At Odds

I replaced the container that housed many of my larger drawings and paintings that I'd saved throughout my life, and in the process of transferring everything, I noticed how my work has evolved through the years. Part of me knows I've improved, but there was such an intensity, a visible need to draw in some of those pieces, an impetus I feel I somehow lack nowadays.

I'm trying to reconnect to my older styles and see if I've lost them, or have at least taken them to the next level, but without losing the parts I liked. Even the simplicity of my faces back then seemed much more pure than some of the work I do today, while the detail was evidence of my drive. Or did I just have so much more time back then?

This was an attempt to doodle like I used to, to create imagery rather than just live in the act of drawing. The odd eye color kind of illustrates the title of this post, but in truth was the result of a beautifully inspiring man I met online who has one blue and one brown eye.

Great Kate

Just fleshed out the croquis a bit more. I was looking through some old sketches from the 90s and earlier and my natural media work had a more finished feel. I wonder if the nature of digital media (and/or this daily blog) makes me make more throwaway illos?

Happy Repose

A reader mentioned how much she likes Zenaida. I'm quite surprised how many people respond to her, but on the other hand, she's so happy, how can you not? This is for Joanie.

Kate Silo

Continuing my observation of Kate Lanphear's style, I did a quick sketch of one of her standard silhouettes. I dunno if I'll go further with this drawing, but there's something about how she carries her clothing that makes ordinary items come together so uniquely for her.

Blonde Locks

I love how switching my usual angle (I tend to draw people with their faces looking to the left) made me draw this completely differently than I normally would, and I particularly like the nose and mouth on this face.

Locks

A friend messaged me that his new inspiration was the new style editor of Elle, and after perusing a few images of looks I agreed that she was just super modern and chic, and much edgier than her predecessor. I did a quick sketch based on my impression of her.

Shuttle Chic

I was on the S shuttle on the way to the Times Square subway station, and I saw this woman riding in the same train. I liked her coat: it had a high collar, was a great taupe-y loden-y color, was puffy and down-filled, but it was cut like a dress, with a bowed belt and a full, knee length skirt. It was a very quiet look but the silhouette was really fresh, and she looked very nonchalant but chic, complimenting the coat with black tights, black high-heeled loafers and a clean bucket tote. I drew a quick sketch of the details on a card I had in my bag, and am now translating it here.

edit: After looking at this one, I decided the Sidewalk gal I previously drew could benefit from a solid background as well, so I threw one on her.

Sidewalk, Done

Here's my fashion illustration-style drawing of the Japanese (I think) woman I saw on the street the other week. The best time for me to draw is when I don't concentrate and just let the abilities do their thing, so I turned on a podcast and let my mind just go blank. I like how this turned out because it does remind me of how I used to draw over 20 years ago, maybe a tad looser (which isn't a bad thing). I wonder if my mom would have liked this, since she used to be so critical of my croquis...?

Sidewalk, 2

Just fleshing out the drawing of the woman I saw on the sidewalk last week. I'm adding in details to her outfit even if I didn't really get a precise look, but I'm trying to draw like I used to in my teens, when it was more about clarifying a design as opposed to creating a fashion mood. And frankly, it's not the most radical outfit, but it was nice to see a fresh trend on the street - i.e. a short-sleeved winter coat.

Waiting

I finished a meeting at work and waited for my coworker to finish with his own meeting, so I grabbed whatever sheet was in my notebook and drew on it. I like the face on the right better.

Modern Maori Mask

Profiling, 2

I really like the nose on this one, it's not my usual overt shnozz. Not sure of the jawline yet, but think that it'll work out with the idea I have planned.

Profiling

I was working late or something and didn't think I would do anything I liked, but after i decided to do a simple profile, I ended up liking how she turned out. Planning on fleshing this out a little more.

Poufy

Came from the Robert Geller show (love) on Friday and drew this rendition of the poufed up hair he had for the show. It was kinda Prague Dandy.

Pre-Sketching

Cleaning out the details in my croquis before finalizing with color, per usual.

It's A Bust

Yes, I've been whoring myself out drawing -- well, you can see. The job got canceled, so I just get a kill fee... which is appropriate, since a part of me died doing this job, haha!

Butt Really

A friend who works for a record label asked me yesterday if I wanted to work on a quick illustration job for him (in these recession-laden times, it seems some people will do anything, haha!). Uh, so, when a silo request for a certain type of physique was made, I went all out. Too much so, apparently. This one is the sample pose that wasn't approved so I can post it. Please don't judge me... I need money to pay for stuff. Haha!

Pomp

So an article the other day about what Refinery 29 was thinking is the next big thing, the "Rick Astley" hairstyle," (ugh, of all the references) comes almost a year after I started feeling (and drawing) a fuller, 80s 'do, although I declared it was the way to go only last October. You could totally see it coming, based on the fashion shows and editorials put out for nearly a year prior, dunno why it took them so long. I, on the other hand, am slipping. I can normally predict these things over a year or two ahead.

Sidewalk

I saw a woman on the street the other day, texting on her phone. I liked what she was wearing and wished I had drawn her instead of the croquis I did the other day, but then I decided, I'll do both. It's a sad state of affairs though, when I can't think of an original outfit I like for women - I'm going to have to admit that I just don't love women's fashion as much as I used to.

Fashion Sketch, On A Mac, Done

This didn't turn out too badly, but I need to establish my color palette more. I used to use oranges for skin tone, washed out to a pale fleshtone, but that doesn't work with Photoshop.

Fashion Sketch, On A Mac

I got a call to possibly work during Fashion Week, doing fashion sketches at teh tents. My worst fear is that my style doesn't really work for fashion anymore, something I used to be so into drawing. But they wanted someone who could work with a tablet, and sent me samples... which were horrible. I expected to see pro sketches but instead got student croquis. Which reminded me of my own croquis and style when I was taking courses in FIT, which really helped me acquire a fashion illustration style, albeit a more commercial one than the Antonio Lopez model I grew up aping. I thought I'd give it a shot and reall try to do what I used to, which was more defined, usually sweeter faces, and more detailed bodies... just on a Mac instead of watercolor. This was the start. I decided to draw the waitress from Costes again, just because I sadly couldn't think of anything fashionable to draw! Anyhow, it's a start.

2 minute Kitty 2009.1

As much as drawing is like breathing to me, when you're sick, you're sick. And sometimes all you can manage is a quick doodle - voila.

Eye Am Sick

So no full-on drawings from me just yet. This has been a long dry creative spell. Ugh.

Agyness-y

It's not supposed to be her, but I had Ms. Deyn in mind when I sketched this. Just a quickie to get caught up on all my drawings-a-day.

Skirt The Issue

I totally forgot to do a drawing last night. Still adjusting to being back in NYC, I guess, so I worked (barely) on the gym girl skirt I did a couple of days back.

Drunk Rat

I used to draw these drunk rats all the time - they were a character design of mine back in high school and college, but I can't recall why I even liked them. Hmm.

2 Minute Bunny, 2009.2

Gym Girl

This woman who works at my gym had such a great outfit on, because the proportions were rather inspiring. This is my initial stab at revising the look into something super-hero-ish.

Men On The Move

One of the things I liked best about Cafe Marly was how the waiters, all looking smart in their slim black suits, would run around frenetically, but with so much flourish. I drew this on a barf bag from my flight back home on Swiss International.

Marly Man

On our last night in Paris, we once again went to Le Cafe Marly, where the cutest waiter served us. His features weren't that great but there was something about his demeanor that intrigued us. When I thought about the individual details on his face, it didn't really sum things up. Guess you had to be there.

Lunch At Laduree

Greg and I stopped to have lunch at famous Laduree, and while waiting for our food I did a quick sketch of him. Unfortunately, I gave Greg the sketch and accidentally deleted the picture from my camera, so I'll wait until I get him to send me another shot.
edit: and here it is. Thanks Greg!

Paper Bag

We saw an amazing new designer line of really simple, crumpled paper bags, and I did a quick sketch of one of the styles.

Costes Uniform

We went for a quick drink at Hotel Costes the third night, but really didn't want to stay - I really didn't want to hang there. The waitress' outfit was pretty cute, though - I liked her shorts and boots combo.

Not So Sleepy

A bit of jet lag as well as excitement about finally being in Paris, I slept later than my friend Greg did. So I did a quick sketch of him on the second night.

In Flight Fright

First day to Paris: traveling was a pain - things went awry left and right. I tried to busy myself with watching one of the in-flight movies, but Death Race wasn't exactly riveting material. Still, Jason Statham is always nice to look at, hence the drawing. The writing on the left was me complaining bitterly to myself about how not smoothly things were going.