Anna Sokolova is an illustrator, teacher, and contemporary artist who loves combining traditional and innovative approaches in art. Her work is featured in museums and private collections in Russia, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, and the US. She is a top teacher on Skillshare, with several classes in creating with ink that feature her own techniques. She has collaborated with companies such as Tombow, Wired magazine, and Maison Margiela, among others and has received numerous awards, including the World Illustration Award and a silver medal in the Society of Illustrators 64th Annual. We asked Anna a few questions about her creative process

Quarto Creates: How did you first become interested in painting and ink?

Anna Sokolova: My grandparents were engineers, so I grew up in a house full of curious objects like extremely sharp pencils, tracing papers, dividers, watercolors, and gouache used for washes and… ink! Those tiny alchemy bottles and extra-fine nib pens mesmerized me right away. Later, I fell in love with book illustration and discovered that many artworks were created with various ink techniques.

When I had my first art commission, I went to the art supply store and was totally overwhelmed by the prices and choices of the materials. And I thought that only professionals could know what to choose. And then I saw inks – just one bottle of violet ink for the price of a cup of coffee! That changed everything. This first tiny commission for a poetry magazine opened a whole new world for me that I could never imagine possible.

QC: Who was your most influential teacher?

AS: Books! Though I had a few art classes at University when studying publishing, I consider myself mostly self-taught, gaining knowledge from endless of trial and error and an endless amount of books. We live in incredible times where we can talk to the great masters and learn from them over the centuries. 

Online learning is also revolutionary in the art world. I can't stress enough how the online community influenced my work and added much-needed confidence to move forward.

QC: Where do you find inspiration for your art?

AS: Inspiration is everwhere – in museums, books, busy streets, display windows, textiles, music, history. I'm also charmed by symbolism, folklore, and Ballet Russe.

QC: Have your finished products ever turned out different than your expectation? 

AS: Artists don't work with reality; they create it! So sometimes, the finished artworks are surprising and not always in the good sense of this word. When it happens, I try to focus on the process and consider this piece a transitional step for a better product. I believe that deep inside we all know our hidden potential, so every new piece brings us closer to the desired result

QC: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from creating?

AS: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It doesn't matter if you create for fun, a hobby, a passion, or a professional career. For the long-lasting art journey, you need to surround yourself with things that resonate with you. 

It's crucial to stay true to what you really love. It always shines through your artwork. Precisely this kind of art brings pure joy and recognition.

Find Anna online at annasokolova.eu and on Instagram @annasokolovaartist. Her book, Brilliant Inks, is available now wherever fine books are sold!