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Uncle Faizal isn't your usual street artist. At 58, this retired newspaper illustrator has found a fresh way to keep his creative juices flowing, and it's taking social media by storm.
After decades of drawing for newspapers, Faizal picked up caricatures as a hobby, mostly for birthdays, weddings, and the occasional event.
But it wasn't until he stumbled upon the idea of a "photo booth" for caricatures that things really took off.
Using nothing but a bag full of supplies, he has a cute cardboard setup resembling an old-school photo booth with curtains
"This photo booth idea was inspired by the old photo booth setup with curtains when you entered the booth. And I was also inspired by the Instamatic film camera. I am recreating the feeling of excitement when you wait for your photos to be developed and dispensed," he shared with SAYS.
But instead of instant prints, for just SGD5 (RM16), you leave with a personalised caricature highlighting your best features, never exaggerated in an unflattering way
After drawing your caricature, he pulls the curtain and hands it to you through a little slot, just like a photo booth.
"This photo booth caricature is about you, the model. I am just sharing our vibes through the drawing paper. I have never drawn an ugly person," he explained to SAYS.
His usual spot is along Haji Lane in Singapore, but the setup is not without its challenges
Faizal has to battle bad weather, especially rain and dim street lighting.
Despite that, the queues were long even before he went viral on social media, and demand is not slowing down anytime soon.
Only three months into the photo booth idea, Faizal is already exploring opportunities to take it beyond Singapore
He is in talks to set it up in a hotel in Malaysia and hopes to bring it overseas one day.
"Being in Asia, losing 'face' is very real," Faizal explained about his style.
"I opt for a 'prettier,' non-offensive style. More like highlighting the good features," he added.
And it seems that approach is winning hearts and followers, one drawing at a time.
You can follow Uncle Faizal and his journey on Instagram.
