NAT KUNYAPAT IS AN ARTIST WHO COMBINES EMOTIONS AND NATURE WITH GRAPHICS IN EVERY PIECE OF WORK. HER WORK IS FULL OF COLORS AND DETAILS THAT REFLECT FEELINGS AND INSPIRATION FROM TRAVEL AND EVERYDAY LIFE

TEXT: NAT KUNYAPAT
PHOTO & IMAGE COURTESY OF NAT KUNYAPAT

(For Thai, press here)

WHO

Nat Kunyapat is a visual designer and a gardener who grows flourishing nature in her artwork, despite having no green thumb in real life.

WHAT

I’m passionate about traveling, immersing myself in nature, and seeking out adventures. This love for nature deeply influences my illustrations, with themes of appreciation woven into almost every piece. Emotions play a central role in my storytelling, bringing personal touch and relatability to my work.

WHEN

When strong emotions arise, I start to visualize my illustrations. This often happens at night, as I’m a night owl who enjoys working from late afternoon into the night. It’s a time for reflection and the most productive part of the day. Morning is for special or necessary cases, such as traveling to hop on an early flight, or enjoying a free hotel breakfast.

WHERE

While I call Bangkok, Thailand, home, I often daydream of sitting on a mountain peak or by the sea. So lately I tried to plan my vacation into a workation trip if it’s possible. Discovering new locations sparks my creativity and lets me step away from the usual routine.

WHY

I love immersing myself in nature, which is likely why nearly all my work visually reflects strong connections to it. Plus, with a background in graphic design, I tend to favor vivid and saturated colors. My layouts are often aligned, with precise placement in the center or corners. While details and depth are often created with aligned lines and blocks (a nod to my slight OCD too). The result is a blend of intricate organic forms paired with a bold, graphic touch.

How do you define your own style of work?

I continually take time to refine and evolve my artistic style from time to time. However, the consistent hallmark of my work has always been attention to small details. I love focusing on intricacies and blending contrasts—natural, delicate forms and textured lines paired with bold, graphic precision and vibrant, colors that standout.

What inspires you and what principles do you apply to each project?

As mentioned, my work is driven by the strong emotions I’m feeling at the moment. These could be positive experiences, like visiting a place that left a deep impression, feeling joy in a happy moment, or enjoying delicious food. Sometimes, it’s negative emotions, like sadness, frustration, or dissatisfaction with certain events. Simply put, it’s usually something that strikes me at that moment that I feel compelled to express it.

Which project are you most proud of and why?

‘Flutters’ holds a special place in my heart. Created during the deeply emotional COVID period, it reflects how much my work is driven by emotion. I felt I was able to express what I intended through it. So I’m very happy with the story behind the work and the visuals I presented. It was also my first time experimenting with screen printing. The process of drawing and preparing the artwork for screen printing was entirely new to me at the time, making it both exciting and challenging. In the end, it was a rewarding experience, and I was happy with the results.

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  Central AR filter
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  a sketches of Central 76th Anniversary

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Which part of the process do you enjoy the most during work?

After finishing the story and sketch, I often find that new ideas suddenly pop into my head as I start the actual drawing. This is my favorite part because it feels like a great sign that I’m genuinely enjoying the project. The more immersed I am, the more new ideas tend to emerge. For example, with ‘Flutters’, I initially planned it as a single piece, but as I worked, the idea to create a complementary pair came to me, enhancing the concept and making the process even more fun.

If you could invite any ‘creative’ for a coffee, who would it be and why?

I’m not great at starting conversations, especially with someone I admire (it makes me really nervous). But if I had the chance to choose, I’d love to talk with Jonathan Anderson. Even though we’re not in the exact same field, I’ve admired his work since his personal brand, JW Anderson. When he became the creative director of LOEWE, I was impressed by how the brand collaborates with various artists. Creating collaborative pieces that stay true to the brand while showcasing the artist’s unique identity is not an easy task. I’d love to learn about his creative process and how he identifies the potential in each artist he collaborates with. If the conversation involved wine instead of coffee, I might have the courage to show him my work and ask for feedback.

instagram.com/natkunyapat