Five Minutes, One Picture: 10-Year-Old Agista Sells Paintings for IDR 5,000 to Buy Rice

TANGERANG, KOMPAS.com – At just 10 years old, Agista Saputri is accustomed to sitting by the roadside with a stack of drawings. In just five minutes, she can complete a picture and sell it to help buy rice for her family. Pictures of houses, mountain landscapes, beaches, trees, and sunsets are born from her own imagination. She claims she has never taken drawing lessons or had a special mentor. Everything is done based on her talent and interest since childhood. Like an artist, Agista decided to sell her work. The price she offers is simple: IDR 5,000 for A4 size paper and IDR 10,000 for A3 size paper. For some, that amount may seem small. But for Agista, each drawing can mean basic necessities for the home. “The money is for buying rice,” she said, showing her drawings. In a day, Agista can sell three to four pictures to strangers. She displays her drawings in the Puri Kartika area, Ciledug, Tangerang City. Every morning around 09.00-11.00 WIB, or in the afternoon from 15.00 to around 17.30 WIB, Agista sits waiting for buyers. She leaves on her own, carrying a stack of drawings. For small sizes, she sets a price of IDR 5,000, while larger sizes are sold for IDR 10,000. “The idea to sell in Puri Kartika was my own,” she said. In addition to selling finished drawings, Agista also takes orders. Buyers can request specific drawings, from beaches to other landscapes as desired. “You can request it,” she added. Agista admits that she sells her drawings not only to help her family’s needs but also to train her mental strength and self-confidence. She deliberately displays her work in open spaces so that she is used to interacting with other people.