Artists & Illustrators — June 2017

MASTERCLASS

FASHION

How do you capture a fi gure moving along a catwalk?

My trick is that the very fi rst head I draw will pair with a

look on a model who comes well after that, because you

have less than a minute to capture a fi gure. I tend to keep

the faces and hairstyles general, so no matter what outfi t

I draw, it marries easily with the person’s features.

What are your favoured art materials?

I use a variety of media and I don’t get too specifi c about

what I’m using. I would rather hold a paintbrush over a

pencil. Truth be told, I do not love sketching. My fi rst love

is – 100 per cent – painting.

Why did you set up your blog?

I started Travel Write Draw in September 2010, one

year shy of graduating from my fashion illustration AAS

degree at Fashion Institute of Technology. I had just

returned from Dubai, super-inspired and longing for a

space to share my illustrations.

You have more than 142,000 followers on Instagram.

How did you build this?

When there was just a handful of illustration blogs and

Instagram didn’t exist, I spent a great deal of time

engaging with other art bloggers. Then Instagram became

the dominant platform. I built up around 8,000 followers

and, in September of 2014, was featured as a suggested

user – my audience grew to 100,000 in three weeks.

What advice can you offer a fashion illustrator?

It is easy to cave under the pressures of social media,

press features and commissions, so it’s important to

know why you started so you can come back to that.

See more of Meagan’s art at http://www.travelwritedraw.

blogspot.co.uk; Instagram @travelwritedraw

•Take life-drawing classes – especially

fi gure-drawing – to get started. Having a real

handle on the human form is paramount.

•Share your process on Instagram – don’t be

afraid to put yourself out there.

•People connect with authenticity. If you

open up about your journey and share your

style as it is evolving, you will foster a

community of people who are invested in

you and your work.

•Embrace what makes you unique.

Mimicking someone else’s style will only get

you so far. You want people to recognise your

work as completely original, not a derivative

of someone else’s art.

Fashion illustrator Meagan Morrison has a host

of big-name clients including Dior and Harper’s

Bazaar. She shares her secrets to runway success

and building a presence online with Natalie Milner

Meagan

Morrison

FASHION ILLUSTRATION

MEAGAN’S TOP TIPS

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© MEAGAN MORRISON

36 Artists & Illustrators

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