So I am half Thai and at one point took the time to actually learn how to read and write in Thai. I am not that good at the language yet so even though I know HOW to read and write I have a big trouble understanding what it is I am reading because my vocabulary is not very huge. I am still very much working on it. But I thought what would help would be having a Character based on one half of my origin. So this is Chaiya, he is a Thai-ger XD. His 'stripes' are actually thai Ornament inspired, I took some basic very simple ornament patterns to make my own. It is also to display that he is a Tattoo Artist, or well a person who Tattoos people.
Chaiya is a Buddhist, so he wears a lot of thai traditional jewlery and buddhist talisman, I do too actually. I am not fully a believer but I do apply many of the teachings to my life just because they make sense for anyone even if you aren't religious, just the general teachings of don't be a dick you know. Which most religions have to a certain degree. I loosely believe in Karma while Chaiya however is a very spiritual person, going to the temple regularily to prey, partaking in celebrational holidays, all that. He wasn't always such a calm sweet soul however.
He used to be a very mean guy, Getting into fights, aggressive, bad tempered. He would fuck up anyone...he grew up in foster care after both his parents were killed, so he didn't have a great start in life. So he lived his life...seeing himself as a violent monster because that was his way of protecting himself, of surviving, the only way he thought he could live. But once he was in prison, a place filled with actual monsters...he made a decisions, he didn't want to go back there, ever and he certainly didn't want to become like them. He turned his whole life around. In prison he learned to tattoo people, but because in there tattoos are usually very simple, symbols, numbers, names etc...it wasn't very creative most of the time so he never developed the artistic side of tattooing.
That is until he got out, and at a bar, finds a bar keeper named Sunan, A tarsier, who whenever there is a quiet minute, would draw, and he was good. A very creative boi, who couldn't seem to get his foot in the door as an illustrator....the two would become friends.
And together open up their own little tattoo studio up in Chaiyas apartment (yes that is illegal but everyone starts somewhere) Sunan would design the tattoos and Chaiya would bring them onto people's skin, until the two had enough money to open a legit business, a legal one. their own tattoo studio...and that is his story.
I will soon draw his friend Sunan as well. But for now...have fun with my Favorite little Tiger boi. this character is actually already a year or so old...I don't know why i never posted it...but hey. Have it.