Most beginners have a good deal of inhibition about creating original fashion sketches. A few pointers will help to showing how simple it is to acquire originality.
First of all, don't worry about it. It will come naturally after thorough groundwork and practice. For instance, take an authentic pattern pamphlet. Use the pose of one figure for your sketch and the dress of another (preferably a different pose).
This changing of poses and dresses is an excellent exercise for the amateur.
Take your clipping file as a suggestion for a pose. However, the artist should never copy another sketch or pose exactly.
If he is using a sketch for a suggestion, he should change some part of the pose If the model in the clipping has both hands on her hips, place one hand on her hat or down at her side, or turn the head for your sketch.
Photographs offer another means of developing originality and are especially recommended for wash drawings. Nearly all fashion magazines reproduce pictures of smartly dressed women.
Practise copying them, remembering to change the figure to fashion proportions.
The best method of all for creating original sketches is to have a live model pose for you. Let the model take her pose, and you study it.
illustration by Sanny Puspo
