When the coronavirus struck, he cost Mary Mae Dacanay her factory job in the Philippines, that's why the 23-year-old came up with a unique new source of income — turning leaves into celebrity art.
Dacanay saw a chance to enjoy her favorite pastime ,art, but at first had difficulty sourcing materials in a country that has had in place some of the world’s longest and strictest coronavirus measures.
With no luck finding canvas, Dacanay has instead picked leaves from a jackfruit tree outside her home, intricately cutting away tiny pieces to reveal well-known faces, from Robert Downey Jr and Oprah Winfrey to Michael Jackson and even the Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte.
After gaining thousands of followers on Facebook, Dacanay has sold hundreds of pieces of her “leaf art,” each for about 400 pesos ($8.24). The exact price varies according to the level of detail in each piece.
Now, instead of working seven days a week at the factory, plus overtime, she said her new venture allows her to enjoy her hobby, take things easier and still pay the bills.
