Work in Progress
Having started my project in September I knew I wanted to explore fashion illustration as it an area that interested me for a while. Having looked at several illustration books and artist such as Sophie Tolouse, Esdar Maren and Erin Pettson I was inspired to create a piece that was a mixture of Maren Esdar surrealist pieces and ink illustrations inspired by Erin Pettson and Sophie Tolouse. I was drawn to these pieces due to the sheer size and this was something that also inspired me to go down this route. Therefore I have decided to look at these artists in greater depth before producing my own series of images, inspired by their work.
There was a time when watercolour was considered low art. Printmaking and photography in their infancy fought the same uphill battle against historical precedent and preference. So does illustration. It has long been defined by the allegory and its supportive role in publishing, providing images to accompany a story. Amusing pictures intended to grab a reader’s attention – truly, an early form of info snacking - read the pictures rather than the story. From humble beginnings illustrations were made to be printed alongside adverts, visually describing products or scenes to an illiterate public. Shop owners and newsmen soon discovered that images sold more products and papers. It is here that illustration became relegated to a submissive genre of art – not charting new ground – text is the driving force with illustration along for the ride.
Without its commercial attachment, illustration stands alone, freed it from its obligatory shackles. Time and again, illustrators are proving that intent is a better barometer – a stronger measure of the medium, and that the label is far broader then the restrictive definition allows. Perhaps, a new, expanded and more open definition is in order.
Illustrators are using traditional media that usually fall into the realm of fine art such as paint, pencil and multi media....