It’s creative, it’s fun, and it’s amazingly
simple! The French art of decorating an object is slowly but surely becoming
‘all the rage’. An ardent practitioner of decoupage over the last 15
years, decoupeur Revati Sanzagiri finds
the art not only ‘absolutely creative’, but a great relaxation technique as
well. “Découpage is the art of decorating an object by gluing coloured paper
cutouts onto it in combination with special paint effects. We can decorate old
furniture and objects – even entire rooms, by keeping a particular theme in
mind. For example, I’ve made two memory boxes by coating them with logos of
different cafés; I cut out the logos from their respective tissue papers when I
visited them. One can easily decoupage onto old photograph albums, plates, records
and so on,” she explains.
Discussing the different variants of the
art, which can be practised by anyone who would love to up-cycle old items
Revathi elaborates, “There is 3D decoupage, which is also referred to as just
decoupage and there is pyramid decoupage (pyramage). 3D decoupage is the aft of
creating a 3D image by cutting out elements of varying sizes from a series of
identical images and layering them, usually with adhesive foam spaces between
each layer to give it more depth. The pyramage process is similar to 3D. In
this technique a series of identical images are cut into progressively smaller
identical shapes which are then layered.
This art has been practised in France since the 18th Century.”
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Studying the techniques on her own and discovering
its various facets as she travelled through Europe, particularly France,
Netherlands and UK, she honed her skills to teach the art at the Ras Al-Hamra
Art Centre in Muscat, where she relocated.
“I am a Decoupage and Malaysian Batik instructor at the Centre,”
reiterates Revati who has the distinction of being the first person to start
art classes at this prestigious club for kids in Oman. Additionally she also practices and shares
the Indian tie and dye techniques with her students.
Recently in Goa to demonstrate the simple
techniques of this art, Revati sourced local handmade objects to decoupage
on. Her purpose she maintains is not
only to promote the art, but boost local artistes as well. “People here are very enthusiastic about
up-cycling their old items. In fact, one
of my participants has already begun with his guitar; another on her bar table.
We really get great natural stuff to work on here in Goa like sea shells and
clay items. So decorating these items
with a theme for occasions is ideal.
They also make great gift items. During the course of our workshop, we
also created mosaic decoupage, “explains Revati elated at the enthusiastic
response she received in Goa.
Constantly upgrading her techniques, she
keeps abreast with the ‘world of decoupage’ through a group of online
practitioners.
“Get creative with this simple creative
art, that hardly costs much, but brings a new look to old items,” she
encourages, while exhorting ‘each and every individual to search the artiste
within themselves. Being creative will make you happy.’
