June 25, 2015
Every creative swears by their notebook, even in these days of technology and smartphones. We know we do!
It’s somewhere to capture ideas, to take notes when inspiration strikes and make a quick sketch creating ‘Notebook Art’
We have noticed a growing number of artists taking this one step further, using the humble notebook to create beautiful pieces of art. Beyond just doodles or scribbles, these artworks are striking and boldly stand up against art on canvas.
We will be featuring a different ‘notebook artist’ each month beginning with the talented, Alena Kudriashova. Alena is an architect and an urban sketcher from Moscow. After graduating from University of the Arts London and Chelsea College of Arts, she now works for a large international company as an architect, specialising in office interior design.
She can often be found creating architectural sketches for different kinds of projects and runs urban sketching workshops.
We are featuring our favourite sketches from her ‘Urban sketches‘ series and asked Alena about her favourite notebooks and what inspired her to join the likes of Mozart and Picasso in using notebooks to create works of art.
My favourite notebook?
Leuchtturm! I prefer sketchbooks with smooth paper, so I had to try many different sketchbooks. Finally I stopped on these three: Moleskine Sketchbook, Evernote Sketchbook, Leuchtturm 1917 sketchbook.
Why I use a notebook over canvas or other mediums?
Its best quality is that a notebook is very mobile and less demanding in terms of the set up time. That’s crucial when you are living a busy life. Also I like my sketches to be in one place rather than storing them in piles, because it’s too tempting to throw away some sketches that I don’t like. But any of them are a treasure for me, because each one of them is a memory of something wonderful, not just a technical exercise.
How notebooks have helped your brand as an artist?
Well, I would say the sketchbook is the main part of my brand, or my brand as an artist has been built around the sketchbook. It’s much easier to practice drawing more often when you can do that whenever you feel like. And if I’m honest, all the interesting things often happen when you are on the run, not when you are in a studio. This is where the sketchbook is a great help.
Why are notebooks more than just a jot pad?
Drawing in a sketchbook day by day is like drawing a book of your life, with the opportunity of flipping through the pages again in the same order as they were created. One day it’s going to be very important to me.
Why should people customise their notebooks – is it an expression, identity or something quite personal, therefore should it be personalised?
I’m now one of those people who prefers plain covers rather than something too… designed. But I realize that it’s quite boring to have a bunch of same unidentified sketchbooks on your shelves when the amount of them grow year by year. A book of my life deserves a decent cover! So does everyone else’s. Even if it’s just a name, a year or a picture.
What pens and pencils do you use to create your artwork?
The sketches you see here I’ve done using liners such as Faber Castell or Pigma Micron. For the colouring I prefer Derwent Inktense pencils or Winsor & Newton pocket watercolour set. The set of 12 colors is just enough for Urban Sketching, and I carry it with me at all times.
You can see more of Alena’s amazing work at mysquiggles.com or follow Alena on Instagram @mysquiggles
Tell us what you think of notebook art?
Do you create notebook art, If so we would love to see your works!
