Cute, colourful frogs born from clay, inspired by life

Ann Najwa Najib Masri, a 46-year-old Malaysian artist, has been crafting colourful ceramic frogs for the past three years. Her signature subject, frogs, have earned her a dedicated fan base. Inspired by their expressive eyes and resilient nature, Ann creates whimsical handcrafted frogs under her brand "With Love Ann Najwa". Initially experimenting with air-dry clay, she transitioned to ceramic frogs after discovering their immense appeal at Friends Craft Coop, a pottery studio in Petaling Jaya.

Ann, who works full-time, finds her frogs to be a reflection of her adaptability and resilience. Each frog takes about two days to complete, with the entire process involving moulding, sculpting, and three stages of firing in the kiln. Her designs range from mushrooms and butterflies to a frog symbolizing the beauty of imperfections. Ann also customizes her creations, incorporating personal stories and objects into the designs.

Her frogs have gained so much popularity that Ann was invited to exhibit her works at the "Untitled" exhibition at GMBB Creative Community Mall in Kuala Lumpur. Despite her initial intention not to sell, the recognition she received has made her passionate about her craft. Ann hopes to eventually quit her job and become a full-time artist, with ambitions to hold her own exhibition and see her work in the National Art Gallery.