They Way I See It...: 2011

Friday, September 9, 2011

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.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

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.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Well hello! Welcome to my blog-

Hi!

My name is Adam Dill and I am thrilled that you have found my blog! I am the Assistant Costume Director at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and I manage the costume shop for resident productions at PlayMakers Repertory Company. I have a MFA in Costume Design from the University of Arizona and a BFA in Theatre Production from the University of Texas at Arlington. It just happened that I found myself in costume shop management, and I think it balances my artistic and analytical mind. I love what I do - and without following my gut instincts - I would not be where I am today.

I started my higher education in 1997 - enrolling at Baylor University in Waco, TX as a Pre-Dental student. I wasn't following my heart, but my mom was really happy! Eventually I withdrew from Baylor, moved to Arlington, TX and decided to follow my dreams of being an actor. I started at UTA in the summer of 1998 and in time graduated in 2004. When I was assigned to work practicum hours in the costume shop - I found my true calling. During that arduous six year period - I worked my tail off!!! I went to school full time, had various full-time and part-time jobs, and all while working as a design assistant throughout the DFW metroplex. It was an amazing learning experience! I gained immense knowledge of costume design, construction, and time management - lessons I am thankful for to this day.

I moved to Tucson, AZ in the summer of 2004 to prepare for my graduate studies. It was a huge adjustment from the DFW scene, but I knew I was doing something I loved. Although I was scared, I knew it was right. While in grad school, I was honored to assistant design for Rick Tuckett's Carousel, The Rocky Horror Show by Patrick Holt, and Al Tucci's design of Tartuffe. I was also lucky to design clothes for She Loves Me, The Who's TOMMY, and after graduating - Urinetown. The program was intense and design heavy, but there was an extraordinary amount of costume construction information provided in production and class work. I am very grateful to have received this education...I think it produces a well balanced designer/technician.

I have worked for and met some amazing costume shop managers! Let me drop my list now, because I draw inspiration from all of them: Lee Dombroski - CSF, Kristina Lucka - CSF, Rana Webber - CSF, Kyle Schellinger - GRSF, Jeanne Oost - GRSF, Barb Tanzillo - ATC, Rick Tuckett - U of AZ, Jeff Lieder - USF, Lori Hartenhoff - USF, Jen Bach - USF, McKay Coble - UNC, and Judy Adamson - UNC. I owe everything I know about shop management, budgeting, sourcing, problem solving, time mangement, motivating, and having fun while doing it from all of these people. I thank them all! Dearly.

Ok - enough blah blah blah. That is me, and this is what I do! Enjoy some of my renderings, and I hope you look forward to my first paper project - I am taking my best friend Kyle Schellinger's suggestion - Follies by Stephen Sondheim. My goal is to explore the research process, create complete production paperwork, develop practical budgets, include sourcing information, and to provide fully swatched renderings. I'm really excited to be taking this on!