First Fashion Drawing Session

Snow? What snow? We came here to draw.

Fashion illustrators at the fashion drawing session.

Despite a storm that dumped over a foot of snow on the city, the first Would You Rock This fashion drawing session was almost a full house.

Brandon Graham and the Would You Rock This staff welcomed the intrepid fashion illustrators to Ripley Grier Studios, a theatrical rehearsal space in the heart of the garment district.

Scarves and boots and layers got shucked, and sketchpads and charcoals were brought out. Some spread their sketchpads onto the tables ranged around the room. Others elected to use music stands as easels.

Malin posing.

The first four poses were 5 minutes long, to give artists’ hands a chance to warm up. (Kind of literally, on a night like this!) The length of the poses increased over the course of the night, to give illustrators a chance to get more detailed renderings down on paper. The evening ended with a twenty minute pose, with both models posed together.

Hannah Morris, a Would You Rock This staff member, took charge of styling the two models. She explained the process of choosing outfits:

I try to give an assortment of different fabric textures and silhouettes to accommodate those who like to draw the human figure(form fitted garments) to those who like to draw draping, fabric qualities, and garment silhouettes.

The models posed wearing different outfits including skinny jeans, a short textured skirt, a striped shirt and a shaggy fur coat, standing on a platform in the center of the room.

The last poses of the night were twenty minutes long, one featuring both models posed together.

When the session was over, fashion illustrator Jennifer Lilya came by to talk about her professional work and answer questions. (See video clip below.) The illustrators were fascinated (and maybe a little awed) to meet someone who could make a living pursuing her passion for illustration.

All in all, the first fashion illustration session was a success! We’re looking forward to Saturday’s group of illustrators and models.  Sign up here, and join us for the afternoon!

Fashion Illustrators (and at bottom left, site editor Elizabeth Willse)