Georges and Rene Street Style Illustration: Final

The final image was created in homage to Georges Barbier and Rene Gruau. The original street style photograph chosen as a starting point was chosen for a number of factors: the body language represents that fun charismatic and playful imagery Gruau often worked with, the garments within the image offer an updated Dior style, the bold colours of the garments offered a great visual source for showing the technique of using shadow to create an image as had been documented throughout Gruau’s career. The original image also inspired the use of a soft and detailed background, inspired by the efforts of Barbier to include beautiful detailed drawings of flowers throughout his work. Heavy black outlines have been used to create the face, body, garments and flower outlines. This is intended as connection to both Barbier and Gruau. Through the earlier experimental stages, and the final images inspired by each illustrator individually, the authors overuse of colour and overworking of the idea had damaged in some ways the original intentions. This image was created in the hope that at the final stages it could still represent the light touch of Gruau, and the delicate nature seen in Barbier’s illustrations. In order to clearly reference the influence of street style on this project, the author of this blog and illustrator of this work decided to include a soft representation of a tripod propped against the background wall. That decision was made to encourage the viewer to see situation surrounding the image, or the event as it was taking place. The illustrator wanted to offer a snapshot in time, this influence could be considered the illustrators own style being used, the image appears more interesting offering a story, rather than a beautiful woman and flowers, it can offer an idea, a mystery or a chance for the viewer to see beyond the screen.

Georges and Rene Street Style Illustration

The images above show the construction of the final piece of work. The image began as an idea imagined from a street style photograph of a beautiful woman smiling. The author wanted to see her surrounded by Barbier flowers and afforded a background that matched the fun and lively garments that she was wearing. The author created a series of climbing roses with fine pen, inspired by Barbier’s roses included in his illustrations. This pen drawing was scanned into Photoshop using a watercolour technique, as described in the experimental category on this blog, colour was added to each rose and leaf. Individual layers of colour in pinks and light cerise with overlays of semi-transparent magenta added to a separate layer on Photoshop created the frosted and light look desired from this element of the backdrop. The leaves were created using the same technique, with light green shades and mild mint greens. The original image was then overlaid in a separate Photoshop layer with the opacity level dropped so that image was almost transparent. A new layer was applied and using a fine hard black brush an outline of the clothing, hair, face, shoed, hands and body were created. At this stage it was decided to add the details such as the shadows created by the sunglasses, case in the hands and earrings. Facial features were penned in at this stage to start to form the outline of the image. The original image shows a grey tone jumper which as a street style image is very seductive, however during the process of creating the final Rene Gruau image, one of the most successful aspects was the electric blue of the suit, the author wanted to bring this into this image, and lift the jumper out of the outfit, and away from the soft backdrop. The dress colour was then added, the original image offered a beautiful shade of blue, that was picked using the eyedropper tool on Photoshop, then slightly upped in saturation to choose a stronger colour, as the jumper required it. At this stage shadow and highlight were created by using a soft large brush with low opacity to create soft and undefined areas. The skin tone was added by using the watercolour technique and by adding softer layers on top with a low flow and low opacity setting in similar lighter tones. It was decided while to creating the lips and teeth not to outline the individual pieces, this was in reference to how Gruau often left smaller details be colour blocked alone, without outline, still creating a defined area. The hair was added by creating several layers with differing shades of brown and light gold’s. By using several layers the author was able to create a depth that has helped to give more life to the illustration. The shoe colour and earrings were then added, along with nail polish on the toes. These colours were selected as a complimentary shade to the roses and garments, with small areas of shadowing creating to offer depth. Originally the author had envisaged a sandstone wall as the backdrop, however upon creating a wall using watercolours the author felt it would be better to replicate the colours offered rather than a literal stone wall. Shadow was created to offer perspective on the ground and the tripod image was added along with a shadow to help further the depth within the image. Overall the author feels the illustration is successful in achieving the aim of introducing the differing aspects of inspiration, it was important that the image represent not only the advances in technique and understanding of both Georges Barbier and Rene Gruau, but also what has been learned through the discussion of not only their work, but illustration, art and street style and its relevance to practitioners.

Final Illustration Sketchwork

In investigating the original street style image, some sketches were created to get a better feel of the image and the lines and forms that could be created, more in the style of the author than in either Barbier or Gruau. As presented through the interviews, the author wanted to experiment to help create a better work, and try to avoid forcing a predetermined idea.

Rene Gruau Street Style Illustration: Final

The author considers this work a successful representation of what Gruau’s work has introduced to him. There are aspects of the image that could be improved, the lightness of touch perhaps could be overshadowed by the hues used within the image. Loss of original hand drawn blank ink work and the statement created in it may add to the loss of a standard Gruau reproduction. An interesting aspect of this illustration is that there are more than one finished versions, however due to a malfunctioning computer a version has been lost. This element of the practice of creating digital work is a stark reminder that pen and paper may yet win the war, and as suggested through the interviews (available on the research category of the blog) should not be overlooked.

Rene Gruau Street Style Illustration

The final image was created in homage to Rene Gruau, and his infinite influence on the industry. Playing with heavy black outlines the author created an image which offers both the mystery created in Gruau’s images using highlight and shadow, but also the direct nature of elements such as the gloves and shoes. The image chosen to illustrate was decided upon due to the body language and forceful representation of a woman who was going to get what she wanted. To the author this seemed apparent in many of Gruau’s images, the figures often seemed mysterious but undoubtedly in control of the situation. Often surrounded by men or fabric or commercial items, and yet fully aware of where they were. Gruau to the author affords a respect to each of his female illustrations, they are observed and recorded, but never devalued by obvious features or overtly sexualised imagery. If sexualisation appears through the imagery it is through a soft organic brush stroke.

Barbier and the new detail of Street Style: Final

The author sees the final interpretation of Barbier’s work as very successful. As previously stated within the earlier stages of the blog, detailed hand work does not come naturally to the author. The process of focusing on individual aspects of an image have given the author a far greater appreciation and ability to create something that has more prowess than previously thought could be achieved. The colour palette used within the image has helped to further the authors understanding of what colours can create a successful image, using this selection of stark contrasting colours has not offered a clashing image, but yet a period inspired and softer image than to be expected.

Barbier and the new detail of street style

The final Barbier interpretation was created using a street style image and aspects of two of Barbier’s own images. The flowers were traced by ink using a light box from an original Barbier. With the window and wall work coming from a separate piece of work. As a male figure stood in front of the window, in Photoshop more of the wall and window were created as not to break the authenticity of style. Coloured layers were added using the watercolour technique described earlier in the blog. A chequered floor was added to create an interesting contrast to the period features of the walls and windows. The author wanted to tell a story of a woman who still dressed to impress, regardless of season or location. A figure who seen no difference between elegantly wrapped at home or elegantly wrapped for dinner. The face was added using a fine paintbrush on paper, which was added on a separate layer that was added via Photoshop.

Reference for original image

Street Style: The beginning of an idea

During the examination of both the work of Rene Gruau and Georges Barbier, it had been noted by this author that both fashion illustrators used the medium as a chance to explore commentary on current trends in fashion and in culture. This mood of recording has inspired the author to create work, inspired by both designers work and by street style photography.  The importance of street style can be seen through the online presence available on Vogue.com, Harpers Bazaar to name but a few. Bill Cunningham, Ari Cohen and The Satorialist have prompted many recreations of this influential and archival representation of fashion. It is the aim of the author to introduce this contemporary technique to the style taught through deconstructing the work of the two illustrators being studied. The Images chosen to be illustrated have been chosen from Paris Fashion Week, chosen in homage to both Gruau and Barbier who spent the majority of their career working within the city. As each of the images have not been taken by the author of this blog, all copyright to the original photographs belong to the owners, links to the images and their original source can be found at the bottom of this post. The images were chosen based on the relevance to each piece of work. Looking at Barbier’s work it was important that the image itself offered a stylistic choice of grandeur and detail. The long red coat with its extraordinary use of delicate embroidery offers an excellent starting point to delve further into Barbier’s mind-set.  The image chosen to work more on Rene Gruau’s style was a difficult choice to make. Throughout his varied works he offered softer, delicate tones and offered strong bold lines. The author wanted to experiment with his style and chose a trouser suit, worn in a contemporary way with sunglasses. The author felt this could give a real challenge, incorporating the elements of Gruau that are iconic, to a modern casual interpretation of a womenswear trouser suit.  The image selected to create the final illustration which incorporates both Gruau’s and Barbier’s style offered the author a chance to work on a  bold set of colours, but with a clean advertising friendly face in reference to both illustrators competence in that field.

  

http://billcunninghamnewyork.co.uk/

http://advancedstyle.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.thesartorialist.com/

http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/street-chic

http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/street-style/

Copyright & Image Links

http://www.hush.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Paris-Street-Style-1.jpg

http://celebpretty.aussieblogs.com.au/files/2012/08/Poppy-Delevigne-Street-Style-Topshop-Polka-Dot-pant.jpg

http://www.styledumonde.com/2014/01/paris-fw-ss14-street-style-ulyana-sergeenko/

Georges Barbier style experiment: part 2

Reference for original Image

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CAe4xqG2hCU/TOVHPdwHH3I/AAAAAAAADF0/gr4I56ierdg/s1600/Barbier3.jpeg

 

Georges Barbier style experiment

 

Reference for original image

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xqV_I9DgtXs/T3IyThcqHUI/AAAAAAAADx4/HL08U_Bu7bQ/s1600/George_Barbier_Laissez_Moi_Seule_941_35.jpg