Elle Magazine

Yasmin in Bottega

Brushwork, Projects Series

Faces. How to explain whose face will lure me in cannot be easily expressed. Nor could I articulate why one photo among countless others compels me to render it, by whatever means. In this sketch of Yasmin Wijnaldum, she wears Bottega Veneta for a 2018 Elle editorial.

Photographer Chris Colls, versatile – and cunning in this instance, captures Yasmin beautifully by cleverly setting this overcoat against the grid of a rusted fence.

How did this escape me at the time of receipt? Again, I have no idea!

Yasmin in 2018 Bottega

Beaches

Graphic, Projects Series

One of the most idyllic scenes as far as subject appeal for me is that of a woman, alone – or seemingly alone – on a beach. A girl or woman needing no one or nothing more than sea and sand.

In this I sketched from a photo taken by Chris Colls. [If the notations left on it are illegible, I also credit Gigi Hadid, Michael Kors – for the swimsuit, and Elle magazine.] The retro nod in her swimsuit being an aesthetic bonus.

Model Gigi Hadid in a Michael Kors swimsuit from a photo taken by Chris Colls, done in a pencil sketch.

Gigi by Chris Colls 2019

Hyunji in Marc

Brushwork, Projects Series

First, an apology to adorable model Hyunji Shin. When working from Terry Tsiolis’ photo [in an editorial from the July 2018 issue of Elle] my foremost intent was to depict this incredible outline of the Marc Jacobs gown; I hardly did justice in Hyunji’s face! Yet, painting wet on wet is still rather foreign to me. One has to relinquish a lot of control – and those who know me will understand…

Watercolor fashion illustration of model Hyunji Shin in a fuchsia Marc Jacobs gown, from photo by Terry Tsiolis

Hyunji in Marc

 

 

“Solange”

Brushwork

The gown. That hair! Solange, that is. And with such an already musical name like that, why call this anything else? The source of it all can be seen on Elle.

I used some metallic watercolors for this 9″ x 12″ painting – a size which exceeds my scanning bed. The glint of the metallic gets lost on a monitor but I’m happy enough with the outcome here.

watercolor painting of a gown designed by Issey Miyake with only the model's hair featured behind the gown

Solange

Diaphanous Companion

Brushwork

I was drawn to a tunic featured in the April 2016 issue of Elle. Although in this painted diptych, I’ve butchered it beyond recognition – with much due respect to photographer Liz Collins and the tunic’s designer, Michael Kors. Furthermore, this garment isn’t actually diaphanous – in that I had taken what was brown suede and then interpreted it in a very different way.

A diptych painted with gelatos depicting vibrant sections of a tunic

Diaphanous Companion