorites, I love drawing female characters the most because they express emotions so beautifully.
Would you say you prefer to do portraits or scenery?
I used to focus primarily on portraits because of how much emotion you can convey through the eyes and expressions. But recently, I’ve switched to landscapes because I want to keep my drawings as a personal visual diary.
Let’s talk about the theme “Pause to Breathe.” How did you come up with that theme, and what did you want to communicate with it?
Now that we’re halfway through the year, it’s the perfect time to step back from all the hard work, stress, and fatigue. The core idea is simply to pause to breathe. It’s about taking a moment to relax, breathe deeply, and just look around— whether at the beauty of nature or everyday scenery. This gentle pause is meant to help you recharge and reset, giving you the strength to move forward once again.
We discovered your work at an art market... would you say you get more interest from people through art markets or online exposure? How would you compare the differences between ways to find clients?
I believe offline marketing offers a unique advantage. While online platforms often limit our reach to existing followers, offline events allow people to actually see, touch, and experience the quality of our products. More importantly, participating in booths gives us a wonderful opportunity to connect face-to-face with new people who share the same passions and interests.
What is it like being an artist in Bangkok? What would you say are the particular rewards and challenges? Are you working full time now as an artist?
I feel that Bangkok has many art market scenes, which give our work a much better chance to reach people compared to other provinces. However, the challenge for new or lesser-known artists like us is building a customer base from scratch. Right now, drawing and managing my page are hobbies I do in my free time. If the opportunity comes, I would absolutely love to transition this into my full-time career.
You’ve also worked on advertisements and merchandise for brands, how has your experience been doing commercial work?
It's important to learn from experience to understand our brand's strengths and areas for improvement. We can use these experiences to update our products, design more attractive displays, and better understand our target audience to meet their needs at each event.
And what merchandise of your own do you have for people to purchase? Where can people find you and your products?
My main products and best-sellers include charger stickers, card stickers, and postcards. I love creating functional art because I believe people enjoy buying pieces they can actually use in their daily lives. Alongside these, we also offer A3 posters, keychains, and greeting cards, with fresh collections updated for every event. You can always catch us at our offline markets or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram to chat, share feedback, and exchange ideas.
Are there any styles or genres you want to experiment with in the future? Anything you’d want to try in terms of subject matter or media? Where do you hope to go from here as an artist?
In the future, I’d love to experiment with various painting techniques on canvas to bring my landscapes to life.
As for my ultimate goal, my dream is to become a well-known artist, with opportunities to exhibit my work internationally and collaborate with global brands. I want to turn “sra ree” into my full-time job and keep drawing for as long as I can. Most importantly, if people can recognize my signature style instantly and say, “This is definitely sra ree's work!” that would be the greatest success for me.
Special thanks to sra ree for making this interview possible, and keep an eye out for future collaborations with our featured artists!
