Fashion Illustration/Sketching/Drawing: tools, croquis, templates, books. - Page 3

rockitgirl · 03-09-2005

I went through the threads on this forum where people posted their fashion illustrations. I printed out the pictures and sorted them in what I considered newbie to pro order of how good the pictures were. (Remember fashion drawing is technical, you are not just drawing a nice picture, you are trying to show detail of the piece. The ultimate goal if you are trying to work for another company or have your own company with a patternmaker is that the patternmaker should be able to produce a pattern from your sketch that is very very close to what you visualized the final piece looking. So when I sorted them I didn't look at the actual good/bad drawing skills, I looked at whether or not I could completely visualize the final garments or if I still had questions)

Okay anyway so after I sorted them I started with the least detailed drawings and copied them over and over until I got them right. Then I went onto the next one. Until I got to the pro ones. Then I took pictures from some fashion magazines and tried drawing the pictures. I filled a whole notebook. THEN I started working on my own drawings. By going through other people's drawings I started to be able to point out to myself what things made the sketch work and what didn't.

That was the only way I could do it because I felt that I had no drawing skills and so going through those steps helped me. It might not work for you but I thought I'd share incase it did.

fab_fifties_fille · 03-09-2005

welcome to tfs rockitgirl

that sounds like a very concise way around something...I'm glad it worked for you

fourboltmain · 03-09-2005

That's how you do it. If you look at my drawings, you might see some real faint sketch marks, especially in the face area. I start out with stick figures and build mass from there.

fab_fifties_fille · 03-09-2005

Well for the first time I'm being taught how to do fashion illustrations on monday...so perhaps I'll have something to bring back here monday evening

Venús As A Boy · 04-09-2005

Thanks a million guys... for my portfolio I just traced the outlines of models and drew the clothes on to them. You're help was really helpful. There's art classes and your not actully supposed to know as much as I though!

They will be teaching me but I think I'll try your ways, just to be sure.

(Legs are hard!)

Venús As A Boy · 06-09-2005

I got accepted today

Estella* · 06-09-2005

congratulations

keep us posted

travolta · 06-09-2005

congrats!!!!

PlasticGirl · 07-10-2005

Hi,

I was thinking about creating my own site, selling fashion figure templates, 10 fully drawn and traceable A3 and A4 templates. Do u think this might sell?

Thanks a mil

Me xxx

PlasticGirl · 07-10-2005

PS: $9.95 for 10

xPiNuPgIrLx6 · 16-11-2005

i have taken many art classes, but the best work i have done was on my own time. If you go to an art supply store you can get a paper that is almost see through and just copy from magazines. It helps in developing shapes and contours, It also gives u a good feel for different body types and different positions. After a while you should be able to do this on your own. Hope i helped

cournalie_clash · 17-11-2005

a little off topic, but how do u 'embellish' a scanned image on photoshop???

Mutterlein · 18-11-2005

I find drawing from live models with cloth draped around them is the best way to begin. This helps you establish proportions as well as how to work with perspective and foreshortening.

Draw people. Carry a sketchbook and when you can draw them. Gestural sketches tend to be more helpful then long and developed poses. Copying from a magazine can also be helpful, you learn what kind of lines can make certain shapes etc.

I came from a product design background and learning to draw technically in what is called "tight line" (extremely crisp clean lines) really allowed me to draw quicker and with more precision.

I would suggest learning to draw the traditional way before attempting fashion illustration, it will make it so much easier.

another very helpful thing is to take up watercolor painting. If you can take a class on it I would suggest it. Mediums such as markers and ink/watercolor are popular (it all depends on your style) and learning how to model with pigment rather than just line or value (traditional drawing) will make fashion illustration easier. Color pencils are also quite popular but I never really figured out how to use them properly.

I would focus on:
figure drawing (from life!)
drawing clothes from magazines
clean technical drawings
and painting with watercolor and markers

what you find to be the most helpful depends on your style and you may end up discarding all of this information.

A good book is "9 Heads". check it out at the libary (it costs around 80 dollars). It's a very good and easy introduction to fashion illustration but prior art experience will make it much easier. good luck.

Beata · 19-11-2005

thats some good advice that Mutterlein gave i couldnt have said it better myself.

fourboltmain · 19-11-2005

I wouls stress anatomy. Just because I think you need to understand how the body makes clothes twist and drape. Go here: http://d538518.u320.bigcrawler.com/F...ing/figure.htm

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03-09-2005	33
fourboltmain More Old Skool Than You Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Under an old Ford Gender: homme Posts: 4,181	That's how you do it. If you look at my drawings, you might see some real faint sketch marks, especially in the face area. I start out with stick figures and build mass from there. __________________ www.lynch455.com

03-09-2005	34
fab_fifties_fille crossed wires. Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Newcastle/London, UK Gender: femme Posts: 5,438	Well for the first time I'm being taught how to do fashion illustrations on monday...so perhaps I'll have something to bring back here monday evening __________________ create your fate.

04-09-2005	35
Venús As A Boy rising star Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Éire Gender: homme Posts: 160	Thanks a million guys... for my portfolio I just traced the outlines of models and drew the clothes on to them. You're help was really helpful. There's art classes and your not actully supposed to know as much as I though! They will be teaching me but I think I'll try your ways, just to be sure. (Legs are hard!) __________________ I can design you a fairytale...

06-09-2005	36
Venús As A Boy rising star Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Éire Gender: homme Posts: 160	I got accepted today __________________ I can design you a fairytale...

03-09-2005	31
rockitgirl rising star Join Date: May 2005 Location: Vancouver Gender: femme Posts: 179	I went through the threads on this forum where people posted their fashion illustrations. I printed out the pictures and sorted them in what I considered newbie to pro order of how good the pictures were. (Remember fashion drawing is technical, you are not just drawing a nice picture, you are trying to show detail of the piece. The ultimate goal if you are trying to work for another company or have your own company with a patternmaker is that the patternmaker should be able to produce a pattern from your sketch that is very very close to what you visualized the final piece looking. So when I sorted them I didn't look at the actual good/bad drawing skills, I looked at whether or not I could completely visualize the final garments or if I still had questions) Okay anyway so after I sorted them I started with the least detailed drawings and copied them over and over until I got them right. Then I went onto the next one. Until I got to the pro ones. Then I took pictures from some fashion magazines and tried drawing the pictures. I filled a whole notebook. THEN I started working on my own drawings. By going through other people's drawings I started to be able to point out to myself what things made the sketch work and what didn't. That was the only way I could do it because I felt that I had no drawing skills and so going through those steps helped me. It might not work for you but I thought I'd share incase it did.

03-09-2005	32
fab_fifties_fille crossed wires. Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Newcastle/London, UK Gender: femme Posts: 5,438	welcome to tfs rockitgirl that sounds like a very concise way around something...I'm glad it worked for you __________________ create your fate.

06-09-2005	37
Estella* a dim capacity for wings Design Team Leader Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: la rue Gender: femme Posts: 7,651	congratulations keep us posted __________________ mode schoepfung estella mare

06-09-2005	38
travolta V.I.P. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York City Gender: femme Posts: 3,595	congrats!!!! __________________ "the way a problem is set up often suggests the resolution." http://michelleboxgirl.blogspot.com/

07-10-2005	39
PlasticGirl windowshopping Join Date: Oct 2005 Gender: femme Posts: 32	Fashion Templates Hi, I was thinking about creating my own site, selling fashion figure templates, 10 fully drawn and traceable A3 and A4 templates. Do u think this might sell? Thanks a mil Me xxx

16-11-2005	41
xPiNuPgIrLx6 windowshopping Join Date: Nov 2005 Gender: femme Posts: 13	i have taken many art classes, but the best work i have done was on my own time. If you go to an art supply store you can get a paper that is almost see through and just copy from magazines. It helps in developing shapes and contours, It also gives u a good feel for different body types and different positions. After a while you should be able to do this on your own. Hope i helped

17-11-2005	42
cournalie_clash backstage pass Join Date: May 2004 Gender: femme Posts: 509	a little off topic, but how do u 'embellish' a scanned image on photoshop??? __________________ Modesty died when clothes were born.

18-11-2005	43
Mutterlein fashion icon Join Date: Mar 2004 Gender: femme Posts: 3,263	I find drawing from live models with cloth draped around them is the best way to begin. This helps you establish proportions as well as how to work with perspective and foreshortening. Draw people. Carry a sketchbook and when you can draw them. Gestural sketches tend to be more helpful then long and developed poses. Copying from a magazine can also be helpful, you learn what kind of lines can make certain shapes etc. I came from a product design background and learning to draw technically in what is called "tight line" (extremely crisp clean lines) really allowed me to draw quicker and with more precision. I would suggest learning to draw the traditional way before attempting fashion illustration, it will make it so much easier. another very helpful thing is to take up watercolor painting. If you can take a class on it I would suggest it. Mediums such as markers and ink/watercolor are popular (it all depends on your style) and learning how to model with pigment rather than just line or value (traditional drawing) will make fashion illustration easier. Color pencils are also quite popular but I never really figured out how to use them properly. I would focus on: figure drawing (from life!) drawing clothes from magazines clean technical drawings and painting with watercolor and markers what you find to be the most helpful depends on your style and you may end up discarding all of this information. A good book is "9 Heads". check it out at the libary (it costs around 80 dollars). It's a very good and easy introduction to fashion illustration but prior art experience will make it much easier. good luck.

19-11-2005	44
Beata windowshopping Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicago Gender: femme Posts: 45	thats some good advice that Mutterlein gave i couldnt have said it better myself.

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