Let’s not think about all the sad things that left us sad during the year, but in what made us happy instead and especially to look at 2012 as another opportunity that life gives us to start again!

Right now that is exactly what I feel, I’m starting again, and therefore anxious to find out what 2012 holds for me

My plan is:

- Organize my time more effectively
- Arrange time during the week to pamper myself
- Keep this blog and twitter updated
- Deepen my knowledge in hand and graphic illustration
- Promote my work as much as possible
- Collect my 1st customer

The good news is that I have a whole year to achieve my goals;)

Make your plan too!
Be ambitious and smile at 2012!

Happy New Year!

P.s. as I mentioned on my previous post, here is the result of my avatar creation:

My next project: my avatar

As you may have  noticed in my 1st post becoming a freelancer illustrator is my main goal for 2012.

Though I’m just getting started , I’ve been researching a lot on this subject, especially about how to start.

I don’t mean to tell you how to do it, since I’m no expert on the subject, nor do I believe that there is a magic formula that works for everyone.

However, there are some guidelines that are common and should be considered when one decides to enter the world of freelancing.

The first thing I thought was:

Do I have something interesting to show?
Are there people with the same questions I have?
Are there people that do what I want to do?
How do I show my work? What is the best way?
How do I get clients?

The answer to the first question is perhaps the most difficult to answer, because if you like what you do, then you will tend to say yes.

Fortunately, the Internet is filled with information related to this matter and you can easily find some answers.

Still, there are many questions left unanswered. At least that’s what happened to me!

Since I’m on the stage of publicizing my illustrations, I started by creating a Twitter account and a blog in English to reach the largest audience possible.

On this website, I can show my projects and portfolio, and is, therefore, the site “officially” my work, although I just recently created one in Portuguese – http://foolforfashion.blogspot.com/

The purpose is to find my place in the world of illustration, and to publish my work, asking for opinions from who is already in this world and creating an image that is appealing and consistent.

This is accomplished with work, persistence, and lots of will to reach further.

I’ll try keep you updated sou you know how it works out

This is my way to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy 2012

Hope you like it!

This software is a must have if you are thinking about a career in illustration.

At first It can be a little confusing, tutorials are imperative to get to know some of the tools that are available, but practice is really the best advice I can give you!

Although, I’m still in a learning process, I just made my first vector!

What I’m showing here is my hand drawn sketch and then the vector.

I have to say, I’m soooo happy with the results! What do you think? Any advice for me?

Well, needless to say… I was wrong!!

All I knew was to draw dolls (as my boyfriend calls them. I call them fashion sketches!)  like a little girl, no details, no shadings, no movement, and the list goes on!

I  also knew that it was going to be a learning process that required time to develop and by  now I think I’ve made some improvements. I’m finishing some illustrations for you to see on an upcoming post.

Not that I’m now a master but hopefully, I’ll get there

Well, getting to this point took me some time.

First I became frustrated, couldn’t feel inspired and everything I drew, I hated! So I took a break, stopped drawing and focused on work and my degree in marketing management. Anyway… that didn’t do any good because I felt even worse!!

It wasn’t easy, these kind of choices are easy to let go and make an excuse to do something else.

I found out that I was in a hurry to learn as much as could about fashion illustration and my frustration was mostly because I didn’t have as much time as I wanted to practice!

I was a mess and that was the day I stopped updating my blog!

But no more whining about that!

What happened next was that I found a whole new world in the illustration world! I discovered adobe illustrator, started googling  blogs from other illustrators,  and  illustrations from the people who know what they’re doing basically!

Oh, and thank God for tutorials

My advice to you if you’re also starting to think about a career in illustration:

- Practice as much as you can. There are a lot of great tutorials for you to begin. Just make sure to choose the simple ones first.

- If you have any doubts, remember that your answer is most probably on-line, because some questions are universal when you’re getting started

- Don’t give up!

See you soon

Just about to enter de Fashion Illustration Rally!

I made some improvements since my latest illustrations, don’t you think?

New portfolio is coming soon!!

For this autumn / winter, the world of fashion is telling us to go back to the 40′s, as I already posted here, but this is not the only trend to follow! However, we don’t have to love every trend that comes out, so, what I want to share with you on this post are some styles that I’m seeing at the stores but I don’t seem to like very much!

        This style was used a few decades ago:  bell bottom jeans, remember? :O This kind of jeans became popular in  the 1960′s and were last used in the 1990′s. Can you believe they are back?!! I don’t!

In addition to the bell bottom jeans I’m seeing in the stores a lot of jackets with bit of fur and leather clothes. .. First, real fur makes me sick so, when I talk about fur, I mean fake fur!!! But I have to say I’m having mixed feelings about this one… the leather jacket is a must have in the closet I think! It always makes you look cool for going out or even for work. Nonetheless, don’t go buy a lot of these items, specially furry items, just enough to get the feel of the wild side, but no so much that you’ll be looking like you actually live in the wild!

Next are the man looking boots for women! Do you know what I’m talking about? I have to say that I’m a shoe fanatic, high heels mostly, but I also enjoy a cool pair of tennis shoes and flats. But, I’m not feeling the kind of boots that make a women’s feet look like it’s 2 sizes bigger! I think that a lady to feel comfortable shouldn’t forget about still looking feminine. Keep that in mind

So, what I mean is, when you go shopping for the new season, think about what you really like and what looks good on you, because you can be a fashion victim but don’t be a fashion addict!

xoxo

It was one long month which started on the 8th of September in New York, followed by London, Milan and Paris.

It was time to forget all those problems related to recession and crisis and put on the most fashionable outfit to attend the shows, at least for the lucky ones that got an invitation!! For a few weeks the world was a glamorous and beautiful place to live, making women dream about shopping that one dress that is similar to the one they saw on the fashion reports.

Although fashion magazines make several reports of most shows, which is very confusing because there are so many of them, there are only a few that really stand out. You see, if you have the chance to follow the shows it’s impossible to notice that some designers make beautiful clothes, but, on the other hand, there are other designers that are true artists!!

These designers are truly inspirational, they see ahead and they are the ones that set the trends for the next season. To them, all details are important: the garments,  models,  accessories, the setting of the show… nothing seems to miss and everything works like an orchestra playing in perfect harmony…

So, this season the designers that, to me, made an impact and actually made Art are:

• D&G
  

For those who don’t know this by now, it was the last show for D&G as it merged with the mainline Dolce & Gabbana. This collection comes down to a bunch of different and colorful scarfs that were put together. By saying this you might think “what??”This could have gone really bad but the result is simply breathtaking!

• Chanel

Have you seen the show yet? It is simply amazing!! With a scenery resembling the bottom of the ocean the Chanel collection emerged showing nothing but beautiful things!

• Emilio Pucci

This was my favorite collection, I have to say. I loved the gipsy theme and if I could, I would have the whole collections to my self

• Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier is a very unique designer so, he makes not only unique collections but also unique fashion shows! On this show the music began and each girl took a number and walked around as though she were at an auction or beauty pageant.  The audience was told what each girl likes – including her hobbies. Strange right? But his creations are pieces of art.

• Louis Vuitton

Who doesn’t know Louis Vuitton? Who wouldn’t like to own one of his bags (a real one!)? I have to say that I only knew Louis Vuitton for his extremely expensive bags that are only seen on movie stars and football players, but when I saw his show I was amazed! As the show started all the models were unveiled at once scattered beautifully across a white, glittering fairground carousel. Not to mention the collection in it self! Music, garments, scenery, it all came together in a perfect way.

I’ll leave you with some pictures of these events so you can see what I mean. I hope they inspire you like they inspired me

xoxo

D&G fashion show

Emilio Pucci fashion Show

Back then I suppose people would think that by 2011 we’d be wearing futuristic clothes, but no, we like jeans too much to replace them with space suits! After all we are still driving cars, not flying them!

This autumn /winter 2011/2012 the 40’s are back! What does that mean exactly? Let us go back in time for a while:

Fashion in the 1940’s was very influenced by the World War II. I don’t want to give you a boring history lesson, I will only share a few things so you can understand why the 40’s is like it is!

Before the war, every year New York fashion designers went to Paris to attend the French fashion shows in Paris, capital of haute couture. After the shows they returned to de US and copied the French designs. When the Germans occupied Paris in 1940, the New York designers couldn’t go there anymore. So, to overcome this, they concentrated on sportswear. And we all know how that turned out! This led to the United States emerging as the sportswear capital of the world. (in Murrayontravel)

After 1940 and until the end of WW2, the production of clothes had several restrictions, because wool and nylon was needed by the military, so fabric had to be rationed and synthetic fabrics developed in the 1930´s became the material most often used for womans clothing.

So, to comply with these restrictions American designers “created a style of suits for women Skirts were short and straight topped by short jackets of twenty-five inches or less in length. Cardigans matched skirts and sheath evening dresses replaced the long flowing gowns of the thirties”. (in -  Murrayontravel)

After the war, women were tired of following these restrictions and were ready for a change.

A new look was introduced by Christian Dior in 1947 with longer and fuller skirts and woman fashion changed to a much more romantic and feminine image, starting to wear a variety of peplums in skirt hems, necklines and waists. A-line skirts topped with soft blouses embellished with bows and puffy sleeves. Full collars and lace were also in vogue. (in -  Murrayontravel)

The new 40’s look gave an hour-glass figure and a new, feminine extravagance denied for so long.

Back to 2011, Gucci, Miuccia Prada, Jean Paul Gaultier, among others, autumn/winter 2011/2012 collection introduced a season full of absolute 40’s glamour.(in- Vogue) So, for all the ladies that love to dress up every day, this is the season for you! Have fun with it

There is still a lot for me to learn, but it will be fun and rewarding to look back and see the evolution.

The next step was to find my own style, which is not easy, specially because there is so much information available! That makes it much harder to make choices and to know what is good and what is bad! Very confusing! I have to say that I’m still figuring that out, but that’s occupational hazard!

What I’m doing now is staying as focused as I can, researching everyday, to see what’s new, and practice, practice, practice! Well, and now write as well!

I can say that I love vintage style with a twist of modern, but there is also a part of me that really loves all that is the excentric and burlesque so you’ll be seeing some opposite styles in here!

You should be thinking: and that’s what you do for a living all day every day?!! The answer is: I wish!! Maybe one day!! But I’ll leave that story for the next post!

Until then!

xoxo