Air-dry clay is an easy-to-use clay type which dries to a light, hard solid and doesn’t require kilns or ovens. While just playing around with the clay, she began mixing and modeling it into shapes of her imagination. Just for fun.[break]
A year later, today, this 17-year-old has shaped herself into a craft-maker, publicizing her work through her page on Facebook, Noyo’s Art Home, and also recently selling them at two local exhibitions, the Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival 2012, and Dabur Special Jasmine Teej Festival 2012.
Angdembe was always an art enthusiast.
“I used to bag prizes whenever I took part in art and drawing competitions at school,” she shares. She tags making crafts and other Do-It-Yourself (DIY) products as her self-learnt hobby. “I usually browse the Internet to search for new ideas. I also watch YouTube videos and learn techniques from them,” says Angdembe.
“I never throw away anything as useless. I collect them and always look for ideas to work with them and create new things out of recycled materials,” says Angdembe.
Using simple tools such as plastic knives, pointers and rollers, she creates a variety of showpieces and accessories out of air-dry clay. Her showpieces are mainly cartoon characters, chibi dolls and couples which she creates out of her own imagination. She also makes accessories such as hairclips, brooches, key rings and cell phone straps.
Apart from clay work, Angdembe has also explored foam art out of which she creates accessories. She also paints sunglass cases, iPhone covers and tries her hands at different DIY projects when she is bored.
Angdembe is currently studying at Ace Higher Secondary School. “My mother encourages me to take this up as a profession later on in life as well but I’m not sure about that,” she says. Angdembe, however, wants to become a fashion designer.
After working with air-dry clay for a year, she now wishes to try making things with other varieties of clay.
“The problem with air-dry clay is that it’s a bit fragile. I want to work with polymer clay but it isn’t available in the market here,” says Angdembe who shares that the lack of materials is a major hindrance she faces. “If I had the materials I would probably take this further,” she says.
Angdembe utilizes her free time to make these crafts. However, she feels that people here don’t appreciate hard work. She has had some instances where people have passed rude comments about her work.
But criticisms are not uncommon in any endeavor. Keeping this in mind, she continues to work with her interest and zeal.
“I’m trying to perfect my shapes, make them smoother and detailed,” says Angdembe.
Angdembe’s creations would definitely strike one as being cute and creative. There is certainly a crafty edge in this teenager. Her creative venture is an example of how youth today aren’t only spending their time on unfruitful indulgences but are also putting their talents to good use, in alternative ways.
Related story
One arrested for attempted trafficking of teenager to India
