Students and Recent Grads Flip Open Their Notes

By Kenna Caprio

Looking inside someone’s notebook is personal; it’s a glimpse into a person’s private thoughts, doodles and plans. Each notebook is also a snapshot of a moment in time. So, we asked a handful of students and alumni to show us their pages.

“Comic books, a source of inspiration for me, are such a versatile storytelling medium — some of my favorite artists come from that industry. Here, I did quick self-portrait sketches of some outfits I wore while I studied abroad in Florence, Italy. I save my notebooks after I fill them — it’s valuable to look back on the things you’ve created in the past, and it’s a unique window into that time in your life and your memories.”

A sketchbook filled with colorful drawings of women in bright outfits.

“I took these notes for my Advanced Marketing Management class. Typically, I love taking notes by hand. It helps me retain the information better and keeps me more engaged with the content.”

“Carrying around big notebooks for each class got old quick. Using the iPad makes my life a lot easier and more organized. These are my notes on the brain from an anatomy class. I used the Goodnotes app on the iPad. I take very brief notes on the PowerPoints that the professor gives us and then I go back to create an in-depth study guide after class is over. Reviewing information twice in a short timeframe helps it stick with me.”

“A lot of my doodles are inspired by what I see around me. I collect pens but am especially drawn to fountain pens; sometimes I use highlighters or sticky notes, too. I was studying abroad in Florence, Italy, when I drew this spread. I doodled pigeons, my leg, a cappuccino, my outfit that day and a manga character. On the other side is a drawing I did from a rooftop. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I could see all the buildings and trees across the river. These spreads are a visual document of my life, the way other people keep a journal.”

Doodles and a sketch of a landscape and rooftop.

“These sketches are both reflections of myself; both are concepts of stories and characters that evolved into pieces for my portfolio and thesis. I used a graphite 5.0 mechanical pencil and kneadable eraser to create the drawings. Doodling helps me think through my art before making a final piece.”

Two sketches done on off-white paper with pencil.

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