How to Decorate Your Notebook

Transform a boring notebook into a floral explosion with these simple steps

Maya Hanisch (@mayahanisch) is a Chilean artist who works in editorial illustration for books. Her figurative art is strongly influenced by Latin American and European folklore. Her compositions are generated using layers of paint, which act as a solid gradient to give volume, contrast and intensity to various elements of nature.

You will need:

- A black covered notepad (can be bound like Maya’s)
- White paper
- Pencil and eraser

Steps:

1. After choosing the size of the notebook (if possible smaller than a sheet of paper) take it as a model and trace its size to start working on the sketch. This first step is very important since it will delimit the space we have to make the design.

2. Find the center point and create the first petal from it. Having a central reference point will help you maintain symmetry and balance.

3. Use your imagination, you can use a real model but feel free to draw flowers that don’t exist. Add details and combine shapes to fill all the space you want.

This is how you sketch your design. The next step is transferring it to the cover with acrylic. Do you dare? Share the results with us in the comments.

This quick guide for decorating your sketch pads is just a taster of her Domestika course Introduction to Floral Illustration with Acrylic.

You may be interested in:

- Illustration Tutorial: How to Draw Flowers and Leaves
- Origami for Beginners: Materials and Basic Folding Techniques
- Illustration Tutorial: How to Draw from Your Imagination