Learn to Draw a Croquis

Find templates like this in fashion drawing books or onlineColoured with markers and watercolour pencils, background is photocopied fabrics"Croquis" (rhymes with okie-dokie!) -  is a fancy French word for sketch.  They're great for expressing your ideas - sketching is a basic skill that can be learned, just like reading and writing.  A little practice goes a long way!

My college project (above right) was drawn using a template on a light box.  No light box?  Tape your template to a window in daylight hours, tape to the TV at night!  Pencil in the basic shape and add your clothing design.  Use a fine line pen (I like 0.1!) to define your sketch.  Erase original pencil lines and colour.

When I was in sixth grade our teacher made us stand up in front of the class to show our best drawing.  I had to borrow a picture from a friend!  Couldn't draw to save my life and avoided art at high school in favour of maths and physics (unbelievable!).  But at age 27 I decided I wanted to learn to draw - it's never too late to start.

The life-changing book I read was Betty Edwards' Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.  For a totally left-brained person, it helped me learn a skill I thought was only for the chosen few!

In the mood...board

To make a mood board, take an A3 size piece of mount board and fill it with images that inspire you. Don't stop at 2D -  use foamcore or mounting tape to raise images you particularly like.  A hot glue gun will attach small props. 

At college, our inspiration boards are usually themed and include a title, samples of fabrics and a colour palette.  They work in tandem with a visual diary, and are a handy way to see all your influences in one hit.

My pictured board is inspired by (you guessed it) desserts!  From here I'll draw up clothing designs focussing on a berry coloured palette.  We've been doing some natural fabric dyeing using blueberries and raspberries, creating some yummy colours.  Have also been experimenting with ruffles and pleating to suggest layers of creamy icing on a cake.

You sew, girl!

The holidays are here!  The holidays are here!  We've worked hard at college this semester and I really enjoyed the chance to learn some great skills amongst some lovely creative types (most of them half my age!)

My skirt - took some things I liked - a high waist, shaped hem, bound edge......big metal zip at back...and made this!I think my favourite subject was Wendy's sewing production class where we made a truckload of samples ( zippers, casings, pockets etc), then sewed pyjamas, skirts and a couple of shirt/jackets.  Really enjoyed drawing, making the pattern and stitching up our own skirt design - it's very satisfying turning an idea into a 3-D object!

Super simple to sew cowl neck tee - the hardest part is making the pattern - lucky we have Wendy our favourite teacher to help out!

We also did some T-shirts - painless fun for those with an overlocker, but a little trickier on an ordinary sewing machine.  Here's a little cowl neck tee I made, it's pretty simple to sew once you draft the pattern up...

Dear (Visual) Diary,

This diary entry about a painting I saw at Qld Art Gallery...inspired this costume party outfit......which then evolved into this 60's shift!Keeping a journal is a lovely record to have. 

Keeping a visual diary is like that but in mostly pictures instead of just words...  

We're required to keep a visual diary for our drawing class and it's been really fun. 

First there's the discipline of daily entries...

For the past month, I've made myself put aside time every day to draw. 

It's a real luxury to do that, putting aside housework  or other things you're obliged to do. 

But it's really rewarding - give it a go!

So you think you can...draw!

I'm loving College.  Especially since I've found a way of including TV watching in my study curriculum!

For our sketching class, we had to draw a dress from five different angles.  Unable to find anyone willing to stand still long enough five times, I resorted to freeze-framing people on So You Think You Can Dance.  Here's Ivy from that fabulous Paso Doble routine a few weeks back!

Getting lots of help from Nancy Reigelman's book Colors for Modern Fashion -

a great book with lots of tips and techniques for using coloured markers in particular. 

Full of fabulous examples too...

Here's one I copied earlier ...