Guldana Nuratova, from Taraz
I was startled by the idea to draw when I was in the first class. My brother came from school and showed his album with drawings. I was inspired and told my mother that I wanted to be an artist.
I had an English-Russian dictionary with an empty sheet where I drew myself and my mother in pencils. It did not turn out very well, though inspired me to continue and learn drawing. I still keep this dictionary.
At the age of 8 I started practicing gymnastics, handball and basketball. I love sports, I did it until the 11th grade. Thanks to sports I grew up stubborn and purposeful. I didn’t draw and my environment often reminded me of my dream. My parents bought me painting supplies, and I got inspiration one more time. I started with copying pictures depicted on the packages of oil paints, as copying is the easiest way to learn to draw. Not having enough experience, you first need to understand the way professionals do it.
By the second year at university I’d improved my skills, learned different drawing techniques and started making portraits. I trained on my own.
Joining the Arts Help charity I met many talented portraitists. Then I needed to draw something in my own style to stand out. That was how I started making fashion illustrations.
The fashion world has always been captivating me since childhood. I did not miss a single release of the "Podium" TV show. I’m planning to try myself there in future.
I've watched movies about Coco Chanel, Dior so many times. Phrases from films are very captivating. I admire Coco Chanel. She came up with everything: women's pants, hats, a small black dress. I want to be like her, to come up with something new and remain in the fashion history.
I was inspired by the illustrations made by Dosef Font’s, Delpozo’s creative director. I was drawing like him from the morning till the night. Drawing someone's sketches, you understand certain details. I started having my own style. It hasn’t fully formed yet, but other do notice it. I'm looking for my style by studying myself, my forms.
Sometimes I have orders, e.g. to draw fashion illustrations for the magazine cover. I was thinking over it for a long, as I want to create my own clothing brand.
Sewing and knitting has fascinated me since childhood, it's soothing. I’m planning to start making my clothing line in summer. I’m planning to present it at Kazakhstan Fashion Week, if I’ll have finished the line by next year.
I combine classic clothes with sportswear. That's why I want my clothes to be both beautiful and comfortable.
I analyze inspiring Kazakhstan and foreign fashion designers.
I always sign my works as GN, many think that they’re initials. But I also interpret it as "Good Night", because I often do not sleep at night drawing. I might name my future brand like GN.
Parents always support me. They always tell me to choose something bringing pleasure, not just money. I'm inspired by my boyfriend. We try to motivate each other.
ON PLANS
I’m planning to enter MA in fashion design abroad and to create my book of fashion illustrations.
I’m willing to open painting courses in Astana. I want to teach as many talented children as possible.
I wish to develop in other directions except fashion and make comic books and fairy tales. I’m lucky to have people following my page in Instagram. Sometimes foreigners write me asking to teach them drawing.
