The Art of Fashion Illustration

Job: 10-42056 Title: RP - Art of Fashion Illustration

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Imeensland, Amstralia

While at art school Sarah Beetson was initially using a number of techniques to create her

work, none of which she was in love with. During life-drawing classes, students were taught the

blind contour drawing technique, in which the artist places the pen or pencil on the paper and

looks at the subject, drawing ¹blindlyº without taking his or her eyes from the subject. ¹This

technique can be totally haphazard with moments of clarity, a mess of abstract lines with a

perfect hand or eye within it,º she says. ¹I decided to combine this technique with a number

of other materials and styles I liked to work with, and hence my style was born.º

Beetson begins an illustration by creating a background. She works on paper, wood, photo-

graphic prints, or fabric and often uses spray paint, tissue paper, or collage techniques for the

background. She creates the line work of the piece using Pilot G Tec C pens. ¹The rest is a

combination of an exhaustive list of materials which I am constantly adding to, but often in-

cludes acrylic gouache, markers, gel pens, crayon, stickers, vintage magazine clippings, beads,

and sequins.º

Unlike some illustrators who prefer black and white, Beetson is drawn to color and says it is the

most fundamentally important element that drives her to create illustrations. She favors bright

hues, pastels, and neon colors.

Keep moving forward.

NEVER GIVING UP:

SARAH BEETSON

Job: 10-42056 Title: RP - Art of Fashion Illustration

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Job: 10-42056 Title: RP - Art of Fashion Illustration

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THE ART OF FASHION ILLUSTRATION | PART 1: THE EMERGING MASTERS

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Erdem ¹This piece

was commissioned by

The British Fashion

Council to promote

their Fashion Forward

award. Nominees

for the award that

year were Erdem,

Roksanda Ilincic,

Christopher 3ane,

and Marios Schwab.

I got to choose one

look from each of

their collections

to illustrate,º says

Sarah Beetson, who

used a variety of

media including pen,

spray paint, acrylic

gouache, markers,

crayons, and stickers.

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Job: 10-42056 Title: RP - Art of Fashion Illustration

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Exotically Moleskin paper, pen,

spray paint, acrylic gouache,

stickers, postage stamps. ¹This

piece is from a series of personal

work that celebrates the work of

2ohn Galliano at Dior.º

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