Ex-engineer Makes A Living Crafting Portraits Out Of Clay

Former engineer Farrah Wahida Saari uses her skills in clay art to create eye-catching portraits. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: For most people, taking photos or videos is the most common way of preserving cherished moments. But one woman has captured attention and sparked demand for her works by incorporating clay – traditionally used for pottery and home decorations – into her portraits.

The end result are tactile images that resemble photos in cartoon form, which are then encased in three-dimensional 5R photo frames that feature a customisable backdrop.

“During my university years, I often created clay-based handicraft as souvenirs or accessories, such as decorative figurines, picture frames, earrings and name tags,” Farrah Wahida Saari, 35, told Bernama.

“The idea of creating clay portraits came to me when I observed the wedding-gift trend of putting dowry money in a 3D picture frame. So I thought, why not try making family portraits out of clay using a 3D frame?”

With her skills and knowledge in clay art, she began to experiment with crafting these products, and augmented her abilities by learning 3D-design techniques for the custom backdrops.

The mother of three, who started her craft business Craftykats.clay in 2020, explained that customers usually request backdrops related to the occasion in the photo, such as weddings, farewells or graduation ceremonies.

To ensure her portraits accurately capture facial expressions, Farrah uses imported polymer clay, which comes in base colours like cream, black, white and blue. Some pieces require custom mixing to achieve specific shades.

She said tools such as moulds help her maintain consistent proportions within each portrait, and she uses clay needles for fine details such as hair and eyes. She also uses a rolling machine to standardise the thickness of the clay portrait.

“I always show the design to customers first, and only once they are satisfied do I place it in the oven for the baking process,” she added.

Having sold more than 500 units of her clay artwork, Farrah – who now resides in Langkawi, Kedah – is grateful that what started as a hobby eventually became her main source of income after she left her job in 2022.

“When I was working in Shah Alam, I only made these products as a side business. But after my father passed away, I decided to quit my job and return to my hometown. I tried looking for a job there, but none matched my qualifications in engineering.

“So, I made the decision to pursue my craft business full-time. Thankfully, with the help of social media, I was able to promote my products more widely, and now I receive orders from all over the country,” she concluded.

Follow Craftykats.clay on TikTok and order from Shopee.