More Fashion Illustration

A short description of the course that caught my eye in the catalog reads as follows:

Students will learn beginning and intermediate illustration skills including line, proportion, shading, and color in order to advance their ability to communicate fashion designs.

After successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1: Draw the correct 9 head proportions of the fashion figure.
2: Create a personal style of fashion illustration.
3: Construct fashion design concepts through fashion illustration.
4: Integrate a variety of color media.

On day one of the Fashion Illustration (FASH 35a) at San Francisco City College, two teachers introduced themselves. The first half of the semester was taught by Lorraine Wilner and the second half by Paul Gallo.

The first days were spent getting familiar with the materials, the contour figures and front, side, back and 3/4 views.

The Joy of Painting Disappearing Images

Integral, by Mary Gow, digitally manipulated painting

Integral, by Mary Gow, digitally manipulated painting
Integral, by Mary Gow, digitally manipulated painting
Have you heard of the Buddha Board? It’s a board you can use water to paint on a surface that shows your brush work, then the image fades away. (See buddhaboard.com).

This reminds me of Chinese Ink Brush Painting but I don’t need ink nor paper! I’m loving this type of environmentally friendly art! Plus no chemicals!

The image above is one of the dozen or so I painted after opening the box containing the Buddha Board.

I photographed each drawing, and one transformed into another.

The image shown above I then manipulated in Photoshop.

This is a fun process! I encourage you to try it.

The Buddha Board is a perfect way to enjoy the moment

. . . regardless of how the election turned out.

Sun Painting

"Sunsational," acrylic on canvas painting by Mary Gow

"Sunsational," acrylic on canvas painting by Mary Gow
“Sunsational,” acrylic on canvas painting by Mary Gow
Work in progress, 16″ x 20″ acrylic on canvas. I’m enjoying this painting and the colors. This photo shows one of my favorite sections of it.

When is a painting finished? The more I paint the more I agree with the saying: art is never finished, only abandoned. Who said it is still under discussion but I feel that the artist decides when.

Black and White Photography

"Missing the Times," Photo by Mary Gow

"Missing the Times," photo by Mary Gow
“Missing the Times,” photo by Mary Gow
I took this photo, “Missing the Times,” when I was taking practicing street photography in Harvey Stein’s class at the International Center of Photography in New York City. I love black and white photography. The over head light in this photo could use a bit more exposure so it’s not so bright but I like the general nostalgic feel of this shot.