Gray M.C.A in partnership with The Courtauld Institute of Art London is proud to present a series of Fashion Illustration Masterclasses – each hosted by a leading illustrator. In each session you will hear how a contemporary artist approaches his or her work, and what inspires and influences their practice. Participants will also gain insight and feedback on the work they produce over the course of the evening, as they are invited to draw fashion worn by live models. This is a unique opportunity to be inspired to learn about current fashion illustration practice, while producing your own drawing.
Our first Fashion Illustration Masterclass coincides with Gray M.C.A.’s Drawing on Style exhibition showcasing 20th century and contemporary fashion illustration 14 – 21 September 2018, London and 8 October – 30 November 2018, Bath. It is therefore fitting that this Masterclass will be lead by one of the artists featured – Christian Dior’s Artist in Residence Bil Donovan. Donovan is America’s most important & respected contemporary fashion illustrator working today. As an artist, author & educator he has won huge acclaim from both the worlds of Art & Fashion. Schooled in the finest traditions of fine art drawing, he works with swift fluid lines that capture the essence of elegance, proportion & gesture. The sense of spontaneity that he has uniquely mastered lends itself beautifully to fashion interpretation. He is a subscriber to the idea that less is more resulting in his images being the epitome of sophistication in a contemporary style.
Following graduation from the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York Donovan has established lasting relationships with leading names in advertising, beauty, editorial & fashion including Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, The Costume Institute Metropolitan Museum of Art, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Luxure Magazine, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, Halston, St Regis Hotels & LVMH. In 2009 he was appointed Artist in Residence for Christian Dior, a role that he continues today. He serves on the Executive Board of The Society of Illustrators, New York, chairs the Advisory Board for the Frances Neady Collection of Fashion Illustration & is a Professor of Illustration at both FIT & The School of Visual Arts, New York. His illustrations appear in numerous publications including The Pursuit of Style for the Council of Fashion Designers of America, The Dress Doctor, Birds of a Feather Shop Together & most recently in 2018, Iris Apfel, The Accidental Icon published by Harper Collins.