KUALA LUMPUR:
Having worked with coconut shells for over two decades, artist Shalily Sajad has transitioned to a new medium – three-dimensional sculptural painting.
The 52-year-old from Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan said she became interested in this technique after discovering it on Instagram, which led her in 2022 to attend a course in Jakarta to learn more about the art.
Age is another reason behind her shift to sculptural painting: using coconut shells requires physical strength as it involves tasks such as cutting the shells, and carving, sanding and polishing them to create high-quality artwork.
“As I grow older, I can no longer continue working with coconut shells even though there is still high demand such crafts.
“Since I’m the type of person who cannot stay idle, I started looking for a craft that is easier and more relaxing, suitable for my age,” the mother of two told Bernama recently.
Shalily also completed a one-year online training programme to earn a certificate in 3D sculptural painting by renowned Russian artist Evgenia Ermilova.
“I see this art as unique, interesting and extraordinary because it combines sculpting and painting techniques using a palette knife and special plaster to create stunning three-dimensional textures.
“Through various courses and training, I have mastered several palette-knife techniques for decorations, such as shading, shaping flower petals and leaves, and blending colours to achieve a more realistic and vibrant look,” she shared.
The process begins with preparing a base using a special plaster, which is then coloured and left to dry for one to two days.
“Once the base is ready, floral-themed sculptures such as roses and tulips are shaped. These can then be affixed to products such as wall clocks, picture frames, cookie jars, tissue boxes or key holders.
“Each product takes at least one day to complete, with more intricate designs requiring up to five days,” she said, adding that prices start at RM50.
According to Shalily, her artwork is in demand: she has, on occasion, been able to earn up to RM10,000 a month.
She has also received requests for group classes but has had to decline, due to the fact that the special plaster – priced at around RM80 per unit – can only be sourced from Jakarta. Its price is also expected to increase by up to 50% this year.
“To cut costs, I am experimenting with creating my own plaster by researching on YouTube and Pinterest to find a suitable formula,” she said.
Shalily has also received interest from cake decorators, given that the technique is similar to 3D sculptural painting. “The main difference is that they use edible materials such as mashed potatoes to create the paste,” she added.
