The Artruist: Issie
DIGITAL • ARTWORK
visual concept + illustration for The Isabella Blow Foundation (IBF) x The Artruist / original: pencil, pigment liner, watercolor + digital collage
Background
The Isabella Blow Foundation (IBF) seeks to honor the memory of Isabella Blow, to support aspiring art and fashion students, and to facilitate further research in the fields of depression and mental health. The charity was founded by a close friend and fashion designer Daphne Guinness following Issie’s death in 2007. On November 19th, the illustration got featured on the official IBF account in honor of Isabella Blow’s 62nd birthday.
Description / Story
This piece was created in memory of Isabella Blow, a fashion muse and nurturer of Philip Treacy and Alexander McQueen. After years of struggling with mental illness, she poisoned herself just three years prior to McQueen’s suicide, which led to the unveiling of his unpublicized history of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Besides paying homage to some of the biggest names in fashion, my goal is to raise public awareness for mental health and the importance of seeking treatment.
Acknowledgements
The Artruist is a digital collective of artists with a cause. Profits are donated to non-profit organizations that are making impactful work everyday. For this illustration, 100% of the profits are going to NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Feeding America. Available here. Special thanks to Daphne Guinness and her team for the immense support and generous feedback, and to Philip Treacy for the kind words.
Ideation + Process
Visual references. Exploration of visual concept and cross-referencing imagery based on Isabella Blow’s portraits and avant-garde editorials by Nick Knight, Tim Walker, and Serge Lutens.
Initial sketch. Exploration of various mixed media techniques using pencil, pigment liner, sharpie, ink, and watercolor.
Image compilation. Incorporation of patterns and various graphic elements using Adobe Photoshop and Wacom Intuos 4.
Proofing process. Gallery-quality giclée art print on 100% cotton rag archival paper, printed with archival inks.
