Paintings is another aspect of the Arts which His Majesty is deeply interested in. He painted from an early age and is self taught. At first, his works were known by a few people and by leading artists who had seen them. During this early period, His Majesty wished to meet with artists informally. He invited serveral leading artists to discussions and the occasional painting contest. They included Hem Vejakorn, Kien Yimsiri, Chamras Kietkong, Fua Haripitak, Paitoon Muangsomboon, Chuladhat Bayakaranondha, Chalerm Nakhirak, Uab Sanasen and Bhiriya Kririshka. These artists relate that His Majesty painted in line with his own highly original concepts. They were consulted for technical advice and critical comments.
His Majesty's interest in painting started quite early while he still resided in Switzerland (1937-1945). He studied from books on painting which he has bought or was given. He visited the studios of artists whose works he liked in order to talk with them and to study their painting techniques. He then experimented and applied what he had learned. He made serveral visits to these artists until he felt that he understood their creativity. He later succeeded in applying these varied technique to his own creativity in painting .
His Majesty's most active period in painting began in 1959 after he had acceded to the throne. This was the period when he invited Thai artists to informal discussions and to paint together. He painted in his spare time, usually in the evening and at night,using both day light and artificial light. The paintings were mainly half figure portraits of Her Majesty the Queen and their children.
Whenever His Majesty was not performing royal duties, he was preoccupied with painting. On a private visit to the Great Britain to meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who was studying at Kingsmead College in Sussex, in 1966, His Majesty bought books and materials for painting.
His Majesty's paintings become publicly known from 1963 onwards when he granted permission to exhibit a few of his works at the 14th. and subsequent National Art Exhibitions. In 1965, Silpakorn University presented him with an Honorary Doctorate in Painting. In April of 1982, on the occasion of Bangkok's Bicentennial Celebrations,the Fine Arts Department was granted permission to exhibit 47 of his paintings at the National Gallery. This was a momentous occasion become it was the first single exhibition of a monarch's paintings in history.
His Majesty's paintings may be categorized into three main groups; realistic, expressionistic and abstract paintings. This does not imply in any sense that he consciously followed those western stylistic trends. The classfication is based on simularity in appearance only. He painted mostly in oil on canvas.
His Majesty has explained that he consciously avoided allowing other people's works to influence his own. His was an amateur's approach, giving freedom to his own imagination without being restricted by theoretical principles and rules. This was why his works exhibited much originality and personal identity.
The realistic paintings are, in the main, portraits of Her Majesty the Queen and their children. Notable exceptions are a portrait of his father, His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol, Which exudes gentleness and makes good use of highlights and shadows and one of an old woman (Untitled, 11-6-07), which is executed with strong brush strokes.
The expressionistic group of paintings exhibit His Majesty's deep seated thoughts and feelings. He made no attempt to beautify or mask his sensitivities. These are the result of truthful and sincere expression using bright and strong colours.
The abstract paintings are a further development of expressionistic ones. Emotion and thoughts are expressed freely without adherence to form and subject matter using strong brushwork and contrasting colours.
Mom Chao Karawik Chakrabhandhu, a leading painter, has made the following comment on his Majesty's works:
His Majesty the King painted from the period of his accession to around 1967. Since then, he has devoted much time to other duties including that of improving the walfare of his subjects. He has concentrated on the problems of the underprivileged and has initialed numerous development projects designed to alleviate their plight. All of this made it no longer possible for him to pursue his interests in painting. At present, His Majesty's paintings comprise 47 known and published works, and 60 others which have not yet been publicized.

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