For Jade Bettin-

After a very successful 1st Annual Cupcake Day at PlayMakers, I came home and decided I needed to sketch for Jade Bettin - one of my new dearest friends and fellow co-worker. She made some amazing cupcakes and is in the process of constructing a gorgeous low bustle gown for "In The Next Room". I called Jade to discuss the constraints of her design. She decided that she should have a look to wear to an opening night at PlayMakers. She loves sassy dresses, and I do to. I knew that I should offer her options, so I came up with 3 individual looks!

The first look is an over the top winter look inspired by Carolina Herrera. I opted for a wrap jacket with a a dramatic fur collar and a mermaid silhouette skirt. The second look is more casual. I drew inspiration from an American sweater circa 1895 and opted for a wide leg fall front trouser to inspire a masculine yet feminine look. I could see Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, or Jade Bettin in this look - alot of masculine details but executed in subtle knits and flowing wools. I decided the third look needed to be an exciting party dress. I love a classic shirt dress, and I put my own design spin on it. I took a classic men's shirt - reversed the look, and created a youthful backless party showstopper!

Overall, I am satisfied with my progress, and I cannot wait to begin my work on "Follies". I will most likely take on another client to design for before approaching the design of "Follies". I think I still need to improve on faces and hands, but I am ecstatic with the progress I have made in the past two days. The more I work - the closer I will be to continuing my rendering capabilities that I had in graduate school. Slow and steady.

Enjoy the works I have created and let me know what you think! I love feedback - be it negative, positive, or mixed.

Progress-

I know, I know - it has been too long for a follow up post - but I have been in Victorian hell! PlayMakers is producing "In The Next Room" by Sarah Ruhl - and let me tell you, it is a doozie of a show! Lots of undressing and dressing of period accurate clothing on stage - often by a single person. Hello - STRESS! Fittings are going well, and despite what the production demands - the costume shop has been able to roll with the punches and continues to foster a positive attitude. I am proud of everyone involved!

As I took on the paper project of designing "Follies", I realized that I have not drawn in ages (well at least a year)! I decided to take on some sketching projects to get me back in the habit of drawing and designing again...

Below you will find some sketches that I completed this week. The first one is a drag look for myself. I was heavily inspired by Britney Spears new album - and by science - understandably a bizarre mix. There are lots of test tubes, surgical tubing pumping ounces of yellow and jade, and stylized bolts on epaulets. I did this drawing first...sort of a test. I eventually rendered this design in color - but it ended up looking like (pardon my choice of words) a down syndrome Mufasa - so I will post only the sketch.

The second look is a Charles James inspired evening gown. Drawing faces and hands continues to challenge me, but I am so happy with the design of the gown - that her small head doesn't bother me so much. I love using silk, silk with overlays, and more silk! It has a beautiful hand, has an amazing life of it's own in motion, and can stand the test of time.

I hope you enjoy what I have designed and rendered. I will continue to work on my design for "Follies" as time permits, and I hope you enjoy my current work. As always, my designs and I are a work in progress...enjoy and judge freely.