Meet Anna Kiper, Author of Fashion Illustration REVISED SECOND EDITION!
Drawing is a vital component of the fashion industry, and with Fashion Illustration REVISED SECOND EDITION you can follow in the footsteps of acclaimed fashion designer Anna Kiper to produce your own vibrant works.
Written for both newcomers and improvers, Fashion Illustration covers a range of techniques, mediums and styles that will help you to produce stunning original pieces, and we sat down with Anna after the release of the book to talk all things Fashion Illustration! Read on to learn about her artistic processes, past experiences and more.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Anna Kiper, and I’m a New York City-based fashion designer, illustrator, fashion forecaster, and author with over two decades of elite industry experience. Throughout my career, I have worked with prominent global brands, including Calvin Klein, Mondi, and Maggie Norris Couture. During my time in couture, I dressed notable public figures and celebrities for major red-carpet events and magazine covers, including Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry, Diane Keaton, and former First Lady Michelle Obama. My career as an educator includes 25 years of teaching experience in fashion design programs at institutions such as the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Parsons School of Design, Drexel University, and the Pratt Institute.
I have authored two globally acclaimed textbooks that have been translated into many languages: Fashion Illustration: Inspiration and Technique (2011) and Fashion Portfolio: Design and Presentation (2014).
My signature illustration style is a dynamic mixed-media technique that blends watercolors, markers, inks, pastels, and avant-garde materials. I like to elevate commercial fashion sketching into the realm of fine art. My illustrations have been exhibited at iconic cultural institutions, including Manhattan's Plaza Hotel, the Museum of the City of New York, and the 50 Years of the CFDA exhibition at the FIT Museum.
Tell us a bit about Fashion Illustration: REVISED SECOND EDITION.
The revised second edition of Fashion Illustration includes most of the previous content alongside about 30 new pages featuring additional tutorials and examples. The new edition will be even more helpful for fashion illustrators of all levels, from beginners to professionals. The main benefits of the new second edition include:
- Lessons on developing a fashion croquis and rendering different skin tones in stages.
- Examples of different body types, featuring fuller figures and unisex croquis.
- Step-by-step rendering of fashion looks, including various prints and textures (wool, denim, fur, sheers, and shines), with textile samples included next to the renderings for visual reference.
- Unique examples of contemporary fashion collections, including inspiration, technical flats, and fully rendered fashion looks.
- Exciting model-drawing lessons captured in stages.
What can artists find in this book that they can’t get anywhere else?
It’s an extremely detailed book with clear, creative, and beautifully illustrated lessons based on my 35 years of accumulated design and teaching experience. The book is exceptionally well-systematized and clear. It contains in-depth information on all aspects of fashion sketch development, from the fashion figure and beauty to the illustration of garment details and textiles. This book features an abundance of inspiration, creativity, and diversity in medium and style.
What was your route into fashion design?
Fashion design is primarily based on three major aspects: design inspiration/concept; a fashion sketch depicting the silhouette, details, and surfaces; and the actual garment construction. My route into fashion was an intersection of three distinct interests.
As a young girl, I spent time experimenting with fine art, specifically watercolor still life and figure painting. This experience helped me become proficient in quick sketching, and specifically in fashion sketching.
I also always loved working with my hands to create various sewing and garment deconstruction projects. As a teenager, I spent an endless amount of time creating avant-garde outfits from recycled and unconventional materials. These experiments helped me understand garment construction.
My third interest was reading. I was fascinated by decadent poetry, fiction novels, history, and art history books. This passion taught me how to conduct detailed research and think conceptually, which are vital skills for any creative person.
What’s one piece of advice that you would give to those just starting out in fashion design?
My best advice for emerging designers is to keep a design journal. Use your journal for writing, drawing by hand, collaging images and interesting findings, and documenting creative ideas with passion. Capture everything you find inspiring in your journals—observe life, notice interesting details, and constantly generate new ideas. A design journal will shape your creative vision and unique personal style, and over time, it will also become your best design resource.
In one word, how would you describe Fashion Illustration: REVISED SECOND EDITION?
I can describe my book in a few words: The Fashion Illustration Bible, where creativity meets knowledge.
Are you looking to level-up your fashion illustrations? Order Fashion Illustration: REVISED SECOND EDITION today at the link here!
About the Author
Anna Kiper
Anna Kiper has been a technical designer, forecaster, illustrator, couture designer and professor of...
