Architectural drawings and their resulting structures are among the many testaments of human ingenuity over the ages. It’s hard not to be amazed by how exact and detailed these drawings of proposed projects and real-life structures can get. Urban sketchers typically have thousands of followers on Instagram. But while most artists have focused on recreating real-life structures with their style on paper, Russian artist and architectural student Aisylu Zaripova does not only rely on what’s already tangibly there, but she also lets her imagination run wild with her architectural fantasy creations.
Zaripova, like any artist, takes inspiration from her surroundings. Wherever she travels, her sketchbook, pencils and pens go with her. She has drawn quaint cafes, many iconic structures and has even captured the warm essence of a cluttered kitchen. But these drawings aren’t the reason why the Kazan State University of Architecture and Engineering student has snatched the attention of admirers. It’s her interesting fantasy architectural drawings that have drawn her 41.2K Instagram followers to her work. You won’t find the places that she draws anywhere in the world. They simply exist on her sheets of paper, where the skilled artist and illustrator has brought them to life with graphite, ink and watercolor.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Aisylu Zaripova shares architectural drawings presented through a curious angle
The drawings that Zaripova shares on her Instagram page showcase her incredible ability to render complex structures at different angles. Most architectural artists usually go for the frontal perspective. But not Zaripova. The Kazan-based artist and illustrator has taken things up a notch by presenting her drawings from above. This makes the drawing’s observer feel as though they were peering down at the place instead of simply seeing it from the front. Through this perspective, Zaripova’s architectural drawings are given a three-dimensional treatment that casual observers and architects alike will enjoy studying.
Her architectural fantasies are so incredibly intricate that they remind you of a watch mechanism. However, despite the many elements present in her drawings, Zaripova still manages to keep every detail discernible. And it’s just not bridges or buildings that Zaripova draws into her work. She matches her unique cities with unique modes of transportation, such as old-fashioned trains, steam-powered air ships and even tractors. The addition of recognizable vehicles in her works definitely demonstrates how wide her illustrative range is!
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
The fantasy drawings mix and match various components from different eras to create a unique world
It goes without saying that Zaripova’s extremely detailed drawings take a lot of time to finish. And according to the artist, it took so much of her time that she ultimately ended up feeling burnt out. She wrote:
“In my case, efficiency is when in the shortest period of time I perform the maximum quality work in a comfortable mode and speed. This is of course ideal, and it is not always possible to achieve this, but I try. Just because at some point I got tired of always being sleepless, angry, and squeezed out like a lemon, having a lot of time and at the same time nothing good in the end.”
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Creating a single architectural fantasy can take hours and even days
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Her drawings include the most minute details
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Zaripova takes pride in her unique architectural art
The result of her efficient time management and discipline are evident through her incredibly intricate drawings. She readily documents every stage of her illustration process. She often takes pictures of the rough pencil sketch. The rough graphite linework eventually becomes the drawing’s scaffolding that guides and supports the drawing during its inking stage. Then, once the inking process is finished, Zaripova finishes the piece with delicate washes of watercolor. In a post, she wrote how much she appreciates her work:
“I love all of my sketches, doodles, drawings, and other creations in any forms. Because they are mine! And they are important to me. They are part of my creative path. I love them not because I think they are brilliant or very cool, but because they are a part of me.”
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
“I love them as I love my hands, eyes, hair, and so on. They are like children who need to supported in this world. And no matter whether they are bad or good, successful, or not, I will be proud to say – Yes, I did it. Look at what I did. And this is not pride at all, but respect for yourself and your own artworks.”
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Source: Aisylu Zaripova Instagram