- PUAN TUALANG -
Collaboration Project with Semesta Living:
Hand-Painted Ceramic Cups
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Semesta Living is a Depok-based ceramics and wooden wares brand. I was thrilled the first time they proposed me to do the collaboration project together. They asked me to hand-paint their limited collection ceramic cups! As someone who draws digitally on daily basis, it's such a new challenge and opportunity for me. It's also my first time drawing on an unfamiliar medium other than paper and canvas. Fortunately, Semesta Living gave me freedom of creation. They trusted me in the process and it made me want to give my best in this project.
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The process began with creating a concept. I imagined how these cups accompany us to take a break, rest, and enjoy our favorite drink. Semesta itself means universe. Their products usually related to earthy theme, so I wanted to capture their identity in my artworks. A figure who appreciates solitude came to my mind since the beginning. She's relishing an interlude after wandered to many places to seek a peace of mind.
"In a world that moves so fast, there are times when we need to stop for a while.
Breathe, look at the vast sky, and let our senses enjoy the feeling.
In an interlude, our mind wander the universe.
In an interlude, spaces become infinite.
We become a figure who pads along aimlessly, stops by, and finally comes home in the last sip."
I named the figure as Puan Tualang (The Lady Wanderer).
Sketches, drafts, and evaluation notes.
The cups will be painted with acrylic paints and coated with matte varnish. So I started with sketches using colored pencil as usual.
From sketches, I moved to paint the draft using acrylic paints on paper. Then I developed the five chosen drafts to be painted on the cups.
Semesta Living provided me twenty raw cups--but they're already burned in kiln and varnished with food grade layer. I used three of it to try on; and it was really, really hard. I needed to know the medium better. That's why I wrote the evaluation notes to remind me the important aspects, to carefully learn from past failures, and to prevent the cups being wasted.
The execution began with sketching thin lines using colored pencil on the cup's surface. Then I applied the base acrylic paint layer, color blocking, and detailing. I added little dots using golden paint for sparkly accent.
Here they are! Five Puan Tualang artworks from different angles.
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Just because Semesta Living gave me freedom of creation, that doesn't mean I didn't involve them in the process. We always updated the progress to each other, asked for suggestions, and we discussed a lot. It was a new experience for us,and of course we learned a lot from this project. I'm so glad to meet such kind and humble people behind the brand!
After I finished the artworks and handed it to Semesta Living, they did the finishing layer and arranged the photoshoot.
Look how they captured the cups beautifully! I love these photos so much.
From left to right: Rimbun Perdu, Lenggang, Telaga Padma, Bentala, and Peraduan.
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Each artworks has different stories. That's why I wrote a piece of poetry and story in each Certificate of Authenticity. I want to ensure that this work is very personal--both for me and for the ones who purchase them. This collection is also exclusive, because there's only three pieces of each artworks which can be purchased on the launching date.
The digitzed artworks to be printed as Certificate of Authenticity cover page.
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I'm so grateful to be involved in this project. Moreover, the cups was sold out just ten minutes after it was launched on the web! I wish I can say thank you directly to anyone who has purchased it, because now they has a part of my soul in Puan Tualang.
Even though the project has ended, I won't stop right here. I'm looking for more fun projects to come!
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Copyright © 2020 Safiera Wulandari Illustration. All Rights Reserved.
You are not permitted to copy the illustration, figures, design elements, look and feel of this project.
