Happy Halloween!

Strangely enough, while I love costume design, I myself don't get as worked up about dressing up on Halloween. Maybe it's because the fashions I favor are somewhat costumey already to the public at large that I don't get the same kicks other people do on one holiday, because I basically live that way everyday.

Although I always wanted to go in drag as Storm...

Storm Reimagined, 5

And I suppose, done.

I had wanted to enter this into the Project Rooftop contest, but I held off to try and finesse the drawing, as well as do back views for how I imagined the cape attachment to the bodice would work - I wanted it to flow from the bust line like a vintage Balenciaga gown. But I also thought I had time, as the deadline in my mind was Sept. 30th when in actuality it was something like Sept.15 (although I had this drawing pretty much ready to go in August. Ah well).

That said, I still like my design over any of the winners from the contest. But I'm biased. :)

Caper

So finally doing another model! Next time I really need to take more and better pictures. My bad reference shots are seriously hampering my sources for these paintings.

Decomax 7

Yup, on it still. Although this is pretty close. I'm just not sure it's balanced yet as a piece, but I'll let it sit while I work on one more.

Decomax 6

I'm doing something I've not done before, I don't think. I'm working on a drawing that will be two separate finished pieces. One will have all the makeup for the show this pose is being used for, while the other will just be the sketch sans runway styling, and just as a portrait. It sets up the possibility that one would be better than the other, so I'm not sure how I feel about it, but we'll see how it develops.

Toon In

I suddenly had the urge to turn my muse into a cartoon. Hey, what are muses for but to inspire all sorts of creations, eh? I have such a strong idea how this should look, but I can't seem to create it. It's funny, the idea is there, and pretty strong in my head, but I cant look it in my head and examine the lines to make it in the real world, haha

Brush On

I went to the Aaron Smith opening today and was inspired by his impasto brush strokes. I'm wondering if I would pick up the paint brush again? Because it's not as fun (yet) on Painter. I do like impasto strokes.

Decomax 5

I can't stop working on this piece as I've gotten a stride and a breakthrough on some parts, meaning even if I haven't perfected the features yet, I feel confident about working them until they're right. I think I had a breakthrough with the lip area. Max has distinctive lips, and my reference photo that I took isn't as detailed as I would like. It took another photo of him by someone else, from a different angle, to remind me how to render this part properly. I think (hope).

Decomax 4

Despite my eventually going to cover him in runway makeup styling, I'm spending a lot of time agonizing how this portrait doesn't look just right yet. Maybe I can give it to the model as a gif sans the colored patches that will eventually find their way over his features.

About A Boy 6

It's amazing to me how much a drawing changes even when in earlier stages I think I'm making progress. I worked for a few more hours after I posted last night, and the new sketch isn't even near where i want it to be, but comparing it to last night's profile, it's leagues in the right direction. It's so relative, these portraits. It never ceases to amaze me how much editing goes into these things. It's all about being patiently observant...

About A Boy 5

So I decided to (despite many contrary ideas still percolating) (is 'percolating' even still a valid noun? I don't think there are coffee percolators anymore, are there?) to do the profile in earnest. He has a very distinctive, Roman profile. It should be easy but I know I will obsess over it anyhow. And while this sketch isn't perfect, I did like this rendering so I'm posting this version of the developing sketch.

Proposals

I have to come up with a few new ideas for a possible photographer/illustration collab, and this is one of my rough ideas. I'm not sure if I want to post ideas here for others to possibly adapt, but these (and a few other) sketches are certainly what I drew today.

About A Boy 4

Been thinking of a completely different approach, which ironically uses the original profile that I started with. I got a few directions and ideas I have seen in my head which is a whole lot more than just the initial portrait I had begun.

Max and his friend Heron

Max and his friend Heron learned that cheap tequila and standing too close to the stern of a boat aren't a good combination.

In Character

I took a friend out for drinks at Attaboy, and 4 cocktails later I'm way too tipsy to be drawing anything of consequence, so the line just flowed on their own, and rendered this semi Harry Potter-esque character (or so I believe).

DecoMax 3

Little by little, I find my way with this sketch. But then again, if you've seen my other entries, you know that's par for the course with any of my more rendered work.

DecoMax 2

You'd think that after drawing him so often I'd have his features down. Well, still working on it. I'm liking this pose though.

Knit Picks, Done

This is a style that I can do, but it's honestly not my favorite. It looks too comic book like for my fashion work, but frankly, I'm not sure what my women's fashion work would look like if I really went at it today. Anyhow, this is for a client, hence the big copyright overlay. I had an issue lately with people just taking drawings from my blog and using it for their own purposes without permission, and this one is licensed to a company so NO POACHING please!

Knit Picks 5

I think this might be as contemporary as I can get. It feels like I drew the hairstyle of some reality tv housewife. No comment.

Knit Picking 4

These knit drawings will require casual styles since they're not exactly runway clothing. But they still need to look contemporary in a somewhat forward manner. It took me a while, but I had to analyze how I would execute current hair. It's flatter on top and fuller on the bottom... but in my mind (oh, my old, decades and decades old, mind) it's Jaclyn Smith, updated.

Knit Picking 3

I think this will be the subject of my drawings for the next few days, until they get done by Tuesday's deadline.

Knit Picking 2

So the client wants something sketchy which I think is a good way to go, as it's not an ad and I'm not sure that an illustrated casual wear piece is a way to feel fresh and new. Still, I'm trying to think how rendered I personally want to do this, as I always want to put my best foot forward. This is just the body shot, but it's too friendly, too.. contemporary. But I'm not sure what fashion illustration style I can do that's appropriate for this brand!

Knit Picking

I have a new commission for a client, but I'm completely drawing a blank on how to do it - so here are a few trial sketches as my entry. The conundrum: how does one render casual wear in illustration, in a way that really focuses on the actual product as opposed to the styling... and  doesn't look dated? I'm having the devil's own time figuring it out, as the usual tactic for fashion illustration these days is to focus on high fashion and letting that look carry all the heavy lifting. But where does illustration fit into fashion on a day to day basis?

About A Boy 3

I'm still trying to settle on a visual. This is why I should never volunteer to do a sketch without an idea, amazing model notwithstanding! So I'm just sketching and hopefully I can figure out the overall piece after the fact.

DecoMax

I really haven't a clue about all these next phase drawings. I had ideas, but when it comes down to actuating, there seems to be pieces missing so much that I can't follow through (usually from my inability to get reference shots I like when I finally get down to using them). So I basically sketch and see what sticks. I'm going though my photos and nothing seems to truly work, so I might start something that will just get completely revamped later. This was colored in way too soon, as there's no likeness whatsoever. But I guess I gotta start somewhere.

Doubled Over

I saw a new (well, new to me) designers's site and he had a coat that had a flap closure over a single breasted coat that inspired this variation. I look at his version and it's so not what I saw in my head, but I do believe in giving credit where design inspiration credit is due. And it's not like I'm going to manufacture it. I just anted to do a quickie sketch of my idea form his original.

Edward and his friend Heron

Edward and his friend Heron decided that next time, a waterproof phone case would probably be a good idea.

Duck and Cover

I'm still playing catch up so to cover up for today, I give you a duck. I forget how doodles can be so freeing to play and experiment. I rather like these brushes that I've never used before.

Drunk Drawing

Lately, I've been craning my neck to inspect the work on my monitor, whether from just the intensity of my work, or bad posture, or a need to wear glasses.But it's been straining my neck. I discovered that one way for me to relax esp. after a long day of designing is to have a cocktail.

I hadn't had vodka in a long while, and it's deceptively light. By my second vodka tonic I realized my tolerance of vodka isn't what it used to be. And as far as my drawing is concerned, it's kinda affecting my abilities! Not quite as life-endangering as drunk driving, but as far as art goes, not the most helpful either. Or is it? I'll have to see in the morning. ;)

About A Boy 2

Gonna try perhaps another angle. I saw a few more pics of him in a video, and man, he photographs well. I don't see the kid I was hanging out with for a few days last week, I see a guy who's a model. Funny that. Unfortunately I took photos of him without really figuring out how his looks work. I better work better with the next model I shoot...

Subway Chic

I was on my way to have lunch with my friend Robbie and his wife Ana, and while I waited on the subway platform, a woman in a totally chic, super downtown outfit . I was particularly entranced by her shoes, which were reinvented Birkenstocks (by Philip Lim for Tatami, apparently), which she wore with socks. If that wasn't fun enough, she wore a sheer, oversized black summer knit over a tank and cropped slacks, and had killer jewelry. I struck up a conversation with her and decided I would draw her outfit for today's entry. Nice to meet you, Mariana!