Jaqueline Bissett

Jaqueline Bissett uses traditional media in her fashion illustrations, and specialises in live sketch events and catwalk shows. She uses ink and water colour in fluid movements to depict her figures, with varying line weights to give depth and character, and Letrafilm to add block colour.

 

Her illustrations exude elegance, due to the smooth contours of her lines. I like the texture of the brushed ink and think it softens the sometimes aloof atmosphere of fashion illustrations. 

 

 It must require very good control of a brush to achieve this kind of linework, especially when using ink which has a tendency to be difficult at times. I think the fluidity of the lines is where the magic of these illustrations comes from- the lines flow very naturally and aren't just some impersonal straight lines made with a ruler that anyone could do. Although quite far removed from my own work, I am interested in the way Jaqueline controls her lines and would like to try something similar with my own illustrations. 

This is my most favourite of all Jaqueline's illustrations. Not many of her finished pieces feature full backgrounds and other figures, and all of her subjects are typically female. The piece is also more subdued than some of her other illustrations, using a more subtle colour scheme instead of bold, bright palettes such as crimson and cobalt blue.

This piece shows the versatility of the Letrafilm in my opinion. The film can be layered over the top of itself to produce darker tones or even new colours altogether, and this way of adding colour seems simple however very effective. I would like to try this myself, either using Letrafilm if I can source it or turning to digital means if not.



All images research only