Teenager turns passion for art into business

GUA MUSANG - Over the past three years, Afiq Affendi Zamiri has sold nearly 1,000 artworks ranging from portraits, landscapes, murals, anime cartoons, and 3D art in abstract and realism.

Afiq Affendi, 18, said he started painting when he was eight years old, thanks to his father’s mentoring.

"I started taking orders about three years ago while improving skills through visual art education classes in school.

"I have now completed almost 1,000 artworks. I earn the most money from portraits, which I charge between RM25 and RM80 depending on the size of the painting,” he said at his home in Bandar Baru here.

Elaborating, the second of three siblings said among the challenges he faced was keeping customers from having to wait too long while still producing a high-quality painting.

"I had the experience of working in sweltering heat when painting murals on the walls of buildings and shops, and there were times when I laboured on during the month of Ramadan.

"I work non-stop, as long as there is a request, I will do it,” he said.

According to Afiq Affendi, he sets aside a portion of the revenue from his sales in order to fulfil his dream of pursuing a higher education.

"I use WhatsApp to promote my artworks and I make money on my own because I want to be independent and do not want to be a burden to my parents.

"I want to pursue a higher education to achieve my dream of becoming a graphic designer,” said Afiq Affendi who had also received guidance from 2016 National Directory of Industry (DPIN) Expert and Instructor Zakariya Mamat. - BERNAMA