Ann Mary Thomas was riding pillion on her friend’s bike when a thought suddenly struck her. Her friend’s helmet looked “empty”.
She asked her friend if she could borrow her helmet and she agreed. Ann took it home, got a bottle of white acrylic paint, a fine brush and set to work. When her friend came back for the helmet, she was delighted to see a pretty filigree of white on her helmet.
Ann Mary Thomas, assistant professor, Communicative English, at St. Teresa’s College, thus made an engaging hobby out of ‘designing’ helmets. “It is an interesting way to give a creative twist to safety. It is cost-efficient and fashionable, too.” A few girls who saw Ann’s friend’s helmet approached her and Ann found some fans.
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She painted their helmets. Some wanted colourful designs, some wanted plain ones, some wanted small motifs, one wanted the serene peace symbol. At one of the college functions, Ann exhibited her work and she got a few enquiries.
Ann says she has not formally learnt painting, but she loves doodling and has been doing mehndi designing for some time now. “All that experience comes in handy when painting on helmets,” she says. She draws free hand and does not “plan” what to draw, unless of course her client has asked for a particular design.
She works on helmets during her free time. “It is easy and for me, it is a great way to relax,” she says and explains the process: “First, the surface of the helmet has to be cleaned and dried. I paint the outline and then fill in the colours. I make up the designs as I draw. I usually use fabric acrylic, as it appears bright on the helmets.” Ann says she learnt things on the job. “I had painted over the ISI mark once, now I am careful with such details,” she says.
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Initially, she had not thought of charging, but now she charges Rs. 50- Rs. 75 for small designs, which are finished in about 20 minutes. The more elaborate ones (half helmets) are priced at Rs. 200. However, the prices can vary according to the size and complexity of the design. Her helmets have been a hit with the girls, Ann says, but not as much among boys. However, she did a small design on a friend’s helmet. “He was not entirely sure of it, but after he saw it, he was pleased,” Ann laughs.
Her dream is to paint a sunset, with all the sunset colours and silhouettes, on a white helmet. Sceneries and theme painting, too interest her. Ann had recently helped paint an entire wall in her friend’s resort. She would like to do customised helmets for riding groups, too. “It is my passion for design. Everybody has designs in them. It is just that I decided to put them on helmets.”