Sometimes the students are the ones that actually inspires me. This post is about one of those days.
It was a fashion illustration lesson I was supporting. I was inspired by one of the student’s sketches. In her original sketch she didn’t like the template she was given so she couldn’t develop any design pages. She thought the pose was ugly and uninspiring. I just wanted to show her how she too can develop designs and not let the pose hinder her ability to design. I wanted to show her the template they were given was just for a guide. They can change it to their personal style. She too can have a beautiful illustration and design pages at the end. I even set her a challenge to develop her sketches and I will do the same when I get home after work then we will compare the next day.
That night at home I actually picked up a pen and started drawing. You know when you have the urge to be creative/draw. Believe me, it is not very often.
Here I demonstrate what I did to one template and how many outcomes you can have. How one pose slowly evolves into other designs just by tracing, copying, resizing, adding media, stylizing the writing, layering, masking tape, and using CAD. This process is very useful for students that don’t know how to develop or present a design development page.
Note: Do make a couple of duplicates in case you want to revert back to the last step or back to the original. These are my own drawings inspired by my student, Rhian. She allowed me to use her knotted dress design to show her how I adapt and change the design, and how to make her design pages look interesting and eye catching. I credit this to her. ( I do apologise for any poor quality pictures. The originals are on a different computer in another country which I don’t have access to until another 5 years).
1. The pose was first traced off a template from 9 Heads. Rhian didn’t like it. Not the most flattering of poses I must admit. Using A4 tracing paper and pencil. Usually I don’t like using tracing paper, but it made it easier to trace a design.
By the way, I did say I drew with a pen. Sometimes I just like to use biro pen on smooth paper. I like the feel when the pen just glides over the page. By using a pen I have to work slower to avoid mistakes. You need to think and plan your next move. By using a pen to practice, I found it helped me improve my doodles/drawings.
2. The design of the dress was traced and certain features were traced over and over again so it does not resemble the original. The angle of the knots were changed to make it not look so obvious. The face a hair was done freehand.
3. Ewww I didn’t like the dark eye make-up. I didn’t like her face either. I messed up. Good thing I have Photoshop. I decided to draw a new face then I scanned it into my computer and using Photoshop I cut off the original face and paste the new one on. You can just draw one eye. Using Photoshop I copied the eye and flip it over to complete the face. Remember to draw in the pupils otherwise reflecting makes the other eye look the wrong way!
4. I used Photoshop to reshape the dodgy shoulder and any areas I didn’t like.
5. This time I copied and reduced the same image and paste it facing the opposite way. I photocopied it on to tracing paper. Using the tracing paper I used a fineliner to bring out the shape on the edges of the dress. A slightly wet brush when over the top of this to run the lines.
This gives it a bit of shadow. The back of the tracing paper I used masking tape to block out the dress so on the right side you can see the details more. The hair and make-up was quickly done with a brush.
6. This picture was a duplicate of the above before anything was done to it. This time I just went around both dresses with the fineliner. Wetting the edges with a damp brush. This time the hair was made darker.
7. I decided to add a bit of annotation to this design development. Just to tell the reader some information about the dress.
I duplicate the pose and reflected it and sized differently. You can write in a box, write to fill in areas of space, write on the edges of objects, pointing to features.
Dotted lines can be used like stitching or just for details.
8. This one is a duplicate of the above but the make-up is stronger.
9. Duplicate of one of the illustrations above but blanked out areas with masking tape.
10. There is a lot you can do with a photocopier. One is to have your images photocopied in reverse.
See how effective this is. I just love white handwriting. It can make any messing handwriting look nice.
Try to avoid adding colour at this stage. Any colour will be reversed when photocopied. So what was a tanned skin tone on the body will become a green alien!
11. I started to play around with more paints and colour here. Darkening the background to bring out the silhouette. Also using fine linear pen to darken the design.Putting detail to the clothing to make it stand out.
Using acetate and tracing over the original and working on it duplicating areas, then layered on top of the original is an effective way to show depth and detail. Starting to use the fineliner to put in some texture to the legs. Making it look like fine net tights.
12. Duplicate of the above picture. Again writing is used to fill in large blank areas.
The larger models hair is taken over to fill in the smaller models background. Make-up is much stronger.
13. Duplicate of the above picture. Again writing is used to fill in large blank areas.
The larger models hair is taken over to fill in the smaller models background. Make-up is much stronger.
Yes, I messed up. Again! Everybody is going to mess up sometime.
The illustration on the right is terrible but it’s OK because I have made a few photocopies earlier. I can discard this design and continue with the designs before.
14. I used some textures tile tape I found in the garage. Applied writing in boxes, along edges of shapes, masking tape around shapes, tracing on acetate and layering, different colours, pointing to details, you name it.
15. Reverting to simplicity. To get this technique I decided to print the design on tracing paper, copier paper and sticker paper. Copier paper underneath as the base. Layered with tracing paper. Peel the sticker paper and stick the stickers matching up the design.
16. I was happy with the dress design but decided to have a go painting freehand.
You can always draw in one eye and Photoshop it. Here I just used my dirty painting water to leave light marks to suggest the other eye.
17. You can see the dirty water marks used here just to help bring out the illustration.
To get the effect print off 3 of the same picture on 3 different types of paper. Use one as the base. The other two you will hold together and cut together.
Now pick the pieces you want to use and just assemble it like a jigsaw puzzle.
Here are a few tips:
- Photocopy your illustrations at different stages if you are afraid of ruining it.
- Work on the photocopied piece and not the original.
- You can cut it out and paste it down, work on it and photocopy it.
- Use different papers, sticker sheets, acetate, tracing paper.
- Use Photoshop to copy and chop areas.
During lesson the tutor was showing the use of inks and fine linear pens. Try using collage if you don’t like drawing faces. Lots of different medias can be used. You just need to experiment until you find your comfort zone. The possibilities are endless. Rhian was definitely inspired the next day when I showed her what her sample inspired me to do.
Feel free to use these images. They are just my doodles. Hope it will bring you some inspiration to your illustrations. Greatly appreciate it if you remember to credit me. If anybody wants use some of my templates in the future just leave me a comment and I will gladly post it on here for you to download to use.
See you in my next illustration blog!
Shan x