By Amy Zurcher
Coffee inspires me daily I am afraid to admit just how much. What could be better than a drinkable driving force that lights a fire under me and makes me think I can do anything! No sugar or cream for me, please, the stronger and blacker, the better. The theme of coffee intrigues me, as do all the things artful that are drawn from its inspiration– artists who throw actual coffee on mixed media paintings, dye photographs to look old and right down to a charming tea towel appliquéd with a coffee cup. However, my heartstrings pulled me to share this piece by Thai artist and SCAD graduate Yoswadi Krutklom titled “Coffee Break.” It is an understatement to say I am a big fan of her work. The illustration-style paintings done up in an offbeat color palette grab me with their minimalist, yet memorable characters. Once familiar with her work, you can spot a Yoswadi a mile away!
My inclination to the voyeuristic grooves on forming a picture of who Yoswadi is based on her artwork. From thinking of a painting done of her mother in her favorite 80s dress and pieces she’s created of her former boyfriends and their strange quirks, these paintings come to mind as I start to build a story of her life.
Since many of the endearing characters she paints are of her friends or family, it came as no surprise the same rang true of her subject in this work “Coffee Break.” When I asked Yoswadi what inspired this painting she replied, “I painted this piece of my friend. He likes to drink a lot of coffee everyday. So I painted him in the coffee cup like he is in onset (a Japanese hot tub) with a small cup in his hand. He is happy and relaxed.” I am in total agreement-a hot bath and a strong cup of coffee are two of the world’s most wondrous things! I can hardly imagine a thing more satisfying than that. It makes me wish I could just jump right in alongside this contented caricature for a swim in and sip of luxurious black coffee! What on earth could be more pleasing than that?
Artist: Yoswadi Krutklom
Title: Coffee Break (acrylic on canvas)
Size: 11” X 14”
Price: $350 available at shopSCAD
