GFW 2014: Kingston Fashion

I wasn't able to be at GFW for the 2nd June, and so I took the opportunity to illustrate at the Kingston internal show. I am really looking forward to drawing next year, especially as Pippa and Natalie's collections will be in it too! I can't wait to see what everybody creates.

Surprise! V&A Illustration Awards.

Forgive me, I've been keeping this from you for a long time...

But I'm ecstatic to announce that I am this years Runner up for the V&A Illustration Awards in the Student category!!!! 

I submitted three drawings from my fashion illustrations at Fashion Scout in November, and kind of forgot that I did until a few months ago when I received the email. I am so unbelievably happy and relieved that this work in particular stood out to them, just because I cared about it so much and didn't feel I got much credit for it at the time. I guess that it feels like I've fulfilled what I wanted to achieve from it, especially amidst GFW too. I really look forward to getting more involved in it, much more than in commissions and drawing itself.

I'd really like to thank the Fashion Scout team that year, Josh Walker, Josh Osborn, Asia Werbel and Max Barnett in particular, for the support at the time and still now. I was really a nervous wreck on that first day, and it makes a huge difference to have friends along the way. Also Ezzidin Alwan who introduced me to the opportunity in the first place, and of course Hannah, Natalie and Mike, who fed me cold pizza when I got home.

I got an amazing trophy (it's really heavy, like a brick) and £1000 (!!!) which is going towards a trip to Chicago after I graduate. I'm glad I planned where it was going beforehand! Jonas, Rosa, Ani and I celebrated with a sushi dinner and gorging on the free prosecco and strawberry and mango ice tea. If you're around, my work is temporarily exhibited in the V&A (!!!!!!!!!!) across from library. Excuse the shit photos, they had a lot of mood lighting, so I think I'll return for some better photos when I've recovered from drawing.

GFW 2014: Sunday 1st June.

Epsom

Manchester

Wiltshire & Northbrook

De Montfort Contour

GFW 2014: Saturday 31st May.

If you've been keeping up with all the social media, you'll know that I've been drawing at Graduate Fashion Week this year. Josh Walker (you should all check out his web magazine, Colourblind) is the new editor for Fashion Scout and GFW blog, so he invited me to come back and be part of the team. I've been a little wary of returning to the fashion scene, purely because I don't want to just be known as a fashion illustrator. But at the end of the day, I love clothes, I love the atmosphere, and I love feeling like I am documenting something that people don't get to see, and I truly am honoured to be there.
Just to reiterate, all these drawings are done on location and the background is the only part that is edited afterwards. I think it's important to be there to really understand what it feels like. After all, it's most definitely not about clothes, its about people. It's about designers, models, make-up artists, hair stylists, people that have skills and craft. I think that's the point, that I convey feeling and joy, show each face, draw models dancing and laughing, relaxing.
So this is Day One:

Istituto Marangoni

University of East London

Northumbria

Edinburgh

Spring Film.

A couple of photos from my latest film. I scanned it at a little low resolution, and not the greatest array of pictures, but I'm hoping to take a lot more over the summer while I'm here!

Peter Jensen and Julie Verhoeven at the V&A

On Friday, Rosa and I went to the V&A for a talk by Peter Jensen and Julie Verhoeven on Muses, particularly on their most recent collaboration together for his new Spring/Summer Diana Ross collection. From an illustrators point of view, it was really interesting to hear the thoughts of this kind of collaborative process. Of course the talk ended up being quite biased to Jensen (the interviewer talked more than necessary, in my opinion), but it was fascinating to hear how he worked, and how all of his collections are dedicated to the Muses of the brand. These women are obsessed over, and a chosen more because they trigger and inspire more than because they are friends of the office, ' I always see the women that we choose are very strong women.' -Peter Jensen.

Julie Verhoeven is most well known for her illustrations, but is currently doing 3D and more Fine Art based work. The pair have collaborated for a couple of collections, including Jodie Foster. They met while Verhoeven was teaching at Central St Martins. 'I love clothes, I love dressing up, I don't love everything that comes with the industry, but I love clothes.' - Julie Verhoeven. It was really good to hear that she has managed to what she wants in her career. It's comforting to know that you don't have to label yourself as anything to do projects that you want, and work with who you want.

What was most interesting was their opinion of the current fashion industry. Jensen stopped showing on catwalks in 2012, and both commented that they feel that catwalks are 'old-fashioned' practice now. It's fascinating to rethink the industry, and even a system as controlled as fashion needs reviving and reformatting. 'It's about friendship and real relationships. Not about celebrity.'

Kingston University: Major Improvement Project

For the last project, this year we were supposed to be improving on a previous project from the year. I decide to adapt my book project to become an educational app. I decided to aim for it to be in a specific setting. Seeing as my original drawings had been made at the Horniman Museum, I decided to make it for them to use.

The project was to plan an idea for a children's educational app based around the Horniman Aquarium. It was a crazy thing to plan, a much bigger job than I anticipated in the beginning. But it was a project that I'd really wanted to do in a long time, and I'm really glad that I managed to finalise the idea at least, even if the interactive, animated parts weren't so finished.... I promise it's a hell of a lot harder than it looks to make the real thing!

These pictures here are actually version 002... After the critique I had planned to meet the curator of the Aquarium and the Digital Manager at the Horniman. It's possibly among the most nerve-wracking things I've ever done; pitching by yourself is very scary! The verdict of that though went quite well, although an app is never going to be apparent (turns out they are extremely expensive to make...).

Maybe it makes sense to conclude this year. I've really enjoyed this year, and it seems to have made a difference in my work. It's hard not to find fault in the things we make, but I feel more comfortable with the I-probably-can't-and-won't-freelance thing. I think my tutors can see what I'm made of. This summer,  I am sticking around in London. I'm hoping for some kind of work experience to crop up, but I am otherwise keeping myself busy in the house! I'm really looking forward to visits from friends and lots of mini projects! Rosa and I are being especially productive at the moment...