In October, ten of our kids took part in a course on watercolour painting. It was held over three sessions on consecutive Sundays at STOR-Y Design Hub, a multi-storey exhibition centre in Phnom Penh featuring art galleries, creative spaces and a coffee bar. The course was taught by Michael Santiago, a visual artist originally from the Philippines who has lived and worked in Cambodia for 17 years.
Some of the children who participated are long-time art students (Ilay, Michael, Elizabeth, Malee, Dalin, Daleine and Maya), while three were just beginners (Charlie, Raphael and Ennio). The connection between Michael Santiago and Little Hearts was made by one of our sponsors, Ms. Yennie Liang.
The kids learned about all the materials needed to paint watercolours and attempted to master six different watercolour techniques. Their final project was a still life in watercolour featuring one of Cambodia’s favourite fruits – dragon fruit!
A heartfelt thank you to Michael for donating his time and sharing his expertise and enthusiasm for painting with our budding artists. All participants were impressed not only by his skill as an artist and dedication as a teacher, but also with the warmth and affability with which he was able to interact with such a young audience. And to Ms. Amiliya Wang, the proprietor of Synopsis Gallery (on STOR-Y Design Hub’s top floor), for hosting the workshops at her venue.
If you’re curious about Micheal’s own work, please check out his series of watercolour paintings entitled “Let’s Eat”, inspired by Cambodia’s street food and the industrious men and women who prepare it every day on sidewalks and street corners throughout the country. The painting series was on show during the month of October at Synopsis Gallery. Though the exhibition has concluded, you can still admire his works on the gallery’s Facebook page.