When you are illustrating a garment there are so many things to think about and remember it’s hard to keep it all straight! Here is my thought process for when I am sketching a garment.
-I start with my pre-drawn stylized croqui done in pencil so I am able to erase the body lines underneath.
-With your garment in mind think about the basic silhouette. Is it full is it an hourglass… Then with that basic shape how much fullness and ease either design or fitting is present. Where is part of the garment located in reference to the body landmarks?
-When drawing out the outline of your garment I tend to start at the shoulders and work my way down in addressing major landmarks such as the waist.
-Pay attention to the specific gravity and the affect gravity has on the garment. The direction your croquis is leaning will indicate how the garment will flow.
-The amount a piece of clothing will flow and fall with gravity is affected by the weight and fiber content of the fabric. If the fabric is light and soft, the garment will drape and fall more giving more depth and movement. If the fabric is heavy and has lots of structure, the garment will hold its own shape more and have less drape and movement.
-After the outline has been laid down and the inner croqui has been erased, begin adding the design details. Keep in mind how the garment is flowing and folding on the croqui to continue the movement in the details.
-Once all your details are in place and you are happy with the shape of your garment, outline your finished product with black permanent pens. I like Prismacolor’s set. Use the different thicknesses to indicate the different weights of fabric present in your drawing. After allowing the ink to dry so it doesn’t smear, erase your pencil lines for a clean finished product.
