TULUNGAGUNG – An elementary school teacher in Tulungagung has turned her sketching hobby into a growing side business, proving that handmade artwork still attracts buyers despite the rise of digital tools and artificial intelligence.

Anggelina Widiarsi, who lives in Tamanan, Tulungagung, balances her teaching duties with producing black-and-white portrait sketches that customers order for gifts and personal collections.

She said teaching remains her main responsibility each day, while drawing fills her free time after school hours. “Teaching is my main duty and profession. From morning until noon, my full attention goes to my students and school. After that, I use my time for other activities, including sketching,” she said.

Anggelina chooses black-and-white sketch techniques because she wants viewers to focus on facial details and expression. She believes monochrome drawings reveal character more clearly without distraction from color.

She also said handmade art still carries emotional value that technology cannot fully replace. Even as AI-generated images become easier to produce, she sees strong demand for personal work created by hand.

Her business began during an internship in Jakarta. At that time, she often drew sketches to relax after work, until one of her managers asked her to create a wedding gift.

“At first I wanted to give it for free because I thought it was only a hobby,” she said. “But my manager insisted on paying because artistic skill has value. That moment changed how I saw my own work.”

Support from colleagues at school later encouraged her to continue. Some teachers now ask for her artwork, while her drawing skills also help students preparing for school art competitions.

She admitted that some customers request revisions, especially for facial details, but she tries to keep each sketch visually balanced. Maintaining aesthetic quality remains important in every order.

To keep her work accessible, Anggelina offers affordable prices. She earns around Rp300,000 to Rp500,000 each month from six to ten sketches.

Orders rise sharply during graduation season. In peak months, she can complete up to 30 sketches, which significantly increases her additional income.

She hopes more people with creative skills will feel confident enough to market their work. “The world does not lack talented people. It lacks people brave enough to show their talent and say their work deserves value,” she said.