Fashion Croquis Inspirations

Illustrated Girl by ultracake on Polyvore

Summertime Sadness by kusja featuring wall sculptures

If you share our determination... Paris by jill-is-m on Polyvore

step by step by majathebee on Polyvore

Little Missy by lisa-r featuring a watercolor fashion illustration

As you probably already know, I work in fashion. By day I am a technical apparel designer, and by night I am an image consultant. As a technical designer, most of my sketching is done in Adobe Illustrator as flat sketches with construction call-outs, but I love to paint. I won't deny it, I am always looking to see what other artists are doing. That's why I love searching through things on Polyvore.com. The website has a simplistic editing program which I use for my blog post images, however there are some very talented digital artists who create elaborate collages like the ones I've included here. These are works by several artists featuring pieces by other artists. I find them to be very inspiring as fashion croquis sketches. Look at the proportions, colors and varying details. The first and last sketches are my favorites.You'll notice often that the clothing is the most detailed portion of the sketching. This is perfect for fashion croquis because it draws the eye to the clothing, naturally, in the same way that the focus of a photograph draws your eye to the subject that is in focus.

Do you sketch? Who are your favorite fashion illustrators? Share your best links! Are you an artist or do you know an artist that should be featured? Please, contact me.

Twitter: @selenamarie318  

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XOXO,

SELENA MARIE

Miss Inquisitive: Part 2

Miss Inquisitive: Part 2 CC Selena Marie Norris

This is what I've been working on since last night. I finished the line work today in between some evening talent management/image consultancy. I decided to make my "Miss Inquisitive" sketches into a series. I like playing with proportions, though it's surprising how much you have to alter in terms of shapes once you agree to modify proportions.

Miss Inquisitive: Part 2, Detail, CC Selena Marie Norris

 In this case the eyes, the head, and the left hand are bigger than natural. I also didn't make it a perspective type drawing. I just wanted to play around with proportions and textures (that's a sparkly sequin collar on a chambray shirt with a sweater and salmon suede pants with side cut outs). I am super happy with how it turned out.

Ever since I decided to approach my fashion sketching like fine art, my work has seemed like night and day.

 I'd like to give you a long blog about all the techniques I used, but it is late and the morning will come quickly! So, rain check?

Miss Inquisitive: Part 2, Process Photo of Sketch, CC Selena Marie Norris

I'll be posting the winner reveal and some new images from the artists in my September Artist Showdown. Let me tell you, these new images are worth coming back for! The contest was a huge success and I definitely plan to have one for October.

Miss Inquisitive: Part 2, Process Photo of Sketch, CC Selena Marie Norris

Hopefully I will finally get to publish the exclusive fashion photo shoot by some amazing Brazilian artists which I've already promised. Cross your fingers! Coming soon!

Check out Miss Inquisitive: Part 1

All of the above images are protected under Creative Commons. You may use these images in their current state for non-commercial/non business use. Permission must be obtained to use these images for any business purpose. Please do not edit or use these images in your artwork. If referencing these images in a blog, social media, or etc, attribution to the initial source (Selena Marie Norris) and a link back to this post must be included. Thank you.

Are you an artist ready to share your work? Contact me or share your information below if you are an artist or know an artist that should be featured.  If you are interested in participating please send me a message at one of the below links. Make sure to mention you want to be considered for a feature in Kindred Closets!

Twitter: @selenamarie318  

or LinkedIn Connect with a message: linkedin.com/in/selenamarienorris
Or reply in the comment section below!
And please don't forget to subscribe or follow by email! There's a spot in the side bar! ------->

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

XOXO,

SELENA MARIE

Miss Inquisitive: A Fashion Croquis

I sketch a lot at work but it is flat sketching for tech packs in Adobe Illustrator. It's been a while since I've really sat down and just sketched for hours. But last night and today I was feeling in the mood for it, perhaps because of the spike in page views for my Artist Showdown Contest between Anthony Resto and Greta Corens. Please make sure to visit their respective posts (and check out the links to their portfolios). All views to their posts and each comment counts as a vote. Voting ends Sunday night at Midnight Central Standard Time. So make sure to check them out before then!

Miss Inquisitive, CC Selena Marie Norris

As for my sketching, it was raining all day today so I didn't feel much like going out. I opened the windows and listened to the rain pour down while I watched back to back episodes of Fringe on Netflix. I could smell the scent of the rain while sketching and I just got lost in what I was doing. It was lovely. This sketch is the result of a couple of hours (give or take the time it takes to make a phone call, pepare dinner, and work on a press release for a friend). 

I was initially wary of adding the background, but I quite like it now. It is a good representation of the color story I wanted for the design. So much of fashion sketching feels utilitarian in nature- just the purpose of getting the design ideas out of my head and onto paper. In this case, I decided I wanted to approach my croquis drawing more as fine art illustration (perhaps slightly influenced by the artists I've been in contact with lately), playing with the proportions and emphasizing color. This sketch was made with Prismacolor markers, Prismacolor, Crayola, and Rose Art colored pencils, and a black ink pen on Strathmore 50 lb (74 g/m squared) paper. I love bobble heads, so this was sort of inspired by that. I've included some process photos below. I am pretty happy with how it turned out! Let me know what you think!

 Miss Inquisitive, Detail, CC Selena Marie Norris

Process Photo of Sketch, CC Selena Marie Norris

Miss Inquisitive, Process Photo of Sketch, CC Selena Marie Norris

All of the above images are protected under Creative Commons. You may use these images in their current state for non-commercial/non business use. Permission must be obtained to use these images for any business purpose. Please do not edit or use these images in your artwork. If referencing these images in a blog, social media, or etc, attribution to the initial source (Selena Marie Norris) and a link back to this post must be included. Thank you.

Check Out Miss Inquisitive: Part 2

Are you an artist ready to share your work? Contact me or share your information below if you are an artist or know an artist that should be featured. Make sure you let me know you would like to be featured!

Twitter: @selenamarie318  

or LinkedIn Connect with a message: linkedin.com/in/selenamarienorris
Or reply in the comment section below!
And please don't forget to subscribe or follow by email! There's a spot in the side bar! ------->

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

XOXO,

SELENA MARIE