From coconut shell crafts to 3D sculpture art
3D sculpturing painting begins with preparing a base using a special plaster, which is then coloured and left to dry for one to two days, depending on the weather.
KUALA LUMPUR - Having worked on coconut shell crafts for 20 years, Shalily Sajad made a bold decision to transition to three-dimensional (3D) sculptural painting, an art form that is gaining attention in the country.
The 52-year-old entrepreneur from Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan, said she became interested in mastering this technique after discovering it on Instagram, leading her to attend a course in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2022 to learn more about the art.
Another reason for her to transition to sculptural painting is the age factor as crafting with coconut shells requires physical strength because it involves arduous tasks such as cutting the shells and carving, sanding, and polishing them to create high-quality crafts.
"As I grow older, I can no longer continue working with coconut shells even though there is still high demand for such crafts.
"Since I’m the type of person who cannot stay idle, I started looking for a craft that is more 'relaxing' and easier, suitable for my age," the mother of two told Bernama here recently.
Shalily also completed a one-year online training programme to earn a certificate in 3D sculptural painting, which is an art technique, introduced by renowned Russian artist Evgenia Ermilova, that combines elements of painting and sculpture, allowing artists to create 3D images on various surfaces using a special plaster.
"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 said.
She said 3D sculpturing painting begins with preparing a base using a special plaster, which is then coloured and left to dry for one to two days, depending on the weather.
"Once the base is ready, floral-themed sculptures such as roses and tulips are shaped before being placed on products such as wall clocks, picture frames, cookie jars, tissue boxes and key holders.
"Each product takes at least one day to complete, with more intricate designs requiring up to five days. Prices start at RM50," said Shalily, adding there have been times she managed to earn up to RM10,000 a month.
She said she has received numerous requests to conduct classes but she has had to decline due to difficulties in sourcing the special plaster, which is not available in Malaysia.
"I get many requests from cake decorators interested in learning this technique because it is similar to cake decorating. The only difference is that they use edible materials such as mashed sweet potatoes to create a paste.
For now, she only offers one-on-one classes, charging between RM180 and RM300 per person, and hopes to open a dedicated studio in the future.
Currently, Shalily sources the special plaster from Jakarta, Indonesia, at around RM80 per unit, but its price is expected to increase by up to 50 percent 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 added. - BERNAMA
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