But unlike most artists, this member of the Lembah Pantai Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PAWE) prefers a more unusual medium – shoes.
The Ipoh-born – who now resides in Kelana Jaya, Selangor – said she discovered her interest in drawing and painting about 30 years ago, while working at a beauty salon where she taught students makeup skills.
Even though she enjoyed painting on canvas, she eventually began painting the handles of wooden hairbrushes, jewellery boxes, trays, and other wooden decorations. She then channelled her creativity onto fabrics such as cushions, clothing and tote bags.
About two years ago, Norliza ventured into creating designs on canvas shoes and sneakers. Realising an opportunity, she worked on refining her skills and now receives orders for personalised footwear from customers.
“Most of my clientele choose floral patterns for their shoes, but I create custom designs for each customer, so each design is unique,” she told Bernama.
This, she explained, is precisely what draws her customers: her personalised touch on each item of footwear. “Some prefer simple designs with minimal colours, while others request vibrant, cheerful tones,” she said, pointing out 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.
According to her, painting on shoes is similar to painting on fabric canvases, except that shoe painting is three-dimensional with uneven surfaces, making it a challenge to paint on those areas.
Asked about the process, Norliza shared that she first sketches the design with a pencil on the selected area of a shoe before adding colour using fabric paint.
“If we want the design to have an outline, we use a waterproof pen to trace the sketch before colouring,” she said.
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 adding on their desired design,” she noted.
It takes her three to four days to complete one pair of shoes, depending on the artwork and the time required for it to dry. Norliza charges between RM120 and RM200 for each pair of shoes, taking into account the complexity of the requested design.
Her customers mostly comprise teenagers and those in their 40s: still, her oldest customer thus far has been a 60-year-old, while the youngest has been aged three.
While Norliza thoroughly enjoys her work, she revealed that she has to be in the right emotional state before working on a design. “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 delay painting and use that time to observe and learn from other artists,” she said.
Norliza also serves as an art instructor at PAWE Lembah Pantai, and often represents the centre at arts and craft exhibitions.