Inspiration for Fashion Design

The inspiration for our fashion design was 2 blocks away from our classroom at a construction site. We were attracted to the graffiti and the colors. There was yellow, orange, white, and pink. We loved the rustic, but beautiful feel that it portrayed. The top was inspired by the yellow seen on the wall, and the orange netting. The skirt was inspired by the geometric shapes, and the construction netting. The vest was inspired by the stiffness of the wire seen to the left of this picture, and the splashes of colors seen throughout the site. The white mask was inspired by the graffiti, and the mask with orange was inspired by the netting, and by the orange. Both masks were also inspired by the idea of protection.

More pages in magazine

These are four more pages in our magazine. the bottom one we decided to do as a spread because you get the feeling of a construction site more.

Pages of magazine with our accessories

These six pages are more pictures in our magazines. We showed three pictures with the accessories we made. We have one made out of silver mesh with orange duck tape to outline a face. The second one is made out of white stretch jersey that is shaped to my head with yellow spray paint. The accessories had to be functional, so we brought in the idea of protection, which is why we have masks. We changed ideas for accessories a few times. I learned to never be set on one idea, because things can always go wrong and you can come up with even better ideas if you just let yourself.

Pages in magazine- no accessories

These four pages are in our final magazine. They are taken within a few blocks of our class, and capture the mood of our dress. In the process of our photo shoot, we learned to take a lot of different shots in different locations with a variety of poses because it keeps it interesting.

Back cover of magazine

Here is the back cover of our magazine that we took about two blocks from our class. Our cover picture is taken on the same wall at this location.

Fashion Design Project-Cover

This is the final copy of the magazine that Jenny and I made.

Our assignment was to get inspiration from a location, and design an outfit and accessory from that location. Jenny and I were inspired by a construction site, so we made a top, skirt, vest, and two masks.

 We used a lot of strange materials such as duck tape for the top and part of one of the masks and lining for the vest, orange construction netting for part of the skirt, and metal construction netting for the vest.

After making the outfit and accessory, we had a photo shoot where i modeled the outfit. Then from there, we picked our favorite shots to put into a final magazine.

Sketch of Lotus Flower

In the Hindu religion, the Lotus Flower is very well known and is a sign of eternity and good luck. I sketched a lotus flower in one of my sketchbooks using a standard pencil. I looked at a picture of a flower, and tried to draw it. I tried to make it look like the flower was curving by making the bottom petals smaller, and darker on the bottom. I learned that small details can make the drawing look so different.

Architectural Drawing

In week 2, our class went to the High Line to draw landscapes. This connected into our work with geometry because architecture is very geometric. I used pencil to draw a street in front of me. I never drew architecture before this, so I learned how to make it look realistic, while still concentrating on proportions.

Geometric Painting

For this assignment, we had to design a geometric shape on graph paper starting with a cube, then adding parts to make it more interesting. Then, we had to use 2 light color paints, 1 medium, and 2 darks; and we had to use those colors depending on where the light hit. I learned how to make intricate shapes starting from a basic cube, and making them perfect. I also learned how to tell where the dark, medium, and light colors should be depending on where the light hits.

Figure with draped camouflage fabric

For one of our first assignments in the first 2 weeks, we had to draw a model who had camouflage draped fabric on him, and behind him. We had to get the right proportions of the different fabrics, and of the man. We also had to use gouache to paint in the camouflage. With this assignment, i learned how to paint camouflage without drawing each small shape, and I continued learning about proportions.

Model with camo

One of our latest assignments was to draw the negative spaces of a model and a skeleton, and just the outline of both. We painted the camouflage fabrics behind them, and wherever there was negative space, we would paint the fabric there. This was a challenge because we had to proportion the woman, and skeleton. I learned to pay attention to where different objects or people line up with other objects or people. 

Necklace design

In my sketchbook, I designed a necklace that has turquoise beads, hand- made beads, and a pendant that is the sign of Hinduism. I am a jewelry designer and make most of my ideas. I wanted to show Paul and Frank my strong point in art.

Color Wheel3

One of my later assignments was to paint a color wheel with the help of my gray scales to get the right tones. I mixed all of the colors using gouache. I learned how to incorporate the gray scales while using colors, and how to mix gouache to make colors.

Model painting with only black gouache paint

A nude model posed for us one day. We drew lightly in pencil first, then Paul told us to only paint where the areas are over 50% grey. But instead of painting the different tones of grey, he said to paint it all black. I learned to distinguish different types of grey, and again work on proportions.

Central Park Drawings

The day we went to the Museum of Natural History, we spent half the day at central park drawing. We first went to an area on the water, where we could draw anything. I chose to sit on a rock and draw looking out onto the water. I made the pencil marks lighter as the water got farther away.

Then our class went to a big fountain in the middle of the park. My first drawing, i got the proportions all wrong, so i did a blind contour drawing of the same fountain to train myself even more to draw what i see. One of my classmates was sitting next to me, so i drew his foot to see if i could get the proportions right on something other than the fountain. This day tested my patience and eye for detail because we drew a lot, including things that are not my strong point.

Museum of Natural History- Dinosaur section

At the Museum of Natural History, we went into the Dinosaur section, and picked something to draw. I used a pencil to first outline the shapes, then come back in with detail and shading. This tied with the main point our teachers tried to make about drawing, which is to draw what you see.

Fieldtrip to the met museum of art

The same day we went to the greek and roman section of the met, we went to two other sections as well to sketch. Each student picked a suit of armor to draw, along with something in another section of the museum with tribal statues. The suit of armor is when i really started using my pencil to measure so i get the right proportions. I learned that tactic here this summer.

Accessory sketches for the fashion project

For our fashion project, we had to create a functional accessory to go with our outfit. Since our location was a construction site, we came up with some words to describe what a construction site does or what comes to mind when we think of it. The word "protect" kept coming up. So, we made 2 masks to "protect" me from anyone or anything. We designed a few different masks and other accessories before coming up with our final 2. This taught me to come up with many ideas, and keep adding to them until i come up with something perfect.

Geometric Pattern

For this assignment, we used graph paper to make a geometric pattern. This taught me repetition, and tied in with out gray scales because of the colors used.

Grey Scale

We were assigned to paint a grey scale using black and white gouache paint, and then cut out black, white, and all kinds of grey pictures from magazines to match the painted scale above. I learned how to get the right value, and tone of each color. I also learned how to mix paints exactly. We did this to learn how to get the right values, and exact mixtures of paints.

Field trip to the Met Museum- ancient Greek and roman section

On one of our field trips, we went to the Met Museum where we sketched in the ancient greek and roman section. I Drew drapery because i feel that was a very important part ancient greek and roman cultures. I also drew a picture of a statue of a woman's face. This was my first shot at drawing drapery, so I learned a lot about how to draw drapery. I also learned how to draw the proportions on someone's face. This part of our class ties into the rest by working on drawing what we see.

Collage

I did this collage in my sketchbook. It consists of interesting patterns, colors, and images that i find to be inspirational.

First Sketches

Our assignments throughout this month along with other homework assignments was to sketch in our sketch books. The first night i sketched an elephant and wrote the Hindi word for peace which is Shanti. Elephants are my favorite animals and I love the Hindu religion.