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Filial Piety

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Watercolors on Arches 9” X 12” 300lbs CP paper.
Photo ref comes from Sam Bloomfield on sxc.hu

Monks are a common sight in Thailand. What, however, interested me, during my visit there in November 2006, was to see young boys in monks’ garbs. The tour guide then explained that it was a custom for Thai young men to do something good for their mothers and themselves. By entering monk hood for some time, they could help their parents, especially mothers, go to paradise after their death. In the case of the tour guide, he was a monk for a month, during school vacation.
To be a monk, the young men have to, of course, have their heads shaved. They have to wear the orange garb that is just a wrap around, and no underwear. Unlike monks in other parts of Asia, monks in Thailand could eat certain kind of meat on certain days of the week. The young monks' daily duty is to get up early to pray, then to go out for alms donations which are usually food that will be their breakfast and lunch. They have to take their lunch by 11AM, before noon time. After midday, they are not allowed to eat, until the next day. The rest of the day would be spent in watching TV, playing videogame and to pray. They have to go to sleep early for the next day routine.
I find the story interesting, so was inspired to paint the young monks.

Hope you like this work. And as usual, I appreciate all comments and critique :bow:
Image size
3402x4677px 12.33 MB
© 2008 - 2024 milbisous
Comments98
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tinkerbinker1's avatar
I really love this! The movements look smooth and natural,and the only odd thing that I spot is that middle monks head looks slightly pressed in. (His left, my right.) But it could just be the coloring in that area that i'm seeing.