Fashion Illustration Artist Miss Led Shares Her Unique Painting Style | Cass Art WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE? MISS LED SHARES HER FASHION ILLUSTRATION STYLE
Miss Led is an artist with style. Her fashion illustrations and artwork have been used by several prestigious brands including Ted Baker, L’Oreal and Nike, and her work was exhibited in The Best of British Illustration at Somerset House in 2012. She is the queen of Liquitex Intermixability, and her mixed media illustrations are filled with the joy of living. Women are depicted against the vibrant backgrounds of different personalities and pastimes; a radio here, a ladder there, bubbles and flowers, alarm clocks and wilting roses. Colourful and flowing, her drawings are speckled with the flavours of contemporary life. Miss Led has inspired us here at Cass Art, so we wanted to find out about the fashion illustration artist behind the successful drawings.
Der Spiegel Front Cover What do you love about fashion illustrating? What’s not to love? The colour, expression and movement of the catwalk to capturing a moment in time, a cut, a look, pattern, drapery... I love the playfulness mixed with the control of line. I’m constantly exploring new ways of communicating this. I spent years drawing from huge pattern books that my mother would buy when I was a child. Leafing through ‘80’s Vogue and Style patterns with beautiful watercolour painted demure ladies transfixed me for hours.
You’ve worked with many brands, including Ted Baker and Selfridges London, but what’s been your favourite commercial project to date? I created two stylish ladies for a great packaging project for Braun recently, which is launching soon. I enjoyed it as it took me in a slightly different direction. I worked with the client closely for 4 months, being open to create something a little more unique. I’m really looking forward to seeing it finally realised. Do you have some staple art materials, ones that you couldn’t be without? Retractable pencils - Pentel are my ultimate favourite. These range from 0.3 - 0.9
Bittersweet Which illustrators or artists inspire you or your style? I’ve been inspired by the work of Aubrey Beardsley’s ink drawings since I was at school.
Richard Gray was one of many fashion illustrators that inspired me to draw again after a huge break from creating work. And Tula Lotay, a contemporary and recent discovery, is a huge talent and inspiration. What fashion illustrations are you working on at the moment? I’m in the middle of a really fun multi-faceted advertising commission for Clinique. The project will allow me to see my work animated, which is something completely new for me. I’m also at the very early stages of planning something very exciting in New York - but that’s top secret for now. Any advice for the budding fashion illustration artists out there? Be tenacious. Believe in yourself and keep trying no matter what.
Alexander McQueen
Feeling inspired? Visit Miss Led's website to browse more of her fashion illustrations. Read Miss Led's tutorial on Liquitex Intermixability here to find out how she achieves her mixed media results.