Visual Communication 1 Process Book Roma Menon
Week 1 During the first week, while we were getting our supplies ready, we were introduced to the fashion proportions for the female silhouette. The length of the torso and hip, the balance line and the weight baring foot.
Week 2
The second week we used collage materials to cut out the shapes of the torso and hip in order to understand the proportions and the way the body is posed. We also looked at pictures of a model and drew on boxes to understand how to body is composed. I found it quite helpful to use the pen tool and draw on the boxes and see how the high hip low shoulder pose looked.
Week 3 The third week we continued the collage method of understanding the female body, however I realised that I focused more on cutting the shape rather than the proportions. In the later half of class we used tape on ourselves to see how we look when broken down into geometric shapes which was very helpful for me (even though I got it wrong by using high hip high shoulder)
Week 4
I continued using my body and drawing on boxes on top and then translating my proportion into ‘fashion’ proportions which meant longer and slimmer torso and hip as well as longer slimmer legs. I found this quite an eye opener because it is easy to just draw ‘fashion’ models but transforming normal proportions to fashion proportions is something else.
Week 5
After transforming my proportions into a fashion proportions I created a template for flats based on me. It was quite interesting to see how my proportion changed. In class we had a male model which meant the proportions changed to a longer and broader torso shorter hips. It was hard changing my mindset but once I got the hang of it I enjoyed it more. We also drew a collection based on a weekend away, I decided to pretend to be in a warmer country and based it on that.
Week 6
In class we were introduced to drawing clothes on the model, I found it was harder to draw on details without looking up close to the garment. I also found it interesting to see how the garment falls on the model in comparison to what we think. We then chose a couple of articles of clothing and made flats out of them ( based on the template we made before) It was a lot harder to make a flat because you have to consider the smallest details like seams and stitches.
Week 7 We got the male model again and this time we had to draw on clothes on which was a lot harder than the female model. The wrinkles and creases really annoyed me because drawing all of it was a big hassle. We also cut out 3 pictures out of the magazine , drew on a balance line and copied it. It seamed easy enough and it looks like it is good but once you turn it upside down you could see the flaws in the drawing.
Week 8
We continued drawing with the female model, I felt like I was really getting the hang on translating the model into a drawing. We continued with the magazine drawing and this time I turned it upside down to make sure I had minimum mishaps in my drawing. It really helped to see things in a different perspective
Week 9 In class, we looked at drawing feet and getting the negative of the feet right and not make draw just a lump at the end of the leg. I found it useful to see how different shoes had different negative spaces (from boots to sneakers to booties)
Week 10
Over the course, we had to draw patterns that we saw or just imagined. During this class we translated those drawn patterns into illustrator patterns. I had a lot of fun doing those patterns, experimenting with line weight and color. We also had to draw two costumes for Halloween so I chose the character from Alice in Wonderland. I like how when I draw my croquis I immediately breakdown the body into geometric shapes and then add flesh. (I did learn something over these few weeks!)
Week 11
We translated that patterns that we made into a jacket flat. It was fun to use patterns for my flat. In class we continued to refine our skills in drawing which has been extremely useful and beneficial for me.
Week 12 We made a GIF in class which was super fun, I made it from the model drawing that I did in class. I managed to make it so it was like she was turning a full circle. In class we also focused on the negative space of the model and contour drawing.
Week 13
We took another person’s magazine drawing and corrected it on photoshop. It was helpful to see the mistakes we make when we just focus on the silhouette. I turned them upside down to make sure I made the right corrections.
Week 14
I used straight lines to mark down the way the model posed, how her hip and torso are positioned. It helped me so much to do that because I feel like I understand the body and the way it turns so much more now. We also printed our patterns onto proper fabric and draped it on the half scale model. I loved seeing my pattern on the model, molding it into a garment.
Week 15 In the last class we had our last model drawing and we focused on clothes and contour drawing. After 14 weeks I can definitely see a big improvement in my drawings. I also enjoyed using crayons and markers to draw my figures. I think it was really useful to draw figures by breaking it down into geometric shapes and then adding flesh and clothes.