Alessandra Scandella, Illustrator in Milan, Italy, presented by Homo Faber

©Alessandra Scandella

Stories painted in watercolour and ink

Alessandra collaborates with leading editorial names and fashion houses through illustration
Her works have been exhibited in Italy and abroad
She teaches illustration in university-level programmes in Milan

Alessandra Scandella is a Milan-based illustrator and teacher who paints with watercolour and ink on cotton paper. She is the co-founder of Studio Container, a creative hub focused on illustration, graphic design, video and animation. "I like to focus my work on themes that explore fashion, design, travel and culture," Alessandra says. She collaborates with leading Italian editorial publications and fashion houses, including La Repubblica, Corriere della Sera, Lavazza and Bulgari. She teaches traditional painting techniques, such as watercolour, gouache and ink at the EID, European Institute of Design and the International School of Comics in Milan. Alessandra's illustrations have been exhibited in Italy and internationally, while her recent projects focus on watercolour and ink animations.

Alessandra Scandella is a master artisan: she began her career in 1985 and she started teaching in 2018.

INTERVIEW

I use watercolours, inks and gouaches on cotton paper, applying them with brushes I made myself or that I sourced from Japan. This allows me to create delicate, precise gestures that reflect the intimate and tactile nature of my artistic process.

Teaching is exciting and important to me because I try to share a lot, but I also learn so much from the students and people I meet. There is always so much energy and so many ideas – together, we experiment with new ideas.

I begin each course by introducing techniques, materials, colours and paper types. I then move on to subjects like landscapes, portraits, the human figure and travel sketchbooks. The course ends with a final project, often a concertina booklet, which is perfect for storytelling through illustration and colour.

It is important to work with traditional techniques and natural pigments if possible, as well as explore different types of paper. They must experiment as much as possible – travel, learn from distant cultures and most importantly, stay true to their own creativity rather than relying too much on artificial intelligence.