The story of Thai illustrator Tanakan Bangnoi demonstrates how creative careers rarely run smoothly, but resilience and a positive outlook can help turn things around.
It’s hard to imagine how many people have the potential to become a successful artist, yet never pursue it seriously, simply due to a lack of confidence. How many people, I wonder, spend their lives sketching in notebooks, doodling during meetings, imagining elaborate worlds, but convince themselves their work isn’t “good enough” for public consumption?
The story of Thai illustrator Tanakan Bangnoi demonstrates what happens when someone breaks through that confidence barrier.
Known professionally as ‘Think like a moustache’, Tanakan is known for his distinctive work, transforming everyday moments into satirical fantasies. Yet his journey began in a place of crippling self-doubt.
“I had no confidence in whether my drawings were good enough, and I never dared to show them to anyone,” he recalls. Despite growing up in a creative family—both his grandfather and father were talented artists—and discovering his passion through English vocabulary book illustrations as a teenager, he nearly let that confidence gap win.
The courage to share
At university, Tanakan faced a creative crossroads. A Facebook page became his testing ground: a place where his illustrations of ordinary Thai life, infused with humour and satirical edge, could find an audience.
The response was encouraging enough that Tanakan made a permanent commitment: he tattooed the words ‘Think like a moustache’ on his arm as a reminder of creative courage. “Sometimes, it’s not your lack of skill that holds you back,” he reasons, “but yourself.”
By 2019, his career was gaining traction. Weekly illustrations shared across Facebook art groups caught the attention of major Thai music labels, resulting in lyric video commissions and collaborations with renowned singers. His selection as one of 200 illustrators for the Thailand Illustration Fair in 2020 confirmed his ascending trajectory.
But then catastrophe struck… twice. First, COVID-19 cancelled projects across the industry. And then hackers destroyed his Facebook page, along with years of audience building. “I felt like I lost everything I had built,” he shudders. “People who once followed my work just disappeared.”
For over a month, depression took hold. Tanakan faced a choice between surrender and renewal. “But thanks to my love for drawing and the good people around me, I managed to get through it and start again,” he recalls. “I decided to start fresh, launching a new page and updating my work regularly on Instagram.”
The experience taught him that perfectionism is often the enemy of progress. “Nothing in life is ever truly perfect,” he says. “The most important thing is just to be yourself.”
Influences and inspiration
Today, Tanakan resides near Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, where he creates illustrations that often celebrate the everyday. “I believe there’s always something fun, or a little funny, in day-to-day life,” he says. “The world is getting harder to live in, and people, including me, often pressure themselves about their future. But we shouldn’t stress too much. Life always has its little jokes, mixed with a touch of fantasy.”
“My storytelling often touches on different problems or situations, but in a way that isn’t too heavy-handed,” he continues. “I try not to make people feel overly stressed or anxious when experiencing my work. In Thailand, many unusual things happen all the time; sometimes so strange that people just laugh about them. Thai people often adapt by treating these situations lightly, so life doesn’t feel too overwhelming.”
Tanaka is also known for drawing on the treasure hunt principle. Like a filmmaker hiding Easter eggs, he deliberately plants small, playful details throughout his work; a technique that stems from his love of films and games. “When people look closely at my illustrations and then come back to tell me, ‘Oh, I saw that little thing you put in there!’—that moment makes me really happy,” he smiles.
His inspiration comes from a range of sources, including H.R. Giger’s biomechanical concepts, while the golden age of practical effects—Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and The Lord of the Rings—showed him how attention to detail creates compelling worlds. “That was a time when people really paid attention to details—concept art, set design, costumes—all filled with charm,” he enthuses.
It’s been a long road, and for any artist facing their own setbacks, Tanakan offers hard-won wisdom. “I believe that if you truly love something, you’ll always find the time to do it; no excuses,” he says. “Even if only one or two people appreciate your work on a given day, that alone can make your day feel worthwhile.”
