Book Review: Jim Thompson: The Thai Silk Sketchbook

Jim Thompson: The Thai Silk Sketchbook is one of the earlier watercolour sketchbooks by artist Graham Byfield. This one was published in 1997. I managed to find this gem in the library by chance.

The sketchbook was published to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Jim Thompson Thai Silk shop in Bangkok, Thailand.

It's a beautiful sketchbook with wonderful drawings of scenes of everyday life in Thailand, the temples, streets, wooden houses, peaceful settings. The paper used is very watercolour-like so the watercolour sketches look really good.

The book focuses on the American businessman Jim Thompson and his involvement in Thailand's silk making industry. It's a fascinating read about how silk making has developed, and how it has changed the lives of people involved, the process itself and what the silk is used for.

The accompanying drawings goes behind the scenes to different areas where silk is made, and even to Jim Thompson's beautiful Thai-style house with the steep roofs. The pictures are printed satisfyingly big in this 72-page hardcover.

Since the book was released in 1997, it might not be easy to find it today.

Very lovely book.

Jim Thompson: The Thai Silk Sketchbook is available at Amazon (US | UK)

Jim Thompson: The Thai Silk Sketchbook

Jim Thompson: The Thai Silk Sketchbook

Jim Thompson: The Thai Silk Sketchbook

Jim Thompson: The Thai Silk Sketchbook

Jim Thompson: The Thai Silk Sketchbook

Jim Thompson: The Thai Silk Sketchbook

Jim Thompson: The Thai Silk Sketchbook

Jim Thompson: The Thai Silk Sketchbook

Jim Thompson: The Thai Silk Sketchbook

Jim Thompson: The Thai Silk Sketchbook

Visit Amazon to check out more reviews.

The links below are affiliate links, which means I earn some commission from each purchase, but at no extra cost to you.

Here are direct links to the book:
Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Add new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.

Filtered HTML

  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a href hreflang> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul type> <ol start type> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Comment Notification, please choose "All comments". "Replies to my comment" does not work.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------