KAREEM ILIYA

Kareem Iliya

            Kareem Iliya was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1967.  He moved to Texas in 1976. At first, he studied in fashion design at the University of Texas, Austin, USA. Then, he continued his studies at the F.I.T (Institute of Fashion Technology), in New York. He graduated in 1990 and is living in New York now.

               He first started his fashion career with Giorgio Armani as week as a freelanced as an illustrator from 1992. His works appeared on CNN TV show "Style with Elsa Klensch" and he has exhibited at the "Art 54" and Seed galleries in New York. Besides, his illustration also ever appeared in many fashion magazines, but his greatest buzz was for his work to appear in W magazine which he has followed avidly throughout his college years. The other publication he longed for his work is to appear in was Visionaire, and he was fortunate enough for his works to appear in some of the early issues. On the other hand, his work was prominently featured in Nicholas Drake's book "Illustration Today".

He uses watercolour and inks on paper as the medium, often in vibrant colours through which figures and objects seem to burst and radiate. His work usually described as being 'ethereal' and 'mystical'. However, his aim is to create an illustration in a graphical way, yet soft and beautiful. 

His works give both beauty and grace impression, yet appearing mysteriously with sinuous movement. The employs watercolour and ink to have fully effect with limited palette bleeding into one another organically. Besides, there is also a strong element of nostalgia.

These illustrations of his show the gorgeous silhouettes.

By using watercolour and ink medium, he creates simple and elegant illustrations by playing with the background colour. He doesn't put much on the dress, besides, he has more focus on the background and the details for the accessories on the dress.

TOBIE GIDDIO

TOBIE GIDDIO

        

             Tobie Giddio was born in 1963, New Jersey, USA. She studied fashion illustration at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. After her graduation in 1986 with a BFA in illustration, she began to teach in the illustration department of F.I.T. She also began her career with creating weekly advertisements in New York Times for Bergdorf Goodman. As she discovered her primary medium that was to inform her work to the present, which was ink, then she added a liquid form as she never felt satisfied with it. With the layering of colour transparent pantone films she had found the ability to expand in a way that brought endless possibilities while maintaining the structure of her ink drawings.

       

Her elegant abstract and organic figures are created with Sumi ink, watercolours, and Pantone film which described her work as being 'very internal and beyond surface'. Her amazing works has appeared in numerous publications, including George, Glamour, Harpers Bazaar, Interview, Manhattan File, Marie Claire, Mode, The New Yorker and various editions of Vogue.

''Fine art and fashion coexist simultaneously and equally. There is an understanding. each is in constant service to the other in a quest to express in the most extraordinary way possible.'' - Tobie Giddio

This work is done by ink.

Dots of inks as the bottom dress, and the thick and thin lines create volume on the skirt with either smooth texture (leaves) and stiff texture (twigs).

Tobie Giddio's portfolio for McQueen.

It's like seeing the magic of colours and lines. This feminine illustration in ink and Pantone film gives a moody heroines and glamour sense.

Creative Mix Media, ink and pantone film.

The process of abstracting and deconstructing creates a form of beauty and balance here. No words can describe this artworks as it's too awesome.

STINA PERSSON

STINA PERSSON

          Stina Persson was born Lund, Sweden, in 1972. She studied fine art, more precisely, in graphic, in Perugia, fashion drawing in Florence, and has her degree in illustration from Pratt Institute in New York. She was awarded as the Society of Illustrator's Student Scholarship in 1996 and 1997, thus, her works are often being exhibited in several shows in New York and Japan. 

The goal with her work, Stina says, ''is making the ugly prettier and the beautiful a little edgier''. 

      All her works that she has done are in variety of mediums, initially creating her luminous characterisations by hand, before enriching them digitally. Using rich jewel toned inks, watercolour dyes, colour pencils, handwriting technique, photography, and Mexican cut paper are to create a style that is both vivid and elegant. As for the final step, she scans them and then gives a digital touch-up. 

She fuses the traditional with the edgy to introduce a up to date look for illustration - a look that is appreciated by numerous clients including Nike, Absolut Vodka and Blue Note Records.

These handwriting are done by ink. The dots and spray of the ink give an effect of the writing itself.

These two works are done by her by using Mexican paper cut. Both of them are similar, but the first picture is more likely about a natural beauty of leaves, hence, it emphasise more on the leaves colour and twigs. As for the other one, it tells more about the natural beauty of the apples.

Mix media, inks and watercolours for the first picture and inks for the second picture. The first picture gives a bit gloomy and depression feeling on how she draws the face and the background which is in darker way. On the other hand, the second picture gives a snob feeling.

Both of these illustrations are done by watercolours. She really expresses well on her works. It gives an elegant sense and  natural beauty of the women.