Draw Me In: Gucci SS11!!

Jenny in Rio wearing Gucci SS11

Photo Style.com

And the winner of 'Draw Me In' is: Jennifer Devenny from The Adventures of Super Healthy Girl and my most beautiful, dearest friend!! I was so elated to pull Jenny's name from the hat which you can see in the video above. Jenny and I have known each other since the tender age of 18. We met our very first year at McGill University in Montreal, Canada and instantly became inseparable (so inseparable I moved her next door to me in residence :P). Sometimes you can't quite explain the chemistry between two friends. We are almost like ying and yang. What I do know is that I couldn't imagine my life without her and I cherish everyday that we get to spend together here in New York. You wouldn't believe it but this is the first time I've ever properly drawn her.

Jenny chose this incredibly sexy and chic Gucci SS11 look. I was dying to put her in an equally lust worthy location. I've had Brazil on my mind for the past couple of weeks and Jenny has wanted to work in South America almost as long as I've known her. I thought Rio de Janeiro, Brazil would be the perfect location for her. Moreover, since I've had the great privilege of watching Jenny grow into the incredible woman she is today, I wanted the illustration to reflect that. Jenny almost always smiles from ear to ear in photos, so I decided to draw her more subtly with a quiet confidence. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I really hope this drawing conveys my absolute adoration for Miss. Devenny. Fingers crossed that she likes it :)

Thank-you again to everyone who submitted for the contest!! I REALLY wish I could have drawn all of you. I'm overjoyed by the reception on this blog. You all make me better.

Lots of love,

Meag xx

Back to Front

Tomo with Prada Fur SS11

Hello Darlings,

Once again I feel that I've been away from you all for far too long. I promise it is with very good reason. Presently there are so many wonderful opportunities coming my way and I'm embracing every single one. That translates to very little blog time, and even less me time. Good news alert, it's finally the weekend (yay) and I have a collection of my loose warm-up illustrations to share with you. Nothing particularly new, more just a continued pursuit of loosening up in my life drawings. I find it so comical actually that I go from the extreme of minimalism in my 7 minute sketches, to 12 hour realistic rendering in my finished pieces. I feel like an artistic contradiction.

This week I was able to paint my favorite model and dearest friend Tomo. If you've been following my blog since the beginning you might remember this piece I did with her titled 'Tomo Goes to Paris'. Tomo is so contemporary in her style and has such a flare for life. She's the kind of girl that makes you feel like you can't draw fast enough just to capture all her amazing outfits and awesome poses. Of course just my luck, I arrived 10 minutes late to class this week, which meant I got stuck with a sawhorse that kept getting the back view of her. This is why today's post is decidedly titled 'Back to Front'. I sort of love how the back views turned out. A little mystery is always welcome.

Lots of love,

Meag xx

Oscar de la Renta: Siberian Snow Princess

© ODLR FW11 - Look 45

Hello My Darlings,

Alas here is the art piece inspired by a show that can be described as nothing short of magic. For those of you just tuning in, my FIT fashion illustration block had the great honor of attending the Oscar de la Renta Fall 2011 show this past Wednesday, which you can view here. Our ticket for admission was to create an illustration of a chosen look, showcasing our vision. Being that I was moved to tears (well choked on my tears) at the show, you can imagine how I felt in my own space creating an art piece inspired by my experience. At first I felt completely anxious because I wanted to draw everything, but then I took my time, drew thumbnails, researched, and painted roughs until I found my groove.

I decided to illustrate Look 45 modeled by my face crush Daphne Groeneveld. She looked like a true vision in white, darling girl with flushed cheeks, I just had to paint her. The collection itself seemed to be very much inspired by Russia with an almost nomadic flare to it shown in the patterns and textures. I wanted to place Daphne in a Siberian setting, isolated, and yet owning the space she walked through. When searching for snow queen references, I kept finding Russian fairytale and folklore stories that further engrained my inspiration. Fortunately it all came together, my Oscar de la Renta Siberian Snow Princess and her husky, alone in the fantastical snow covered forest.

I've just sent it into Oscar de la Renta to hopefully be featured on their facebook or tumblr with my classmates. In the end I'm really proud of my piece because I trusted my gut on this and stayed true to my vision. I was so worried that it didn't fit the 'fashion illustration' mold but my teacher Karen Santry assured me that it was everybit what it needed to be, fabulous, (love you Karen)!! Enjoy!!

Meag xx

My Heart Belongs to Oscar...

Anna Dello Russo

Star Professors Karen Santry and Joe Denaro

Danny Roberts of Igor and Andre with Jimmy and I

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Good Evening My Loves,

I feel absolutely terrible having been away from my blog and blogger friends for almost a week now. My title is entirely indicative of how the last 10 days of my life have been. I've missed my internet family and our great exchanges. Hopefully once NYFW passes I will be back on schedule. As I was saying, 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger' is not just a favored Daft Punk song but the complete momentum of my life right now. I'm so thrilled to have some downtime in order to update you all on the exciting ventures that have and are about to take place.

This past weekend I had the great fortune of meeting the gorgeous and endearing blogger Ania . B!! When I found out she would be in town for a fashion blogger's conference I was ecstatic over the opportunity of seeing her. You can check out a photo of our Marc by Marc Jacobs shopping extravaganza on her blog here. One of the sweetest individuals ever, I'm so fortunate to have met her. Furthermore, my class has been preparing to illustrate at the Oscar De La Renta show tomorrow. We practiced by illustrating the make-up room backstage at an FIT fashion show.

I've been really trying to push myself and challenge my comfort zone when it comes to my illustrations this week. It feels like all the instructions I've collected over 4 semesters is finally falling into place. I love going faster, letting go of my fears of perfection, seeing what comes out when I let myself go. I feel myself improving in my ability to think about what requires definition and what can be left to draw itself. I guess in a way it's all a reflection of me growing into myself, embracing all the mistakes along the way. Feels like Valentine's Day really worked this year :)

Much love,

Meag xx

Kayla and I Backstage

James and Karina anxious to draw

Looking over the balcony

Wearing Red

Hello My Darlings,

Firstly, I wanted to express my deepest gratitude for all the heartfelt comments you left on my most recent post. You've given me so much more than you could ever know with all your words of encouragement. Secondly, I would like to extend a BIG thank-you to all the new blog followers. It's so amazing to have you on board, and now onto the post. Let me just say that I find it a bit coincidental that every class model my block has been illustrating this past week has been wearing red. You see I always intended on addressing Valentine's Day on my blog and I sort of figure with all the red in my sketches, this is a good opportunity to do so.

This year, for the first time in many years, I do not have a designated Valentine's Day recipient. Even if it was just a friend, my puppy, or my family in previous years, I've always had someone to direct my love towards. So instead, I would like to propose an alternative Valentine's Day whereby I'M the recipient of my own adoration. 'Dear Meagan, will you be my Valentine?' I'm not talking total self-indulgence with sweets and shopping sprees. I'm suggesting taking Feb 14th, 2011 to actually celebrate the good in me, despite my several flaws, and directing my love in the mirror for a change. Maybe, just maybe, I will get it back in return.

What I've learnt through many hardships and let downs is that the only person you can count on is yourself. Yet we so often forget to give ourselves a pat on the back, or acknowledge that we are always there for ourselves. You're the only person who sees you through everything. You're your truest best friend, so why not be your very own Valentine this year :)!! I really believe in the saying that you can't REALLY love someone else until you love yourself. So before I turn around and spread my love to the MANY incredible people in my life this coming Monday, I think I would like to take a little time to show myself some love too.

Meag xx

My Third Job: Lida Baday Admin Assistant

My Darling Sandy and I

In Shipping with Eugene

Working on Sell Throughs

Wearing Lida Baday for the X'mas Party

Champagne Cheers

Andrea Lee and I

My Goodbye Soiree

Sandy's Beautiful Decorations

Last Day in the Front Office

Beautiful Cara

Paul, Myself, and Eugene

Last Day Celebration

My Gorgeous Sister and I

Tim and Matt Joining the Goodbye Festivities

Old Meets New (Lida Baday in Saks Window NYC)

My New Home - FIT New York

Hello Lovelies,

The day has finally arrived to reveal the third and final installment of my story of finding fashion illustration. Your feedback has been so incredible and I'm so grateful to have connected with all of you through this journey. You've made writing it worth it beyond belief. Again if you're just tuning into the story you can read part 1 and 2 by clicking the links. To continue, I called a meeting with my then boss to discuss my future at the agency. He knew, as well as I knew, that my heart wasn't in it. The truth was I raced into that job without taking a moment to really think about what I wanted to do. I hadn't stopped to face myself since starting McGill five years earlier.

I had to bow out gracefully with as much gratitude and poise as possible. After all, I had learned a lot about myself and found the biggest clue while working there: fashion illustration. That night I raced home to Chapters to find the fashion art book section. Like a shining beacon of hope, the walls were lined with actual books devoted to the profession of fashion illustrator. I felt like I had won the lottery. "You mean to tell me that there is an ACTUAL CAREER that combines my TWO LOVES?" My heart was literally pounding as I tore through the pages, one example after another of amazing illustrators making careers out of DRAWING FASHION!!

At the back of the book Fashion Illustrator by Bethan Morris was a list of the interviewed illustrators and their contact info. Low and behold Toronto based Virginia Johnson was one of the listed artists. I had called in samples of her illustration based garments whilst working at FASHION Magazine. As you can imagine, light bulbs were shooting on in my head like fireworks. Suddenly all the pieces were falling into place. After purchasing that book, my first of many fashion illustration books to come, I started frantically searching the internet for schools that taught this profession. Eureka, FIT in NYC offered a two year AAS in my dream career!!

I immediately sent out an email to Virginia asking if she would meet with me for an informal interview. That same week I booked a trip to New York to visit the school and investigate the program. While I was visiting the campus I received a response from Virginia asking me to come in and see her upon my return, and so I did. I brought with me a few samples of my work and a list of questions. She remains to this very day my career icon. She graciously answered everyone of my questions and made me believe that I WAS actually good at what I loved. The greatest advice she gave me was to pursue what I love and not what will make my life easier.

Let it be known more often than not, what you love eventually does make your life easier, because you're being true to yourself.

The truth was though, I still had my doubts. That little voice inside my head was telling me to pursue accessory design because finding a job would be easier. But that WASN'T what I WANTED to do. I wanted to be an illustrator who would one day translate their art into wearable products, just like Virginia, just like Vera. I wanted to collaborate with an accessory designer, not be an accessory designer. I did A LOT of soul searching for two months before finding my third and final job at Lida Baday. When I got the call for my interview regarding a one year contract position at Canada's leading Women's Wear designer, I took it as another 'sign'.

A one year contract filling in for someone on maternity leave meant that I had no responsibility beyond that one year. That one year would take me right up until the day I would have to move to New York to pursue my complete and utter passion. That one year taught me more about myself than any other year combined. That one year required me to assist the VP of Sales and PR Manager for sales meetings, luncheons, magazine stylist pulls. More than anything, that one year brought me a connection with some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Oh and did I mention that one year happened to be my Champagne Year (turned 23 on the 23rd of Sept 2008).

So there you have it, my story of finding fashion illustration. It took MANY twists and turns to get there, but my unwavering desire to find my calling brought me to where I needed to be. Maybe you reading this is exactly where you need to be, to realize what it is that you love, or maybe that you're doing exactly what you need to be doing right now, in this given moment. I've only been back in school (my final semester) for one week and already the universe is presenting me with unexplainable opportunities. I see the 'law of attraction' at play yet again and I have every bit of faith that I will get to where I need to be. Thank-you again for tuning in.

Much much love,

Meag xx