“Artwork isn’t just about creating one thing stunning, it’s also about giving life to the forgotten, the discarded, and the missed.” That is how Poonam Shah (37) describes her inventive philosophy — a perception that led her to begin one thing really surprising in a quiet nook of her Mumbai studio.
Her journey into the artwork world started as a tickle of curiosity throughout her time within the US. In the present day, it has blossomed right into a full-time ardour (and occupation!), one that mixes her inventive spirit with the completely happy reminiscences of her daughter’s childhood.
Poonam, who converts outgrown toys into one-of-a-kind resin artwork furnishings, believes that each repurposed piece has a narrative to inform. She sees her work as extra than simply practical — it’s deeply private. Whether or not it’s a chair, a desk, or a playful lamp, every creation is infused with nostalgia and creativity.
The primary brush with resin artwork
Born and raised in Mumbai, Poonam began her profession in finance. After finishing her grasp’s diploma within the UK, she labored at Deloitte for a couple of years.
However issues took a special flip when she received married and moved to Philadelphia. It was throughout her six years there that she first encountered resin artwork. “One thing about it caught my consideration, and I felt drawn to it. It felt like a complete new world of creativity had opened as much as me, and I wished to discover the artwork extra,” she tells The Higher India.
“I’ve at all times had a inventive aspect. I get it from my mom, who can be inventive,” Poonam provides. “Again then, in India, pursuing artwork professionally wasn’t widespread. A decade in the past, folks would ask — can you actually make a residing from it? Fortunately, the mindset is altering now, and artwork is getting the popularity it deserves.”
Poonam’s choice to pursue resin artwork raised a couple of eyebrows at first. However as soon as she shared her plans together with her household, they inspired her to comply with her ardour.
Whereas in Philadelphia, she took two workshops to know the fundamentals of resin artwork. She additionally frequented artwork galleries, rigorously observing resin items to be taught extra concerning the medium.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t till her return to India — simply earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic — that she determined to make the leap and pursue resin artwork full-time. She immersed herself in on-line tutorials and assets, decided to grasp the abilities and begin one thing of her personal.
How her daughter sparked a complete new enterprise line
Poonam’s artwork enterprise didn’t really take off till a easy dialog together with her seven-year-old daughter, Ayana. “At some point, Ayana requested if I might make one thing out of her outgrown toys,” she recollects. That query sparked a brand new path in her inventive journey.
“At first, I wasn’t certain what to create, so I began by making a resin slab from my daughter’s outgrown toys. It sat in my studio for a few months. Somebody advised turning it right into a desk, however that felt too abnormal. Then it hit me: why not use Ayana’s toys to make a small rocking chair for her? That’s how the entire children’ line was born,” explains the entrepreneur.
Poonam started creating resin artwork furnishings utilizing her daughter’s previous toys — puzzle items, blocks, and damaged crayons — reworking them into stunning and significant artwork. What began as a private experiment rapidly advanced into an idea that resonated with many. The youngsters’ line, launched simply six months in the past, has already develop into a success amongst purchasers.
“It’s all about preserving reminiscences. Every bit I create carries one thing private, whether or not it’s a toy that when introduced immeasurable pleasure to a baby or one which’s been given a second life to shine once more,” she provides.
One among her purchasers, Ashna (title modified on request) from Mumbai, shares a heartwarming reminiscence: “My son and daughter-in-law cherished the resin artwork chair and desk created from their son’s outgrown toys. However essentially the most particular second was when my grandson noticed his little automobiles contained in the furnishings. He was utterly stunned and overjoyed. Everybody cherished it as a result of it’s so distinctive and significant.”
The care and craft behind every bit
Poonam’s course of of making these resin artwork items is as a lot concerning the shopper as it’s concerning the artwork. Each piece is custom-made, guided by the shopper’s enter.
“First, we discuss concerning the design, the shopper’s imaginative and prescient, the piece’s measurement, form, and any particular requests they may have,” she explains. “As soon as that’s clear, I make a picket or silicone mould to suit the design. Then comes the enjoyable half: arranging the toys within the mould.”
Purchasers ship her toys — tiny automobiles, dolls, erasers — which she arranges contained in the mould. After format approval by way of video name, she pours resin over the association, encasing the toys in a glass-like end.
“Resin is a tricky materials that hardens like glass. Its edges might be fairly sharp, too. As soon as it units, we use handheld machines to sand and polish it to smoothen the sides. It’s a whole lot of arduous work, however whenever you lastly see the completed piece, it’s all value it,” she says.
If it’s a desk, she attaches legs and finishes the floor with a shiny polish. The method takes a couple of month or extra, relying on the complexity.
‘Youngsters love this concept’
The youngsters’ line has been a recreation changer for Poonam’s enterprise. From chairs and tables to lamps, every bit is crafted from a baby’s outgrown toys, reinventing them into one thing practical and cherished.
“I really like utilizing brightly colored toys as a result of they make the items pop,” she says. “It brings the furnishings to life and captures the power of childhood. I ask mother and father to ship in essentially the most vibrant and flat toys for simple incorporation, which might additionally look vibrant.”
One challenge that Poonam vividly remembers is a desk she created utilizing frozen candies embedded in resin. “It turned out so vigorous.” However her favorite piece stays the very first chair created from her daughter’s previous toys. “That was a particular one. It’s now considered one of my best-selling objects. Youngsters love the concept of seeing their very own toys contained in the furnishings.”
The artist’s studio, ‘Poonam Shah Artwork’, relies in Andheri West, Mumbai. She launched her enterprise full-time in 2023, after spending three years perfecting her craft since 2020.
Her work gained traction largely by Instagram. “My purchasers principally discover me by Instagram, the place I put up photos and movies of my newest creations. It’s an excellent platform to showcase my work and appeal to new prospects,” she shares.
Poonam’s workforce, which consists of seven to 10 folks, helps with the technical facets of the method, equivalent to mould-making, sanding, and sprucing. “I nonetheless oversee all the things, however having a workforce has helped me handle the rising demand for my work. I can focus extra on designing and customisation,” she says.
Operating a rising model as a hands-on mum
Managing a full-time enterprise whereas being a mom is not any straightforward feat, however Poonam has discovered a stability that works for her. “To start with, I used to be managing all the things on my own. So, I used to work late at night time or early within the morning when Ayana was asleep. Now that I’m fortunate to have a supportive workforce, it’s simpler to handle my time and deal with the inventive aspect of issues,” she says.
In relation to sourcing uncooked supplies for her resin artwork furnishings items, the entrepreneur will get resin, moulds, hardener, and different supplies from native distributors, and her workforce manages receiving orders, manufacturing, and packaging. For big shipments, she collaborates with packers and movers; for smaller ones, she makes use of non-public supply providers.
Her major shopper base spans Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, and Assam, with Delhi rating second after Mumbai. Whereas she typically collaborates with architects and designers, most youngsters’ line orders come instantly from mother and father.
For those who ask her what retains her going, she’ll lend a proud smile and say, “I’m glad I made a decision to pursue artwork full-time. The furnishings I create with outgrown toys pushes me to discover my creativity in methods I by no means imagined earlier than. Every bit is a brand new alternative to show myself as an artist.”
With every {custom} creation, Poonam isn’t just crafting furnishings, she’s serving to households maintain onto moments which may in any other case fade with time.
Edited by Khushi Arora; All photos courtesy Poonam Shah
