Fashionarium

“Make rules for yourself and then break them” - Interview with Designer Naja Conrad Hansen

Dear friend,

Today, I’ll invite you into the world of Naja Conrad Hansen, a designer and artist who lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Graduating from Danmarks Design School in 2003 with a MA in Visual communication and a background in fine art, she started her profession as a freelance designer and artist in 2003. Her illustration style is basically about finding some untouched areas of the mind and stimulating the eye and imagination.

I’ve talked with Naja and you can read bellow an interview which brings into the open the story beyond her creations, her dreams, awesome pics with her artwork and useful advices she share with aspiring fashion illustrators or designers.

Enjoy and be inspired!

How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Happy go lucky

What inspired you to get started in this industry?
I have basically always been drawing and painting and had a passion for fashion in the meaning of predicting the future as a visual reflection of culture, so I thought it would be the perfect combination for me. I then discovered that people wanted to use my work and it was resolved.

When it comes to your work, what inspires you?
All kinds of things: music, fashion, books, sentences, ugly things, beautiful things.  Usually I have silent a dialog with myself and the piece I’m creating and often I get inspired just from working with materials.
 

Talk a little bit about the process of your creation
First I do a lot of things that has got nothing to do with creating art ;like Walking in circles, going to the library , being restless, laying on the couch, smelling to flower, eating chocolate and  important coffee and cigarettes.(sorry I know it’s not healthy)
And then I attack the paper or whatever is the victim of my desires.
 
What medium and materials do you use for your creations?
I don’t care much about what the material is, as long as I can do it with my hands and I prefer to work in large scale. I just start somewhere and then I change it if I don’t think its working. But of course I have my favorites ink, pencil, oil, handmade paper and linen.
 
How do you define your style of drawing?
Delicate punk.

Where do you see yourself 5 years later and why?
The future looks bright I really love my work so I just hope that I keep it exiting
I don’t consider my work in years, I think of it as lifelong path and then I hope when I’m at my last breath to have made some glimpse of great work that can move someone.
 
What can you say about the art of mixing fashion illustration and business ?
For me it’s the perfect combination, I work pretty much 50/50 on my own stuff and commissions and I like the flow of one thing leading to the next.
 
Can you describe a day as a fashion illustrator ( viewed from your life ) ?
Busy and great :o)

How do you promote yourself as a fashion illustrator?
I have some wonderful agents who help me a lot and my website I try to exhibit my work when I get the change It’s always different to see the real work in a big scale instead of watching it from a computer screen .
 
What advice would you share with aspiring fashion illustrators/designers?
Make rules for yourself and then break them. Follow your heart and be prepared to have it as your lifestyle if you want to make the cut, unless you are some brilliant alien from out of space. Don’t do it if you are not 100 % sure.

And last: don’t take any advice from others that doesn’t fit you, that will feel like having a too tight dress on all day long.

Thank you my dear Naja!

All photos are copyright Meannorth

Dear friend, you should also have a look at her impressive portfolio and I invite you to leave your thoughts/comments into Disqus comment section bellow.

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Natsumi Zama - Fashion Designer

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Joel Woodard - The Story Behind a Rustic Chic Fashion Muse

After I saw Joel Woodard, I thought he’s a professional fashion illustrator but on a quickly research I’ve found out that he’s an interior designer. Wow!

I really appreciate Joel for keeping alive his passion for fashion and I invited him to write a guest post about the story behind one of his artwork:

Enjoy!

Fashion Illustration by Joel Woodard

Karim Rashid about Contemporary Design

Since I’ve read his book - Design Yourself, I feel that Karim Rashid is one of those talented and creative people that inspire me everyday.

His creativity and his philosophies center on quality over quantity simply amazes me. I can say that he inspired my life to shine in vibrant colors. 

Enjoy an interview with him on contemporary design.

“Secret Weapons” from Fashion Creatives

Photo source: Fashion Illustrator Robert Tirado

We often hear about amazing fashion creatives and gorgeous artwork but rarely about the magic tools that they use to get their job done. Do they use something specific or they have one trick-of-the-trade that any fashion creative should know or could benefit from? 

On Secret Weapons fashion creatives from all over the world open their big bags of tricks and share their favorites tools, their top products that they absolutely could not live without. 

More than that, Secret Weapons makes it easy for you to find the online stores where you can buy those products they use. 

Already curious? Go to secretweapons.fashionarium.com and discover tools from Daniel Archer (Fashion Photographer), Reka Vago (Shoe Designer), and Robert Tirado (Fashion Illustrator).

There will be even more talented fashion creatives to follow next week! 

So, be inspired my dear friend!

Anthousa - The Flower Nymph

After I saw Anthousha, I have been inspired by its artlessness, unique color contrasts and shadows. This is why I was curious to find out more about the inspiration behind this absolutely lovely fashion illustration. 

The legend say that Nymphs are not immortal. They just live for a very long time. I really believe that this beautiful fashion illustration created by talented Moie Preisenberger aka Eskimoie it is immortal.

Do you know why? Because of the story behind it. Read this Guest Post written by Moie Preisenberger to find out more about Anthousha.

Photo source:  Moie Preisenberger

Sometimes You Have to Dream Outside Your World …

Even if he’s an interior designer with feet in both urbane Manhattan and rural New Jersey, Joel Woodard has an inspiring blog about how both the rustic and the chic can live happily together, where I found this beautiful ”Runway Bride”…

I love so much his inspiration behind this beautiful fashion illustration:

Sometimes it helps to dream of other worlds, to let your imagination take you to places you’ve never been or haven’t visited in a long time – all in an effort to bring you back home to your heart, dwelling at Rustic Chic. And so with that in mind, here’s a different kind of bridle (bridal) that one usually thinks of when discussing Rustic Chic.  I call her “Cold Feet (The Runaway Bride)”, said Joel.

“Cold Feet (The Runaway Bride)” by Joel Woodard

More of his work on his blog. Enjoy!

Brandon Graham About Fashion Illustration vs Fashion Sketch

Brandon Graham from New York, menswear fashion designer is the first I invited to talk about the difference between fashion illustration and fashion sketch. 

Read below his perspective:

“A fashion design sketch is more technical. For example, these type of sketches show where darts and seams should be placed. This is done for a pattern maker or a tech designer to can interpret simpler the sketch and make a flat sketch.

Design sketches are worked and reworked therefore one sketch maybe slightly different from the next. So you tend to see the sketches on croquis to speed up the process. You also tend to see “blow ups” of details that are too small to see. These are placed around the sketch or off to the side with written notes to further explain details that would otherwise go unnoticed. 

Designers will do these sketches as a necessary step in creating a garment before creating illustrations for advertisements to customers. Typically there are no backgrounds or unecesssary extras drawn for design sketches. The designer wants to connect with the viewer on a technical not an emotional level at this point.

Fashion illustrations creates a mood.  It gets people excited, it’s idealized, and helps create a fantasy for the viewer. 

You can see this type of art in galleries, advertising, and magazine editorials. Often a fashion illustration can elicit a feeling in people that a photograph or a fashion design sketch could never accomplish. You rarely see fashion illustrations drawn on croquis because it doesn’t allow for various loose and expressive poses. 

Drawing on croquis restricts a fashion illustrator from communicating with their audience. Since an illustrator is doing one-of-a-kind art there is no need for croquis that serve as a template to draw different versions of the same thing. Many times I’ve seen beautiful fashion illustrations that are impossible to create because the artist didn’t think to much about technical issues. 

Also, as artists we are always trying to promote ourselves and our work.Another clear way to tell the difference between the two and this may sound trivial, but is whether an artist signs his artwork. A design sketch is usually for in-house purposes, therefore, it’s really no need for the signature. But for an illustrator he or she is more likely to add that extra touch.”

Pictures credit: Brandon Graham

Interview with Fashion Illustrator Brooke Hagel - Tips on How to Promote Yourself as a Fashion Illustrator

Fashion Illustrator Brooke Hagel has graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a BFA in Fashion Design. Illustrating was always been her favorite part of the design process, but she was told repeatedly that there was no longer any demand for fashion illustrators.

Think outside the box and be creative - Interview with Phoks

Today, you’ll meet the famous photograph and illustrator Jacques Florch ( Phoks ). Phoks is : “Feast your pupils..” as he sais.

Why I choose to interview him? It’s because he’s different, he’s very creative and because he has the courage to think out of the box and to impose his imagination in creating original pieces of art. He has built a nice reputation in less than three years by imposing his own universe: high-tech imagery, flashy colors, working contrast, anachronism, by also mixing its various influences such as cartoons, pop culture, sneakers and fashion in all its forms.

You’ll love this interview:

How to create new illustrations every day without any worries about investments - Interview with Ladiga Baiba

These fabulous illustrations are made by Ladiga Baiba, a talented fashion illustrator who lives in China. The unique style of her illustrations, the vivid colors she uses in her paintings, or the creative process behind such beautiful pieces, are only a few things that has convinced me to invite Baiba to write a guest here post about the story behind her artwork.

Enjoy this precious guest post of Ladiga Baiba and her stunning fashion illustrations with Chinese smell!touch.

Ladiga Baiba’s Brand

Two years ago I moved to Shanghai to work as a fashion design lecturer at Raffles Design Institute. Most of the time I was teaching fashion drawing and sketching so I had to practice a lot. I couldn’t stop drawing even after getting back home so this is how I actually realized that I really love fashion illustration. So far I was more into fashion design and styling which still remains my favorite things as well. I am still trying to improve and find my true signature style.

The Creative Process and the Inspiration

I love to use fashion magazines as a source of inspiration. For sure life model would be so much better, but I have done it a lot during my study years. So right now I need just inspiring shot and most of the time result has nothing to do with my final piece cause I improvise a lot. It can be an eye catching pose or color combination or deep, intelligent look. And I live in China right now and it’s like being in a movie nonstop.
I love to start straight with ink brush and gel ink pen or markers. I have realised that using lead pencil at first can ruin some spontaneous, fresh and light feeling so i try to avoid using it or I just use it to sketch some main lines. But sure, for beginners lead pencil is a must.

Art Academy and Skills

Well, I’ve studied drawing and painting since I was ten and this is great background for my illustrations. Since 5th grade I knew I want to study at Art Academy of Latvia. First I thought I would like to be painter, but I got scared of a bit snobbish situation in Latvian Art scene. My parents are not artists so I had this silly idea that coming from artist family is a must to become successfull painter. So I did fashion instead and will never regret it cause during my studies I got it all - painting and drawing classes where tough by most talented artists from my country and I could create my fashion design collections as well. Drawing, painting  and fashion design skills are a plus for any fashion illustrator, cause just realistic drawing won’t do a thing - we love to stretch and stylize figure.

The Fashion Illustration Career

I am truly happy that I found my way to fashion illustration, but I still want to continue with fashion styling and design as well. I have a great plans!
But what I really enjoy about fashion illustrations is that this market is less snobbish and more down to earth than fashion design - no drama, money or dirty games involved. True talent really shines and you just simply can’t fake it!
And one of the best things about fashion illustration - I can create new illustrations every day, almost everywhere without any worries about investments.

Continuous Success

I still consider myself as a beginner in a fashion illustration field. I launched my website where I mainly showcase my illustration only last November. Few month ago I opened my Etsy shop as well and got my first costumers.
And so far I am doing quite well - I am selected as one of nominees for Iconique Societás Awards, actually both categories - illustration and styling.
My illustrations will be published on Kismet Magazine February issue and I hope this year I will get my firsts big clients and hopefully exhibitions as well.

Selling Illustrations Online

In fact selling my work isn’t that important at the moment, I am just enjoying creating process and still getting quite fascinated from the fact that people really like my work. But sure, it makes me very happy if somebody is ready to pay for it, I mean - I must be doing something right! So hopefully one day I can buy that house and live happily ever after from just selling my art.

Promotion

As a beginner I am spending more time on creating new stuff than promoting my work and finding clients, but Internet is my best companion for self promotion.

Internet - my website, blog and just started my Facebook fan page. Perhaps I should do something more, but that’s just a question of time. During the Christmas I made and sent a present for some agencies, magazines and friends - my fashion illustration calendar “Splashes 2010” and it got a really good response.

Ladiga Baiba’s Dreams for The Next Two Years

Hope my work will get published in one of those amazing fashion illustration books and I will get editorials in fashion magazines, get more recognition, join some cool agency and to have a few exhibitions under my belt. I also plan to improve a lot, so that is why I am going to start already this month Chinese wash & ink paint or shui-mo hua classes here in Shanghai, so I can  learn new techniques and combine them with my style.

Some Advices for Aspiring Fashion Illustrators

Draw every single day, every moment and everything you find inspiring challenging. Drawing from life is your best teacher. Be critical to your self, cause not every illustrations is going to be your masterpiece, so be selective. Ask your friends for comments and suggestions. Don’t copy others and listen to your self. Be informed what is going on in this field and learn how to promote your self. Choose your favorite media and find your unique style that will stand out! Good luck!

All fashion illustrations are copyright Baiba Ladiga