The gallery has collected jolly gifts created by leading illustrators including ML Chiratorn Chirapravati, Onchuma Yuthavong and Pattreeda and Nualtong Prasarnthong, and home-decor shops like At Home, SOUL and 19 Garden.

 Chiratorn, also known as Ajarn To, has been a top book and magazine illustrator for three decades and has lots of fans thanks to his work for Unicef, Tops and McDonald's, among others. "I have many, many drawings at hand, but I've never transformed them onto products," he says.

Have no fear: Notepads, postcards, dolls, tote bags, wrapping paper, T-shirts, boxes and lamps now bear his eye-catching drawings.

"I'm very happy to watch people's smiles when they receive a gift that has my work on it," Chiratorn says. "I think I'm lucky to work at what I love to do."

Pattreeda stresses that it's important                       to give with the intention of giving, whether to create the gift yourself or just buy one.

"If we give something to someone without really meaning to, it's like deceiving that person."

The cool present that Pattreeda intends to give to shoppers is a computer application with which anyone can design his own animated self-portrait. It can be uploaded as wallpaper for a mobile phone along with clever ringtones, and the cost is just Bt40.

Onchuma, who's been a teacher all her life, says giving is always on her mind. "It makes me happy to make presents, starting from thinking what to draw and why this image, to where to paint it on a mug, a pillow or a card. It's about the whole process. "It's important to be yourself, and when you're in your natural state, the look will be balanced."

J Gallery is on the fourth floor of J Avenue on Bangkok's Soi Thonglor 15. 

Compiled by Kupluthai Pungkanon

The Nation