Standing out: Shalily posing with her sculptural paintings at a craft bazaar in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama
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, Negri 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 craft pieces.
“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 when met at a craft bazaar 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 and blending colours to achieve a more realistic and vibrant look.”
She said 3D sculptural 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.
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% this year.
