Sunday 21 September 2008

SB Spotlight: Fashion Illustration

Drawing is a talent I've always wished I had so I guess it comes as no suprise that I'm completely in awe of fashion illustrators. I love the way their sketchings are so much more subtle than a photograph but in some ways more evocative.

So I took time out to catch up with three illustrators whose stunning array of work has got me weak at the knees:


Grant Cowan:





SB: What inspired you to become an illustrator and how did you break into the field?

GC: My Great Uncle Jim was a draftsman and I wished to be like him. He would print and render the typography on my birthday cards in such a fashion that I was mesmerised.

My 'break' I dont believe has happened yet , but I believe being published in UK magazines gave me a true sense of achievment. I would love to contribute to Vanity Fair one day

SB:What inspires your work?

GC: I have an attraction to movement. Beauty is obligitory but I will still add it as sometimes it is overlooked as an inspiration. Beauty of any form.

SB: Do you have a favourite fashion house/designer and if so who?

GC: I continually enjoy John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Christian Lacroix. British fashion is paramount to me though.

SB:What's your favourite blog /magazine?

Yours of course

SB:What's been the highlight of your career so far?

GC:I am about to have it as I will be displaying my work across the windows of the Australian Esmod fashion College in Sydney

SB:Name 3 things you couldn't live without.

My paint brushes, paint and paper. And my King Charles Cavelier Douglas...

SB:What would be your dream commission?

GC:Vanity Fair

SB:What's your favourite illustration of yours?

I dont have one, its always the latest one I have done

SB: Who's your favourite artist of all time?

GC: I believe Turner is the most sumpreme artist of all and I was born on his birthday


SB:And finally, who's the most stylish person you know?

A hard one to answer.... I think style is transient and therefore you embody it at times and at times you dont.... Lack of ego I think is very very stylish


Andrea Scobie:







SB: What inspired you to become an illustrator and how did you break into the field?

AS: Being an illustrator is all I have ever wanted to be since a very young age, I began drawing with crayons and continued on from there. I broke into the field by just starting to work on all types of illustration jobs. I was very fortunate to have many of the jobs come to me.

SB: What inspires your work?

AS: I was always inspired by the great fashion illustrator Antonio, by walt disney and by all the great painters from the impressionist era: Renoit, Van Gogh, Gaugin, Monet.

SB: Do you have a favourite fashion house/designer/store and if so what is it?

AS: I appreciate many of the designers works and I was a huge fan of Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, Oscar De La Renta, Diane von Furstenberg. My casual side loves Diesel, Anthropologie, and Raw 7 amongst others.

SB: What's your favourite blog /magazine and why?

AS: I would have to say it's a tie between Vogue, Bazaar and Elle.

SB: What's been the highlight of your career so far?

AS: The highlight of my career was the first illustration that I was asked to create for the cover of a book although I don't think this was my best work : "Target underwear and a Vera Wang Gown". I was given another book cover a few months later for "Stuck in Downward Dog" a terrific little chiclit book.

SB: Name 3 things you couldn't live without.

AS: Colors, music, textures.

SB: What would be your dream commission and why?

AS: It would be very nice to do a series of images for a large high end clothing store like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue or one of the large magazines such as Vogue because of the exposure it would bring to my work.

SB: What's your favourite illustration of yours and why?

AS: My favorite illustration is always the one I am working on at the moment. They are all special to me and a part of me that mark a specific time of my life.

SB:Who's your favourite artist of all time?

AS: Antonio Lopez

SB: Who's the most stylish person you know?

AS: My mother

SB: What key items will you be stocking up on for the autumn?

AS: Hoping to find a great pair of lace up boots that will also offer comfort, and a jacket.

Aga Baranska:






SB: What inspired you to become an illustrator and how did you break into the field?

AB: I was working as a fashion designer and suddenly the clients loved my sketches.
This was the first step for my solo exhibition in London.

SB: What inspires your work?

AB: My work is inseparable from fashion.Each new season is influencing my work – can be just an interesting colour or simple shape.

SB: Do you have a favourite fashion house/designer and if so who?

AB: All my votes go for the French style: YSL,ChloƩ, Balenciaga & Isabel Marant

SB: What's your favourite blog /magazine and why?

AB: thesartorialist.blogspot.com/ - love watching what other people are wearing…

SB: What's been the highlight of your career so far?

AB:Working in Japan for high profile advertising client and watching
Tokyo covered up with my illustrations on big billboards.

SB: Name 3 things you couldn't live without.

AB: Love, coffee & high heels

SB: And finally, who's your style icon?

AB: Bianca Jagger - in the 60’s & Vivienne Westwood - ever

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