As I mentioned before I am trying to improve my painting and drawing skills. It was very delightful to paint this little vintage dress using the 'matisse colors' you see below. This is an acrylic painting on 8x10 canvas board.
As you know, in order to improve my drawing and painting skills I have been 'painting project runway' and 'sketching project runway'. But this week - the challenge was to paint 'a little flirty red dress'. I think this dress looks a little flirty. I love the bodice!
You know, one fashionista who could have been on the judging panel was . . .
Matisse
Matisse
None other than Matisse. He sometimes painted women with a couture look and a flirty style! So, the next challenge is to paint a dress using the color palette of this beautiful Matisse painting . . . My little dress using this yellow, orange, blue and light tangerine/pink palette is so cute that I can't wait to finish it!
Previously I mentioned Experimental Dress Art. I saw these photos today on Pinterest by designer Manish Arora. Wow! Don't they put you in the mood to do some EXPERIMENTAL DRESS ART? Again - we have talked about tools of the trade when it comes to illustration. Of course - a modern day tool is the computer. That is how I added the butterflies and the background to the sketches above!
I'm showing you this drawing again because it has a bit of color. Mainly I was working on the drape of the dress and the little fashion boot.
Speaking of color . . . if you are going to be an illustrator you certainly need the tools of the trade. The photo below is from the book Fashion Design Workshop by Stephanie Corfee. Her list includes PROFESSIONAL markers, PROFESSIONAL grade colored pencils and so forth. Well, for the most part - I think that I believe that professional grade is better - more saturation of pigment - easier application?
The artist of this beautiful illustration is Ladiga Baiba. She certainly demonstrates how you can create a beautiful illustration using markers. . .
Hello dress artists and illustrators! In this drawing I was working on the 'draping' of the dress. I love the shoe! As you can see from the photos below - artwork based on fashion will ALWAYS look great hanging on the wall! This is the art of fashion illustrator Megan Hess.
Dress-er-cize! This is a side step AND a forward step. This is the same gown that I previously painted in red and green and posted below. I was dying to paint this gown again! Once again I used the book page and incorporated the graphic that was at the bottom of the page. What fun! The artist Sharman Owings has painted many a garment. In many of her paintings the garments are not only beautiful but she uses them to tell a unique story.
dress removed When I have more time I just might research the origin of 'the little black dress'. Yesterday I attempted to paint a black dress as 'a work of art'. It was so terrible that (like a 2 year old) I threw a mental tantrum and almost abandoned the whole 'dress project'. When I sat down (like an adult) to see how I could salvage this dress I drew ONE line and BOING! It all came together! Did Modigliani (see painting below) have these problems? Maybe I will post this dress tomorrow . . .
I'm still working on 'the dress' sketch. Another artist of 'the dress' is Matisse. The painting below is entitled 'two young women the yellow dress and the scottish dress'.
Ahhhhh! The dress as art. Here are two sketches that I did as I pondered that thought. Of course - many illustrators and fashion designers have drawn or painted beautiful dresses . And many artists have incorporated beautiful dresses into their figurative work. The painting below by Edward Martinez is entitled 'Second Opinion'. I love the way he was able to incorporate the design element into the skirt. Something that as of yet I am not able to do.
Here is step 1 and 2 of the dress I am working on right now.
The painting below is by Herschel Otto (1871-1937). I thought the title of the painting was 'three dresses' but I think the title is 'three women'. In his work Otto paints beautiful dresses.