Illustration Blog

Catwalk Looks: Paris, London, New York, Milan

For this lesson, (over two weeks), I had to create four Catwalk Looks based from the recent Spring 2026 fashion runways. I had to create each look from each big city: Paris, London, New York and Milan!

Before actually creating my four different looks, I had to research and look into 6 different illustrators. Once I found my chosen illustrators, : Jamie Lee Reardin, Lisa Catanea, Blair Breitenstein, Zuzanna Kowalezyk, Steve Aparicio and Lucia Lenders, I then went onto looking at Spring 2026 Runway looks. After all research was done, I was tasked with merging 2 different illustration styles for the four illustrations.

When it came to actually drawing and illustrating, I had to think about how to represent that illustration style with certain media’s. My favourite was most definitely Pastels (which I have now found a liking of). I found it most difficult when creating the first drawing shown above as I couldn’t quite see how the garment looked properly from the picture reference I was using. I adored the different artist styles and media’s I had to use to fully grasp and incorporate the illustration style from the different illustrators into my drawings.

Overall, I loved this lesson as I got to practice my illustration techniques, Research different artists and Look at many different recent runway looks! It was incredibly fun!

Met Gala Illustration

For this lesson I had to recreate a met gala look from a specific selection of looks and I chose Janelle Monáe’s look from 2019. I personally chose this look because I really loved the silhouette of the outfit and uniqueness of the eyes used. I normally pick designs that have interesting shapes or most definitely eyes used as I love that sort of quirkiness.

I had to make the met gala look stylised from a style of art I chose. From the images above you can see which one I chose and how I chose to recreate it. I feel like I did a great job at this illustration because I was able to capture the actual picture in the style of the artist’s👩🏽‍🎨 drawing. However if I was to do this again, I would try and add more detail to the image by going over the acrylic paints- just to make it stand out even more.

In conclusion, I feel like this lesson was very fun because I got to draw a stylised illustration of what I chose out and got to experiment with different shapes/ silhouettes of clothing.

We can see that Janelle Monáe’s Met Gala looks always come out spectacular- Her 2025 Met Look: 👇🏽

Media Practice- 7 Images Drawn

For this lesson I was instructed to practice my media techniques using different images drawn by different artists and their usage of media. I really loved this lesson as I got to practice my techniques on media and got to draw, learn and practice different styles of sketching. Although, I do think I had some weak points and some good points when using different medias.

My favourite piece from above is definitely the pencil crayon work (the last image). This is because I feel like I really captured the image reference I used. I also just really like the image overall as it’s unique, interesting and definitely different. However, If I was to change this, perhaps I could’ve coloured in the drawing more evenly with the pencil crayons to make it look neater. Overall, I just really love this drawing. Another one of my favourites is the pastel drawing. I feel like this media really creates beautiful pieces and I just adore how the pastels look in the end when a drawing is finished - scribble lines and all!

My least favourite piece from above has got to be the water-colour drawing (the fifth image). To me this drawing is probably my least best piece I’ve ever done as I feel like the proportions of the figure in general are a little off. Though, I do like the usage of water-colour for the details of the dress. If I was to do this again, next time, I would most definitely get proportions better and make the face on my drawing try to look similar to the one I was using as reference.

In conclusion, This lesson was great for me to better my understanding of different art styles, media techniques and drawings overall. Fabulous!

Stylised Faces

For this lesson, I created four stylised face portraits using four images of different people and four images of different artists styles. Once done, I then went onto using different media techniques such as watercolour paints, markers and acrylic painting pens to make my drawings come to life. 

Out of them all, I think my personal favourite would be the third image I drew. This is because I really love this artist style with the big eyes but the smaller iris. I loved how I detailed this drawing to add the similar pattern of the laced sort of fabric and I adore how the colours just flow and match together.

I tried to make sure every artist style I chose and every media technique I used was different. This is so I could get more practice with different art styles which would improve my drawing and painting skills.

Overall I think this went very well as I was able to correctly draw and colour in each face portrait to look and match the artists style and the image for reference.

Cassandra Rhodin Illustration

What have you done?

Firstly, I drew out a Cassandra Rhodin illustration using pencil. After that, I outlined it in a fine-liner pen.

How have you done it?

I have used a Berol pen and water to create the smudgy effect you see in the photos above.

What inspired you?

Cassandra Rhodins beautiful illustrations inspired me to create this piece of work. I used the task sheet to look at to try and make my illustration similar.

What else did you try?

I tired to make noticeable shadows in this illustration to make it have more depth.

Why is it successful?

I think this piece of work was successful because I feel like I used the Berol pen correctly to add depth and create shadows.

Is there anything you would change?

Basic Face Proportion Practice

In today's lesson, I was instructed to draw out two basic faces (Male and Female) correctly and then draw out a few enlarged versions of facial features (noses, lips and eyes).

For this piece of work I first drew out two basic faces in pencil and then outlined them in a fine-liner pen. I did use the task sheet to help me with the proportions that I was inspired to correctly try and get right for these drawings.

Interestingly, I actually tried to free-hand draw these faces and do them without any grid guidance. Although I feel like these facial drawings don’t look exactly like the images on the task sheet given to me, I feel like overall I got most of the proportions correct.

Colour Theory Illustrations

Half and Half figure Illustration Figures

What have you done?

I have first cut out three illustration figures in half. I have then drawn out the other half of the illustration figure.

How have you done it?

I have done this by using graph paper and looking at the other side of the task sheet to help me.

What inspired you?

I specifically chose this task sheet because the illustrator who created these illustrations have quite the unique drawing style and figures which is what I love.

What else did you try?

I tried to draw out/colour in the pattern of the designs.

Why is it successful?

I think this was successful because I think the half of the illustration I drew out came out accurate.

Is there anything you would change?

S-Curve Figure Illustration

What have you done?

I have drawn out two basic illustrations.

How have you done it?

I have done this by the s-curve method.

What inspired you?

I was inspired by the focus of movement of illustration figures.

What else did you try?

As well as using the s-curve method, I also tried to free draw.

Why is it successful?

Hand Drawing Practice

For today's lesson I had to draw hands to practice my proportions with hands. Did you know that hand proportions can actually be quite difficult to replicate and draw?

Whilst trying to recreate the hand from the image shown in the video, I struggled at first with the proportions (hence why I rubbed it out a few times).

Once I felt like it was correct after a few tries, I then decided to outline my drawing with a fine liner pen to make it look better. This enhanced the drawing I had made so it stood out.

Figure Practice Drawings and Presenting

This lesson, I learnt many different techniques to creating illustration figures!

Today I followed 3 different methods of making/sketching out the illustration figures above.

I learnt about proportions and tried to stay within the rules and guidelines of each method. After I had completed these illustration sketches, I then went on to presenting them and making the background of each figure better/ more detailed. I did this with coloured card and pieces of magazines. I wanted to try and make my designs stand out against the background and in my opinion, I think I did a great job! Once done, I tucked them away neatly into my portfolio folder.

Basic 8 headed figure illustration- ‘Normal’ and Elongated.

1 (‘Normal’)- For this Piece of work I first started using the grid method. I made sure to measure the grid by 4 cm each time to make it accurate. This then helped me to sketch out a basic position of a figure illustration. Overall, I feel like this sketch came out quite good as,in my opinion, I think it looks like the image I was sketching from.