PIMKHAE KAEWPUSRI KNOWN AS ‘KHAE’, A FORMER ARCHITECT WHO IS CURRENTLY AN ILLUSTRATOR, USES HER ‘CLEAN AND TIDY’ WORKS AS A VISUAL COMMUNICATION TO CONVEY HER MESSAGE WITHOUT RELYING ON WORDS

TEXT & IMAGE COURTESY OF KHAE

(For Thai, press here)

WHO

I am Khae-Pimkhae Kaewpusri.

WHAT

I am an illustrator.

WHEN

I’ve always been drawing since I used to work as an architect, but I started drawing in this style when I was 30.

WHERE

I grew up in Chiang Mai, spent my teenage years in Bangkok, and now I split half my time between Lamphun and anywhere else.

WHY

I started drawing because I felt like there were things I wanted to express, and I found that visual communication allowed me to get my point across. Initially, I didn’t limit myself to any particular style, but over time, I found that this style suited me best. As I continued working, there were new messages and ideas that I got to work with, making the process enjoyable.

How would you describe your work?

My style has gradually evolved over time. Currently, I enjoy creating cartoons with bold lines mixed with geometric elements.

What is your inspiration and guiding principle for each creation?

Inspiration often comes from the brief itself. For example, if the brief is about hope, that alone can be inspiring. When I’m feeling burnt out, I look at works I admire to lift my spirits.

I love the messages in the works of Jean-Jacques Sempé and Quentin Blake. They’re artists who worked into old age, which is something I aspire to do as well.

My guiding principle is to create work that I like.

What project are you most proud of?

I’m particularly proud of the book covers I did for ‘Creatures in the Hotel: Retrospective Edition.’ I personally love these two illustrations—the composition was incredibly satisfying to create, with a black-and-white, slightly humorous tone that is communicated clearly. It was also for a book I love, which made me very happy.

Which stage of the design process do you like the most?

I love the meticulous alignment of lines, like ensuring everything aligns perfectly and figuring out which lines can intersect. This probably stems from my architectural background, or maybe it’s just OCD.

If you could invite a ‘creative’ to coffee, who would you invite and why?

The thought of meeting my idols would usually make me nervous, but I’d face that fear to speak with Bird Thongchai McIntyre. He’s been an inspiration since childhood, and his music has helped me through many experiences. I’m not great at making conversation, but I’d love to see his inner energy. Ideally, I’d love to work with him someday.

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