New Framework

I needed to redo that framework of this portrait. It wasn't working for the final layout with the other elements, which is part of the problem of composing pieces digitally after each individual item is rendered. If I were doing this normally, I would paint everything all together in one layout.

Caper 6

Those legs needed redoing. There was something a bit too loose in the rendering, which should be loose but resolute. I dunno if that makes sense. I often repeat the strokes of a drawing until I get the right feel in a stroke. That's the good thing about digital art - you can retool it endlessly (also a bad thing when you want to finish).

Caper 5

I went and visited a fellow artist at his open studio event yesterday, and we talked about our processes. It was inspiring to see all his work, as he is one of my favorite fellow illustrators in the community I'm part of here in New York. This encouraged me to continue with my fashion illustration and see if (hopefully) develop, in terms of both my technique and my career. 

This piece isn't quite done, but it's pretty close. Inspired by my friend's own artwork, I decided to try and make more 'random' watercolor effects on this piece to simulate a more wet-on-wet kind of bleed and diffusion. The legs are still not as right as I'd like them, so that might be a reason to tinker.

Storm Reimagined, Final

So, this is what I've devised as a full costume sheet for my costume design. It shows enough of the details. Some of the said details seem superfluous to me, like all the style lines on the black outfit which I prefer just clean without seams, but it's more modern to do it that way. But I've included the action shot that has no visible seams for the most part, as when drawing it, it's such a pain to do the seams. Plus I wanted to show how the cape attaches and forms from the side of her breasts towards the back. right now it comes form her skirt, and there was something awkward about how her cape skirt is so damn long, it looks like she's wearing a wedding train and might trip all over it.

Storm Reimagined, Details 4

I finally have a croquis I like that I can work off of. And because of that, I feel better about how the style lines on this outfit go, and can design the back properly. I probably shouldn't go crazy on it but I do need to make sure it's what I want to put out there.

Storm Reimagined, Details 3

I rather like the body on this. Costume details not done yet, though.

Caper 4

After working so much on refining the likeness, I ended up with a head far too big for the body (although to be honest, the proportions are still very much fashion proportions so it's a tall body). Still I feel I made good progress on the portrait, so now it's on to the outfit, which I totally redid. Coloring comes next!

Caper 3

Working hard on this face... wish I had familiarized myself with him more. Maybe I'll have a look online and see if what I'm painting holds up.

Storm Reimagined, Details 2

Still trying to figure out the construction of this design. Haven't settled on something plausible yet.

Max's Siki Exit, 2

I think this might be done. I just went at it after I had posted, and I'll let it sit for a night before I rework it, if I do.

Max's Siki Exit

Max takes on a runway persona when he does his exits. He told he he really gets into the vibe of a show. I wanted to bring back a bit of the sketchy vibe I did for last season with this by adding a vignette of his full figure.

Caper 2

At the back of my mind, using Photoshop tricks like nudging or cutting and pasting linework seems like cheating, but I have to remind myself that I'm a digital artist, and these are the digital tools at my disposal. I'm still using my own hand for lines and painting.

With this portrait, for instance, I'm so unfamiliar with the model Noma's features (this is my first time to draw him) that even with a photo reference I'm way off the likeness and you can see gaps in the lines from where I cut and nudged things. If I were using natural media, I'd have to erase the whole thing and redraw, which always fills me with fear I will erase what's right about a drawing. The forgiving quality of digital work is what draws me to it, as overworked media aren't a problem. Overwrought work, however, is still a potential issue...

Decomax 8

Now that I've accomplished the portrait with the makeup, I now want to finish up the piece, or at least the fashion illustration, and there was something really nice about just leaving it an outline without the coloring layer turned on after I'd added a few more lines to delineate the pose.

Lucho, From Memory

My friend Robbie asked me who my favorite male models were at the moment, and I forgot to mention Argentinean Lucho Jacob. He's got that swarthy Frenchman thing down, with his unruly mop of hair cascading over his forehead.I'd love to see him in more things. I looked him up on the net, got so entranced again with his photos, that I decided to draw him without referncing any particular shot. It feels like him to me.

Storm Reimagined, Details

Now to suss out the construction for this design. While its made for a comicbook character for print use, it should definitely be made to be seen on a page. But I also like teh idea of inserting a bit of reality into how the construction would work, because that sort of stuff is what makes clothing so fun for me: how it's constructed for the body to look and fall a particular way. Although I'm suddenly not too keen on the shoe part of the outfit - while I imagine it to be part of the legging, it looks too much like a summer sandal from the side...

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.