FRIDAY FASHION ILLUSTRATION: REFERENCE IS IMPORTANT!

Hello darlings! It's Friday and that means one thing- more fashion illustration talk and work. Read my last post in this category here. Today I have two new fashion illustrations to share with you. I drew both of them using photographs of myself (taken by my husband) as a reference. The medium is once again watercolour pencils (Staedtler brand) on paper. If you have followed my blog recently, you might have noticed that I often use these pencils for fashion illustration.


As you can see, there are two outfits that I illustrated. One is a winter outfit I wore couple of years ago for a visit to Međugorje and the other is a spring outfit I wore for a visit to historical (MEDIEVAL) fair in Stolac, Bosnia and Herzegovina (READ MORE HERE). 

SHOULD YOU USE A REFRENCE WHEN PRACTISING FASHION ILLUSTRATION?

Is reference important? Should I drew with a reference or from imagination? My answer would be that you should do both. When I wrote about ten ways to improve your fashion illustration skills, both drawing with and without reference made my list of tips.  I said that drawing with reference is important because it not only teaches you how to draw what you see but it also teaches you to look and pay attention to details. Similarly, drawing without a reference is important because it teaches you to see with your mind's eye.  Both is important to challenge yourself. Sometimes you can combine both, as I did with the illustration bellow. I used different colours then in the original photograph, but the inspiration is still visible. 

If you like this fashion illustration and would like to see more, you have a look these similar posts: DIGITAL RETOUCHING WITH PAINT 3D,  LADY IN A LILAC DRESS and BALL PAINT FASHION ILLUSTRATION. Moreover, you're more than welcome welcome to visit my previous Friday Fashion Illustration Posts:- FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: WATERCOLOUR PENCILS -IVANA'S FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY- FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: INSPIRED BY COLOURS OF AUTUMN- A GIRL IN A RED GOWN: FASHION ILLUSTRATION OF THE DAY-CUSTOMIZING A NOTEBOOK WITH A FASHION ILLUSTRATION- FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: ILLUSTRATING A BLACK DRESS FROM DOLCE & GABBANA COLLECTION- 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR FASHION ILLUSTRATION SKILLS- HOW TO CREATE A 3D FASHION ILLUSTRATION DRESS WITH DRY FLOWERS?- FRIDAY FASHION ILLUSTRATION: HAT OBSESSED -FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY INSPIRED BY SUMMER STYLE- FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: SUMMER TO AUTUMN TRANSITION- FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: ILLUSTRATED TOTE BAGS-FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: HAT OBSESSED - FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: NEW AUTUMN INSPIRED ART FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: MY INSPIRATIONS


THE GREEN TARTAN JACKET AND SKATER DRESS OUTFIT
I actually already illustrated this outfit before, but this was the first time I did it in colour. Scroll bellow to see work in progress photographs as well as the digital version of this illustration that I uploaded to my redbubble shop. 




This watercolour pencil illustration is quite photograph accurate when it comes to clothes, but the face is more stylized. 

THE GYPSY INSPIRED OUTFIT AND THE DIY BROOCH
Bellow is a few more photographs of my gypsy inspired outfit accompanied with a photograph of a DIY brooch I made myself. I sewed this brooch from vintage fabric as a gift for a friend. Isn't it cute? I actually made a few of them, I can't wait to show them all to you. 








SOME LINKS IN CASE YOU WANT TO CHECK MORE OF MY ART: 

ANOTHER ART UPDATE HERE: MARKER ILLUSTRATIONS AND DIGITAL
BEFORE THAT: FIVE WATERCOLOUR PORTRAITS
BEFORE THAT: ACRYLIC ON CANVAS, BLIDINJE MOUNTAIN CHURCH
FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: DECEMBER
INSPIRED BY MICA, SHEILA AND BLAIR + my previous INSPIRED BY POSTS starting with the most recent ones: 





As always, thank you for visit. Many of my paintings and illustrations are available as prints on redbubble and arthaus, but if you have any inquiries about buying originals you may send me an email. 
 

Comments

  1. Sheila19 February 2021 at 17:54

    I love the skater dress one - the face and the way she's holding her hair is really good. You've captured your own expression well, Ivana.

    It's a mental block for a lot of people to both draw what they see and to also draw from their imagination - it takes practice to flip that switch back and forth for many, until you get used to taking what you want from what you see and then creating what's in your mind's eye.

    Lovely! I really enjoy seeing your art. :)

    I hope you're doing well, my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anca20 February 2021 at 02:20

    I love both the illustration of the green bow outfit and the outfit. The other looks lovely too, of course, but that green one just stands out. Well done! xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pablo Parra (Fungi)20 February 2021 at 03:46

    Hey Ivana, I hope you're enjoying this weekend so far :)

    You are bringing an important topic to the conversation. This is a question that many people ask when it comes to start drawing fashion illustration, and not only fashion illustration but also when it comes to start drawing. References are crucial and in order to display clothes (which should be the main character in the fashion illustration) you have to document and do a proper research. But I totally agree with you that you can combine both resources in order to add your own touch.

    For example sometime I grab a random pose and then adapt it a bit and twist some elements and then think about the clothes and put them in that body, sometimes is otherwise but it is a method that every illustrator can sharp with practice.

    Thanks for sharing impressive art with us!

    Best,
    Pablo
    Hey Fungi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ivana Split22 February 2021 at 00:49

      I do so agree with you. Every illustrator can sharp this method with some practice. Displaying clothes in a fashion illustration often demands some research. You need to think about how the clothes fit the body and how they move.

      Delete
  4. Ananka20 February 2021 at 03:51

    Amazing artwork. And I love the brooch too :-D

    ReplyDelete
  5. ellie20 February 2021 at 05:31

    Such beautiful color. Love the small details you have created too. Lovely Friday post!

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Exclusive Beauty Diary20 February 2021 at 05:31

    Predivne ilustracije. Obje su jako lijepe, ali ova zelena sa suknjom mi je nekako posebna. Kombinacija boja je savršena.

    New Post - https://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com/2021/02/the-unrivaled-skincare-products-that.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. Caitlin'nMegan20 February 2021 at 05:32

    Wonderful illustrations! You are so creative!

    ReplyDelete
  8. The Padre20 February 2021 at 07:11

    Love The Helmet - Enjoy The Rest Of The Weekend

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  9. Polyester Princess20 February 2021 at 10:35

    Amazing illustrations as always. I particularly love the way you captured yourself wearing the skater dress and tartan jacket. I'm also loving your handmade brooch, which I'm sure pleased your friend very much. Have a lovely Saturday evening and Sunday, Ivana xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ivana Split22 February 2021 at 01:16

      Thank you dear. I'm glad you like it. I also thought of you when I made it because I know you like brooches.

      Delete
  10. Sofía Moral20 February 2021 at 10:51

    I´m absolutely in love with the illustration from the green tartan jacket! I wish I could have one in my wardrobe. In adittion, the brooch is so cool and colorful
    By the way, I´m currently trying to start doing some fashion illustrations, do you have any tips for beginners? Thanks
    Kisses from https://sophisticatedmeblog.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ivana Split22 February 2021 at 01:29

      Yes, I can recommend Zoe Hong. Look her up on YouTube and social media, she has got some great freebies and tutorials. My recommendation is to learn the basics first and start with one or two mediums- pencils, watercolour or markers. Don't switch too much between mediums while you're still a beginner.

      Delete
  11. Mica20 February 2021 at 13:35

    Oh I love the green jacket and scarf one! it's a beautiful colour combo with the lighter and darker green and you captured the texture of the tartan jacket really well! I can't wait to see more of your brooches too, that one you shared looks lovely!

    Hope that you are having a good weekend!

    Away From Blue

    ReplyDelete
  12. Martyna20 February 2021 at 14:11

    Beautiful illustrations!:) Have a nice day :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. J.P. Alexander20 February 2021 at 16:49

    Te quedaron los bocetos muy bien te mando un beso y buen fin de semana

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nancy 's Fashion Style21 February 2021 at 00:36

    I can't even draw a straight line! I always admired a drawing skill on others. It must be very relaxing!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Witchcrafted Life21 February 2021 at 17:54

    Seriously gorgeous! You captured the texture and earthy vibrancy of that elegant green jacket superbly in your illustration of it. Fantastic work across the board!

    Autumn Zenith 🧡 Witchcrafted Life

    ReplyDelete
  16. Vix22 February 2021 at 00:11

    I love these! The tweed jacket with the scarf tied into a bow is particularly lovely! x

    ReplyDelete
  17. The Velvet Runway22 February 2021 at 03:57

    Both outfits are beautiful and your fashion illustrations are amazing! You really are so creative and talented!
    Julia x
    https://www.thevelvetrunway.com/

    ReplyDelete
  18. Rostrose22 February 2021 at 13:12

    These are very beautiful fashion illustrations again, dear Ivana! I also believe that it is good to draw or paint according to a model, a reference, because you learn a lot from it. I haven't painted for a few years now (currently I'm more interested in photography), but I used to copy paintings or used photos as templates, but also painted according to my imagination.
    Hugs and best wishes,
    Traude
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2021/02/zwei-ausfluge-und-ein-blumchenkleid.html

    ReplyDelete
  19. R's Rue22 February 2021 at 16:16

    Beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Marisa Cavaleiro25 February 2021 at 13:25

    I love both ways, when you draw with a reference or with your imagination, they are too damn beautiful!
    xoxo

    marisasclosetblog.com

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

All your comments mean a lot to me, even the criticism. Naravno da mi puno znači što ste uzeli vrijeme da nešto napišete, pa makar to bila i kritika. Per me le vostre parole sono sempre preziose anche quando si tratta di critiche.

Popular posts from this blog

THE ISLAND OF THE MISSING TREES BY ELIF SHAFAK (BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION)

Image
Today I shall review The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. I was actually gifted this book. What a wonderful present it proved to be! Published in 2021, this postmodern  novel  follows two  story lines and uses framed narration.  The Island of Missing Trees  tells the life story of a Greek Turkish couple and their adolescent daughter.  This novel examines and explores a number of topics such as identity, migration, immigrant life, war trauma, memory, love and family. It's an ambitious novel that examines serious topics with due respect and sensitivity . I read it months ago, but I remember it vividly. Honestly, I cried a lot while reading this novel. It really moved me greatly. In fact, that is probably why it took me this long to finish this book review. I needed to emotionally process the story.   The Island of Missing Trees is   set in London and Cyprus. The narration isn't chronological .  The story jumps back and forth, following two main timelines, one set in moder
Read more

SUPPORTING LOCAL DESIGNERS IN MOSTAR: TRANSITIONAL AUTUMN STYLING WITH OZZ BRAND

Image
Hello readers and fellow bloggers! In this post, I'll share two transitional outfits featuring a lilac skirt from fashion designer Stanka Zovko. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you've probably seen this skirt before. Afterall, I'm really good at shopping my closet. I've been wearing this lilac skirt a lot in the past few months. It's also a great piece for transitional weather because it can be easily layered, or dressed up and down.  Supporting local designers and artisans is certainly something that pays off in the long run. If you want to own unique pieces and at the same time, support your local community, you should really explore shopping local, or commissioning local artisans and designers.  Sustainability in fashion is a big topic nowadays! However, sometimes I feel like people make it more complicated than it really is. We should go back to our origins. Explore vintage, second hand and local shopping. Learn how to stay away from the big shoppin
Read more

FORGIVENESS DAY BY URSULA K. LE GUIN (BOOK REVIEW AND AN AUTUMN STYLING)

Image
Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! How are you today? I'm back with another Ursula K. Le Guin book review. In this post, I'll review " Forgiveness Day" , a science fiction novella that is a part of the Hainish Circle. Published in 1995, "Forgiveness Day " won multiple awards. This novella is often published together with her other novellas from the Hainish Circle, and it can be find in various editions of Four Ways to Forgiveness and Five Ways to Forgiveness.   Thematically, this novella is a part of five stories featuring two Hainish planets, but it can definitely be read on its own. I think it functions well as a stand alone novella. I listened to it in audio form, and I didn't have any problems following the story.  The world building is simple and effective. The author fills us in about the history of the two planets as the story enfolds. For such a short work of prose, this novella is really impressive in that it manages to explore the theme o
Read more

MALTA HIKING TALES (PART FIVE) GHAJN TUFFIEFA AND QUARABBA BAY

Image
Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! I'm back with another Malta themed post. Recently I posted a painting inspired by Malta. As some of you might remember, I visited Malta a few years ago, but I only blogged about it last April, when I published a series of post on Malta. My series about Malta isn't finished, though. In fact, today we're going to continue it. Considering my stay on Malta was two weeks long, it deserves more than a couple of posts. There is a lot to see and do on Malta. It's a small island, but one that's filled with so much life and beauty. Although Malta faces some problems caused by fast tourism, it remains an unique and magical island.  In this post, I'll take you to the bays I visited while hiking on Malta. One of them (Ghajn Tuffieha Bay) is the one I painted. You can visit that post by clicking on the link below: TRAVEL WITH MY ART #43, GHAJN TUFFIEHA BAY, MALTA LET'S START WITH THE GOLDEN BAY We actually didn't go all the way
Read more

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER, A SHORT STORY BY W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM

Image
Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! Welcome November! We'll welcome this new month with a blog review. In this post, I'll share my review for Maugham's short story titled T he Ant and the Grasshopper . This post will also be  a reading recommendation because I enjoyed this story a great deal. I've been reading Maugham's The Complete Short Stories for some time now. I've been taking my time with this collection, but I enjoyed it a lot. When I finish this book in its entirely, I'll share a review for all of his stories. Until then, I'll keep posting individual reviews of stories I liked the most. If you want to read Maugham yourself, you can find his collected works online (among other places  on project Gutenberg ) and read them for free.  W. Somerset Maugham is a writer whose subtle use of humour is delightful, but sometimes it's easy to miss it just because it's so subtle. He's wonderful at mixing the harsh realities of life with clever
Read more

FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY WATERCOLOUR: LONG DRESSES AND DE PROFUNDIS QUOTES!

Image
 Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! It's almost ten. I've had a long week and I'm quite tired and sleepy. However, I'll try to wrap this post up for you tonight. What kind of post? Well, a post about art. Fashion art to be more precise.  I've been on a roll lately with my art posts. After a period of not posting my art at all, due to a variety of reasons, I started posting my art in every post. I got back to my destination art series, and now it's time for another post in my fashion art series. Friday Fashion Illustration  is somewhat of a regular feature on my blog. Today I'll share two watercolour pencil fashion illustrations of mine. I sketched both of them this Summer in my A3 mixed media sketchbook. I sketched the long yellow dress first, and then the blue and read one. The medium for both of them is watercolour pencils on paper, the same brand I always use. I find watercolour pencils to be quite practical, especially for sketching. I often use the
Read more