Alaya Cholprasertsuk "This craft is my pride and my life and I think I have found my way." "My parents worked as professors for the university but are now retired. I was brought up with a loving younger brother. I was introduced to arts very early. When I was a child, I had the chance to study drawing and painting with artists. At home I would constantly practice what they taught me. I also used to participate in Siang Dek (Children's Voice), a newspaper whose writers, artistic directors, and journalists are children. It is a free tabloid-size newspaper issued with the famed Ying Yook Mai (Modern Women) newspaper. I had such a good time there that I then set my mind on becoming a journalist. But after graduating from high school, I decided to study architecture and arts media at at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology. "After graduation I got a job as a designer for an advertising company. Two years later, I worked for another advertising company; I thought it would be more of an interesting job for they worked with all the media: magazines, newspapers, radio, and television. However, after eight years of hard work, I felt like I could not take it anymore. Not only the routine, but everything was exactly the same, our customers ran exactly the same kinds of business and were always asking for exactly the same concept – it sort of dried up my creativity. My husband, whom I met while still working for the first advertising company, left to his hometown in the country in order to work in a ceramic factory. I decided to move and live with him there and this move changed my life greatly. "We have been living in a small rural village for three years. Here I wanted to do something that I loved and to feel free. One day I got the opportunity to learn the process of batik and kept practicing at home afterwards. I thought it was fantastic because I could create anything on the cloth with a free mind. What I wished to create, well I would just create it! I would go for a walk near my home and look around; I would look at things that impressed my mind and feelings and think about them. Once back home, I would use this inspiration and get down to work with concentration and patience. At first I could not really sell anything until I joined an artistic fair where I used my husband's company stand to display my work on its walls. Unbelievably, I could sell. What really made me happy was to know that people I didn't know bought my work because they loved it, and not only to please me or out of friendship. It encouraged me to continue, which was a good thing since some shops later placed orders. "I love to design my batik with earth tones. I think most of the batiks found on the market these days are made with too many bright colors. I admire dull colors, which tells about my simple, easy, and free character. I also enjoy mixing colors and creating my own tones. Sketching with a pencil releases my mood, my feelings, and my thoughts on the cloth. This craft is my pride and my life and I think I have found my way. My dream is to see my works displayed in the decoration magazines. Yes, that's it, my works would hang on somebody's walls, somebody who loves my batik and bought it because it appeared in the magazines. I presently employ one worker who lives near my house and to whom I taught the process. But I would also like to have a little workshop where I would work and hire people who want to learn and work with me. That's what I would like to do."

	Customer Reviews
		I have recently received Alaya's "Love Dance" cushion covers. They look really, really good :-) We put them in our bedroom and it's a lot of fun to look at them every day. Thanks, Alaya! - Dana P., Cambridge, MA I recently received Alaya's lovely, graceful painting on cotton. It so beautifully represents the elegance and femininity of many Asian women. I feel soothed when I gaze at it and remember fondly the time I spent in Thailand many years ago. SAE - Sarah E, San Rafael, CA, USA I've just received the cotton wall hanging I ordered, 'Song for the New Day'. Alaya has good reason to take great pride in her work. Her colors are well-chosen and vibrant without being overpowering. This hanging is definitely the centerpiece of the room! - Laura R, USA i was so happy to receive my batik from you. the wrapping was so beautiful and carefully done that i had to force myself to open it. the wall hanging was just as it was pictured on the website and it made me smile. i love it and i will order more. thank you, deborah - Deborah C, sugar land, tx, usa I would like to say I had a very pleasant experience. I ordered the pillow covers from your artist Alaya Cholprasertsuk. They were really beautiful. Her work is really wonderful. I would like to say to others, do not hestiate to order anything from her. You will not be disappointed! The shipping is fast, and they come packaged in a really pretty box. - Robin O I was looking for an item for my wall that had to do with an Elephant. I found the perfect thing in Alaya Cholprasertsuk's Batik painting with the elephant. The work is excellent and whimsical. I am very pleased with it, and the cool wrapping paper! - Ellen Power I LOVE my bag. - A. W., Los Angeles, CA Thank you so much for my lovely Elephant cushion covers, there are just delightful - and they look so good on my couch in the living room. They really are unique and different to anything I have seen. - Val I was so happy with my pillows. They were wonderful. The package was so nice I didn't want to open it , if it were a present for someone I could have just gave it to them the way it was sent to me. I was very happy. Thank You - Janet The art of Ms Alaya Cholprasertsuk is unique and exotic! We cherish her batik artworks and all that see them smile! - Gary My mother-in-law was totally thrilled by the scarf! I also printed the artist's information for her, and I think she was just as delighted with that as she was by the scarf. The rice-paper packaging was a wonderful lagniappe too! - Gail I LOVE my batik painting, "Impress Nature". It looks so pretty in my living room. Beth - Annabeth Thank you Alaya for the beautiful "Song for the New Day". It hangs in the room of our home where our family gathers the most. The colors and the story of the batik light up the space with grace and simple quiet; yet at the same time, the peacocks stand so proud and strong. It has been a treasure to find this artistic site on the web. My passion in life would be to meet the artists in their villages and country. Maybe one day! Sincerely, Dena - dena adler, Rochester, NY USA Thank you for your beautiful batik wall hanging ("Lotus Pool"). Sincerely, James and Arop Carter - James Dear Alaya and Novica, I just wanted to write a quick note to let you know how much I absolutely love my new painting! My gosh, the packaging was so very, very nice. Now I feel completely comfortable using Novica to purchase gifts for my family and friends and use the shipping. If it arrives even half as nice as it did for me; they will be so impressed with the wrapping/packaging. And I will look like an awesome gift buyer!!! Alaya, your painting is my very first purchase from Novica and I couldn't be more pleased. The painting is beautiful. I love the colors and just looking at it makes me smile and think of summer and gardens and other comforting thoughts and images. I can't really describe it, but when I look at your art, it evokes a feeling of peace and contentedness inside me. It truly is a wonderful painting and you are very talented. I am probably going to be purchasing more of your art, as I love the bird paintings you also do (on tapestries). Thank you so much Alaya. I wish you and your family much happiness and am very glad and proud to have your art grace my house and help make it a home. And thank you Novica for making it possible for me to find unique and beautiful things from all over the world to decorate my home. Warmest wishes - Melissa Dixon Pittsburgh, PA - Melissa, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania