The art of drawing can be made into a career with a bright future for the younger generation if their works are more creative and innovative socially and culturally, said noted cartoonist Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid.

Mohammad Nor, who is more popularly known as Lat, said youths who chose art as a career must think more creatively to attract the interest of the local community.

Lat, who received the Merdeka Award last year, said there were some local artists who would do their research before producing an artwork, and he was convinced this would take the art industry to a higher level.

"We should now be producing pieces which are different or special to draw the attention of the people. If we do the same as others, nobody will want to see it," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after launching Dumpster.My, a collecting house for artworks from local talents here Sunday.

Lat also said creative works produced through art prints which use modern technology was now growing in this country, helping the field grow with changes in market demand and technology.

He said artworks produced with the aid of technology should be mastered to change the social stigma that art could not grow with the times.

Meanwhile, Lat said he was confident that Dumpster.My would be the best platform to create more local artists and encourage talented graduates in art not to resort to work which were not connected to art.

Dumpster.My is an outlet which aims to seek out and promote creative works by local talents and help them earn income.

Its founder, Romaizie Mustapha said Dumpster, located at the Publika Shopping Gallery, would focus on producing Malaysian cultural and historical works produced by local artists and promoting them to the public.