Thailand pastel by Niki Gulley

"Intricate Rooftops," Bangkok, Thailand • by Niki Gulley

5" x 7" pastel

On the last leg of our Asian adventure, we visited our good friend who had been living in Bangkok, Thailand for the past year. We welcomed having our host and much appreciated tour guide help us navigate the 18 million person city, especially after having toured around the other countries on our own.

Our first stop, which is a must for all tourists, was the lavishly gilded Grand Palace. The elaborate, ornate Thai architecture was so different than the more understated temples we'd seen in China and Japan. At first, I almost felt overwhelmed by all of the colors, scrolling details and vibrant gold. But when I focused in on just a small section of the grandeur, such as in this pastel close-up of the wat rooftop, I could really appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship more fully.

If you'd like to see more small works in my temple series from Asia, e-mail me at Niki@NikiGulley.com.

Or, visit my website NikiGulley.com