July's Virtual Paint Out - Cambodia

Our Virtual Paint Out Group visited Cambodia this month. For me, this was a difficult region to paint.....

Cambodia, approx. 69,900 square miles (about the size of Missouri), located in Southeast Asia, bordered by Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and the Gulf of Thailand, is mostly lowlands with some mountains in the southwest and northern regions. A land of paddies, swamps, dense tropical forests and savanna grasslands, and dominated by the Mekong River and Lake Tonie Sap. Ancient temple ruins and colorful pagodas dot the region.

Lying entirely within the tropics, there are two distinct seasons - the rainy, monsoon season, May to October and the dry season, November to April, with temperature ranges of 80° to 105°.

An ancient civilization, it’s history is complex and violent. The population of over 15 million is 90% Khmer, 5% Vietnamese, 5% other. The major religion is Buddhism. The present government is a constitutional monarchy.

The Vietnam War extended into the country from 1969 until 1973. 

Cambodia remains one of the poorest countries in Asia. As of 2012, more than 2½ million people lived on less than $1.20 per day and 37% of the children under age 5 suffered from chronic malnutrition. The majority of the native population continue to live in small remote villages.

Today the country faces numerous challenges and social issues, including widespread poverty, poor infrastructure, government corruption, hunger and a lack of basic human rights. The rate of deforestation is one of the highest in the world and threatens the country’s future growth. 

But while per capita income remains low compared to most neighboring countries, Cambodia now has one of the fastest growing economies in Asia with growth averaging 6% over the last decade resulting from a expansion in agriculture, textiles, the garment industry, tourism and increased foreign investment and trade. 

Cambodia, 9x12, oil SOLD

Cambodia, 8x10, oil

These paintings are available in my Ebay Store – Virtual Paint Out

To see all my paintings from all of our virtual destinations - Virtual Paint-Out.
 

Thanks for visiting,
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com