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ge is certainly not a barrier to staying active in a field one is passionate about. For Norliza Meor Mohamed Bazid, 61, painting is an activity that brings her satisfaction as she embraces her golden years.
However, unlike most artists who choose mediums such as canvas for their artistic expressions, this active member of the Lembah Pantai Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PAWE) prefers shoes, which she finds uniquely challenging.
“Initially, painting was just a hobby for me. I painted on canvas and the handles of wooden hairbrushes, trays and jewellery boxes as well as other wooden decorations.
“Later, I started channelling my creativity onto fabric canvases such as cushions, sofas and mattresses, as well as clothing and tote bags. About two years ago, I expanded my talent and interest by painting designs on (canvas) shoes (and sneakers),” she told Bernama recently.
She has since refined her shoe painting skills and receives orders for personalised footwear from customers.
BEAUTY INSTRUCTOR
Norliza, who was born and raised in Ipoh, Perak, and now resides in Kelana Jaya, Selangor, said she discovered her interest in drawing and painting about 30 years ago when she worked as an instructor at a beauty salon where she taught students makeup skills and how to do facials.
Norliza Meor Mohamed Bazid
“I practised my artistic skills by first learning to decorate cakes. Then, I transitioned to painting on canvas before moving on to shoes,” she shared.
Norliza said painting on shoes requires special skills, adding that it is becoming increasingly popular among the younger generation.
“Most of my customers choose floral patterns for their shoes, and what makes it unique is that I create customised designs for each customer so only they have that specific shoe design,” she explained.
She added most of her customers express a desire for a unique, personalised touch on their footwear when placing an order.
“The design on each shoe is exclusive to the individual, making them feel special. Some customers prefer simple designs with minimal colours while others request vibrant, cheerful tones,” she said, noting that roses and small flowers like sakura are among the most popular choices.
To enhance her skills, Norliza relies on YouTube, Pinterest and Facebook, learning from both local and international artists.
PRODUCTION PROCESS
According to Norliza, who uses fabric paint for her shoe artworks, painting on shoes is similar to painting on fabric canvases, except that shoe painting is three-dimensional due to its uneven surface compared to other mediums.
“Since shoes have an uneven and small surface, it is quite challenging to paint on those areas,” she said.
She first sketches the design with a pencil on the selected area of a shoe before adding colour.
“If we want the design to have an outline, we use a waterproof pen to trace the sketch before colouring,” she said, adding once the pattern is completely dry, she applies varnish to ensure durability.
“Some customers also request a complete colour change for their shoes, so I repaint the entire shoe before sketching their desired design,” added Norliza.
She said it takes her three to four days to complete the artwork for each pair of shoes, depending on the complexity of the design and the time needed for it to dry.
She said her customers comprise mostly teenagers and those in their 40s, adding her oldest customer was a 60-year-old and the youngest, a three-year-old.
SATISFACTION
While Norliza thoroughly enjoys her work as a “shoe artist”, she, however, must ensure she is in the right emotional state before working on a design.
“As an artist, emotions play a significant role as they affect the final result. To create truly beautiful artwork, emotional stability is crucial.
“So before I begin, I make sure all my other tasks are completed and that my studio or workspace is tidy. If I am not in the right emotional state, I postpone painting and use that time to observe and learn techniques from other artists,” she said.
For her artistic services, Norliza charges between RM120 and RM200 for each pair of shoes, depending on the requested design.
“I feel extremely excited and happy when my creations meet my customers’ expectations… it means all my hard work has paid off,” she said, adding she is grateful her work has been well-received by the public although she is still relatively new to shoe painting.
Norliza, meanwhile, also serves as an art instructor at PAWE Lembah Pantai and often represents the centre at art and craft exhibitions.
Thankful to PAWE Lembah Pantai for helping her to bring her talent into the spotlight, she said at this stage of her life, her only hope is that when she is no more, people will remember her artworks.
Norliza is also actively creating dot paintings – a technique where artists create images by applying tiny dots of paint on a surface – which is not very popular in this country due to the long time required to complete each piece.
She said she enjoys using this technique because it produces intricate and unique artworks.
“I’ve also experimented with blooming and pouring techniques, which are rarely practised by Malaysian artists as the materials need to be imported and are quite expensive,” she added.
