One of the Inspiring Bhutanese Artists to Watch This Summer- Pema Gyeltshen

Pema is a rising artists producing paintings with diverse theme including region, tradition, culture, everday life, abstracts and self expressions. Most of his work are done with acrylic and watercolors.

Born in the eastern region of the country, Pema Gyeltshen grew up in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. In 1998,  he joined Voluntary Artists Studio Thimphu (VAST) where he learned the basic elements of art/paintings. He gained knowledge that aided him immensely in continuing and pursuing his career as a fully dedicated artist. He discovered his love for art at a very young age and during his schooling years.

He recalls how he would often end up drawing/sketching or scribbling on the back of his notebooks instead of focusing on the class being held at that moment.

Here is Q&A with the artist himself.

Q. What does art mean to you? 
Pema;  Contemporary art in Bhutan is still young and budding. Art basically means expressing yourself through different mediums, and of course, being a full-time artist involves selling your works and making a living. Art can be a strong medium of expression and viewing the world through an artistic eye. 

Q. How enterprising is the business for you ?
Pema;  Since I started becoming a full-time artist in 2012 it has been a tough journey but every business has to go through a similar phase. Slowly, I have picked up and built my audience and clients on and offline, now I am able to make a living through what I like to do most in life. The best career in life is doing what you're passionate about. I have been able to sell my artworks to tourists here in Bhutan and shipped my works to different parts of the world as well and also to some local buyers here. 

Q. What’s your biggest accomplishment as an artist? 
Pema; Being able to express myself through art and also being able to make a living out of it. Being able to connect with people from all walks of life, and my biggest achievement would be being able to get rid of bad habits like drugs and alcohol. Art has paved a better way for me in life and suppressed my bad habits for a long time now. I am clean for more than twelve years now and has worked as a full-time artist since 2012.

Q. What’s your advice to youths interested in art? 
Pema; I don't know if I have the wisdom to give advice to youths interested in art but through my experience, as long as you have the passion and dedication to art I feel you can make a living through art here in Bhutan. 
But you really need to be learning and working smart and also being consistent and dedicated to what you're doing. Keep practising and definitely, you will achieve your dream or goal to become an artist. 

Q. How is covid impacting you as an artist?
Pema; This pandemic has affected all of us around the world and even taken many lives and affected livelihood elsewhere. We are fortunate to be here in Bhutan since there's no internal transmission of the virus here. Of course, things do not work out as usual but I feel I am still able to sell my works to few people and still go on. And I just hope and pray that things become better and back to normal soon. On the other hand, it is good that people have more time to create and discover their hidden talents. 

To learn more about Pema's Work

Find him on Facebook and Instagram!

Youtube; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbtWoSbxZkI