Category: blog

HELPING ARTISTS – bkkunzine.com art magazine

On the occasion of the third year anniversary of our independent art magazine “bkk UNZINE” we wanted to remind people about our main goal.  

I’m sure you’ve heard this before: 

My passion is THIS but I cannot afford to do that full time so I’m doing THAT to pay the bills. 

We’ve heard this and we will be hearing this for many years to come. 

So many Artists and people who want to have at least a chance at trying to be an artist need help. 

Our long term goal is to become known to art lovers and artists as an organization that pays artists who get featured in our magazine. 

We don’t have money now, but money complicates things anyway. We have proven that we can function on a monthly basis without money to show that when we WILL have money we won’t depend on that as a resource, it’ll be an extra. 

But now we can still be of service, by promoting artwork (our online issues on the website and instagram), by promoting artists through interviews (in our youtube channel), our issues are monthly online art galleries or monthly art jamming sessions where we can get together and exchange ideas to promote each other, discuss (our meetup events).

We encourage people to draw. We want one day to share studio space where people will have the basic tools and environment they need to practice and try creating what they want.  

Our resources can’t be only money, because then that’ll mean we will do projects, events only when we have money and not be active when we don’t. Instead our capital should be Artists and Art lovers.

If this is the first time you are hearing about our art magazine please go check out our website www.bkkunzine.com and look for our instagram and youtube channel by searching for “bkk unzine” and please support us by subscribing to our mailing and you’ll receive the free issues every 1st of the month. 

If you have any questions or suggestions please contact us at: bkkunzine@gmail.com 

Thank you and LONG LIVE ART!

How to set up a Freelance Art business in Thailand

This was generate by chatGPT, I am sharing it here because this might also be of use for other people who are trying to do the same thing.

Setting up a freelance artist business in Thailand can be an exciting endeavor. Before you begin, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the legal requirements and steps involved. Below is a general outline to help you get started, but keep in mind that specific regulations and processes may change over time. It’s always a good idea to consult with a local legal advisor or the relevant authorities for the most up-to-date information.

Research and Business Plan:
Conduct thorough research about the freelance art market in Thailand. Identify your target audience, competition, and potential clients. Create a business plan outlining your services, pricing, marketing strategies, and financial projections.

Legal Structure:
Decide on the legal structure for your business. Common options for freelancers are Sole Proprietorship and Private Limited Company. Each has its own legal and tax implications, so consult with a local legal advisor to choose the most suitable option for your situation.

Business Registration:
Register your business with the Department of Business Development (DBD) at the Ministry of Commerce in Thailand. You can do this online or in person at the DBD office. You will need to provide necessary documents and pay the registration fees.

Tax Registration:
Register for tax purposes with the Revenue Department. You will be issued a Tax Identification Number (TIN) that you will use for tax filings and other related matters.

Work Permit (if applicable):
As a freelancer, you might need a work permit to legally work in Thailand. The requirements for obtaining a work permit can be complex, and it might be more feasible for you to operate as a “Digital Nomad” in Thailand. Make sure to check the latest regulations regarding work permits and consult with the Department of Employment or a legal expert to understand your options.

Opening a Bank Account:
Open a business bank account in Thailand for your freelance earnings and expenses. This will help you keep your personal and business finances separate.

Contracts and Agreements:
Draft clear and comprehensive contracts for your clients to protect your rights and specify the scope of work, payment terms, and other relevant details.

Networking and Promotion:
Engage in networking events, social media promotion, and collaborations to build your client base and increase your visibility in the local art community.

Compliance and Reporting:
Stay informed about tax regulations and reporting requirements for your business. Ensure that you comply with all necessary tax filings and reporting deadlines.

Continuous Learning and Improvement:
Keep honing your artistic skills and stay updated with industry trends to provide the best possible services to your clients.

Remember that the specific requirements and regulations may vary depending on your nationality, the type of art services you offer, and your location in Thailand. Seeking advice from a local lawyer or business consultant who specializes in setting up businesses in Thailand is highly recommended to ensure a smooth and legally compliant setup process.

I should listen to Ram Dass more often

For those who don’t know Ram Dass is a spiritual leader, I love his messages, I love his talks that he gives, they’ve helped me and a friend a lot and we used to often talk about Ram Dass’ ideas. 

I am going through a difficult time at the moment with a family member, who basically disapproves of what I am trying to do. I am not trying to become rich, I want to do what I love and make a decent living and be happy. I was listening to a Q&A that Ram Dass did and someone was asking about funmentalism. You know, people fighting each other over fundamentalist ideas. He said something that I wanted to share because it brought me some clarity.

First thing he said was that we need to look beyond the agenda and not forget that we are fellow human beings who share this reality and ressources, nature, etc. That applies to a general approach we should have about these ideological fights we have. 

But this is what helped me, he said that we shouldn’t ignore the opposing side because they bother us. Just to take an example to illustrate the right wing people ignore the left wing ideas and vice versa. And regarding the family member that I mentioned in the beginning of this text, when I spoke to my friends and other family members they all said: “ignore her”. The thing is I try and I cannot, I don’t feel free which brings me back to Ram Dass. He said ignoring the other side won’t free you. As a matter of fact the keys to your liberation are probably on the other side. And we shouldn’t forget that when someone is angry in most cases it means they’ve been hurt and are actually scared that it will happen again, it’s a defense mechanism. I also associated it with another speech from the filmmaker Robert Rodriguez: “the keys to your success lie in the aches of your failure”.  

It’s going to be a difficult conversation but I have to confront the family member on her fears, and if she still pretends not to listen, at least I would have tried my best. 

Thank you for reading.

Art friends

I just had a great weekend in Hua Hin where I was able to spend time with friends. 

I consider myself super lucky in that I’ve always felt that I have the coolest people as friends. You need to engage with life in its challenges and you need to do it with friends. 

I’ve noticed my mood changes after I talk with them. Different people have different ways of friendship but I can tell you that I say that my friends are the coolest because they don’t expect anything back from me. 

As a matter of fact I have to admit that I do feel guilty that I ask more favors from them than the other way around. We talk about it too. Trying to make Artist a career is not an easy task especially when I’ve made that decision at the age of 30. I have to say I am where I am at the moment mainly thanks to my friends. 

If you are reading this, you are also my friend, so thank you.

Doing your own thing

What I would love to do is help Artists. I have a feeling that I may be able to do it, because it is something personal. I am helping myself by helping other Artists and since it’s selfish I am really invested in it.

I dream of making Comics writing and drawing and the art magazine I founded with my friends into my main job. With my friends who are kind enough to help me run our online art magazine www.bkkunzine.com, I am sure we’ll get there it’s not far.

We are growing this art magazine into a platform that helps artists. I know “help” is too vague but let give one example of how we do that. We function as a collective, so we organize art events to promote each other. More on our art magazine later but please go check out what we do on our website bkkunzine.com and consider subscribing to get the free digital copy every 1st of the month in your inbox.