The Coolest Cat in Atlanta
Atlanta has been quite the experience for me. This is where I fell in love with men's fashion and began pursuing men's fashion's illustrative avenue. It began with the suggestive word of a friend (Mike McLaughlin- commencefailure) and a gift card from HomeGoods. Street Style had already taken root in popular culture and I was yet unaware of it. Polos that draped my body like a Roman Toga and Khakis that barely stayed resting upon my hips were the height of my fashionable endeavors. With my gift-card and passion in tow I purchased some Khaki Chinos and a casual Calvin Klein, blue-tartan, button up shirt. I knew it! I knew that this would make me the hippest kid in town. The coolest cat in Atlanta. Catlanta didn't know what was heading its way… or not. This first attempt at fashion glory was pale in the light of folks found across the entire internet spectrum, foolish perhaps. Lucky for me my laptop had been stolen my first night in Atlanta and I hadn't yet gathered the funds to enter the world of the informed- whether that be about fashion or about the world as a whole. Nevermind my failures in the beginning, the first step was still glorious even if it was only for me.
It would still be another two years before that me became this me. Before the chino wearing, bright-eyed passion began thinking of illustrating fashion. Before the act of illustrating was truly a pursuit. That first step was brilliant and beautiful.
To purchase this 3x5" index card watercolor illustration click here.
The Sunflowerman Fashion Synopsis Booklet
Here's the deal.
There are 10 Men's Fashion Synopsis Booklets that are waiting for a home and they want to go home with you.
The best part is that you can get one for free.
Just share this post via your preferred social network (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Wordpress, Instagram) and tag #Sunflowerman to be entered into a drawing to win one of the ten free Men's Fashion Synopsis Booklets. Deadline is Friday, March 8.
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Each Booklet is hand-bound and comes with a little surprise inside.
The Parts of a Men's Fashion Illustration
Here is a visual insight into the process of one of the men's fashion illustrations. Not everything is revealed, but study the images and you will get the gist of it all goes down. Let me know what you think. This men's fashion illustration is a part of the Illustration Weekly Series and was featuring the Milan's Men Fashion Week at the beginning of 2013.
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Men's Fashion Template, Shirts
I have been wanting to share something special here for a while. This is the first of several templates I will be releasing here at the Sunflowerman Blog. Please feel free to utilize these (png's) as you wish. Share with a friend.
If you would like access to the illustrator file feel free to contact me on twitter @sunflowermatt
A Collected Gentleman
If you have not heard of A Collected Gentleman yet, please stop and see what is going on with that community (acollectedgentleman.com). The posts are all by one man and focus on several aspects of a creative life. A Collected Gentleman highlights great style with an economical mindset.
"My aim is to show style and self acceptance is priceless and that you can look good without breaking the bank." -A Collected Gentleman
The fashionable mindset is carried through the photography, the styling and even the poetry.
I met Isaiah Johnson (A Collected Gentleman) on twitter. He had inquired about the cost of fashion portraits after eyeing some of my fashion illustrations. We tweeted a bit and below is the result of our conversation.
To have your own Fashion Portrait contact sunflowerman at sunflowermatt@gmail.com
or you can meet sunflowerman on...
instagram- @sunflowerman
twitter- @sunflowermatt
Men's Fashion Illustration- Art Papers Donation
I am excited to share this six spot progression of my latest Men's Fashion Book Page Illustration. The unfortunate aspect is that I had to rush and I couldn't scan the steps, but thank goodness for my iPhone. Another day saved by the amazing technologies at hand. Take a good look if you are able, at the process here. There is no pencil drawing as guide for this illustration. I went straight onto this page from 'The Birth of Western Civilization' by McGraw Hill, using an ink well and a round brush.
Steps 1 and 2 have a disparity in documentation so I will attempt to fill the visual blanks. After laying thin washes of watercolor in the body and scarf I immediately began adding highlights with titanium white acrylic. From there each step speaks quite clearly to the use of watercolor layering and white acrylic highlighting. hint (Pay special attention to the use of colored glazing in the lapels of the jacket.)
This Men's Fashion Illustration is being donated to Art Papers, located in Atlanta, GA. A friend told me about the opportunity to network with over 250 other artist and numerous art collectors and there is no reason to pass up an opportunity of that nature.
I still know little about the organization that is benefiting from this amazing donation.
Sunflowerman and Sam Flax- Illustration Tutorial
It is true! The rumors, or lack of rumors suggesting the collaboration between Sunflowerman and Sam Flax Atlanta can now be confirmed.
The 'Watercolor for Illustrators' shorts series will be released for free in a couple weeks. I have had the immense pleasure to partner with Sam Flax in presenting this information, free of charge to anyone and everyone.
Here is a video from the last Sunflowerman, Sam Flax experience.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qbi6tEFkWo?rel=0&w=640&h=360]
Illustration Weekly, Styling Mike
Illustration Weekly 5
For the second week of the new illustration series at The Follow Fashion I give you Mike. Mike is one of the minds behind the success of The Follow Fashion Online Magazine which provides daily inspiration with links to designers and clothiers all over the web and the world.
This new series will be capturing the fashion icons of our day such as Patrick Grant and Scott Schumann and re-styling them through illustration. Submissions/suggestions of who you think should be included are welcome.
(Read more about this article at TheFollowFashion.com)
-Sunflowerman
instagram- @sunflowerman
twitter- @sunflowermatt
The Book Page Fashion Illustration Photoshoot
Recently I was able to have a ton of fun with the Book Page Fashion Illustrations. I just set out to shoot them together to share the Book Pages as a collective and in their newest form. Some are from the latest Tie + Jacket, the Smokes and London Collections: Hackett series. It has been some time since I had the opportunity to lay them out in this manner and it really took away what breath was in my lungs. The development from the first shoot is tremendous and beautiful (the first shoot). The Fashion Illustrations below are the newest hand painted illustrations in the collection. The majority are now available at Sunflowermanfashion.com. [gallery columns="1" type="rectangular" ids="2334,2335,2336,2337,2338,2339,2340"]
Now take one home by visiting the shop.
Bowyer and Fletcher Fabric Fashion Illustration
Jahmal, from Bowyer and Fletcher contacted me about some Bow Tie artwork for their fine bow tie brand. Bowyer and Fletcher was an early subscriber to the work I have been producing with men's fashion illustration and their support bolstered my confidence entering into this new market. The brand has now grown beyond just bow ties (see the new product) and I am excited to see where else they can expand in the future. I have to say that with this project took some long time to produce anything. I stake claim to the blame for that. Local projects kept finding there way into my days and I neglected the good folks at Bowyer and Fletcher. The wait did allow for the development of a project that had been floating around in my mind for some time.
If you recall the large fabric paintings from the H. Stockton show (in case you missed it) you will know what I am talking about. There, I debuted the large fabric fashion paintings. The reactions were all ecstatic and I knew that along with my overwhelming joy for there creation that this is what I needed to do with Bowyer and Fletcher.
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I am a little disappointed that there is little visual comparison of size but if you are a technical person then knowing that it is approximately 6 feet by 2.5 feet will suffice. Grommets are placed in each corner of the fabric for easy stretching or displaying on walls or in windows or over hand made frames.
Now go check out the good work from our friends at Bowyer and Fletcher.
And see the featured Bow Tie.
High Cotton Fabric Paintings
High Cotton is a new, local North Carolina high fashion attire company. James, one of the spokesmen (and son of the artisan who hand sews the bow ties) contacted me a while back about a possible collaboration for the brand. High Cotton makes amazing hand sewn, 100% cotton bow ties and cummerbunds. I particularly have my eye on the corduroy. When I tell you that James is one of the most passionate and genuine salesmen I have ever met I am telling you that I look forward to every phone conversation. One time his mother even joined in on a call. High Cotton to me has been the hospitality of the South and the sincere ambition of creating beautiful things.
You will find this following phrase on their website and it captures High Cotton for me.
'It is our hope that High Cotton Ties will be able to extend itself to our customers as a helping hand to properly reflect their individuality, in good conscience and in good style.'
We have a lot of plans in the works that make me giddy but I couldn't help but to share what has been produced to this point. We are focusing initially on the large Fashion Fabric Paintings (like the ones from the H.Stockton show) and some smaller book page illustrations.
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Men's Fashion Templates
I started a little project for general use creating Men's Fashion Design Templates. These are the first concepts of many to come. I am hoping to create a wide range of 'specific use' like the templates below and 'general use' for added customizability. Look for free template and vector downloads to be coming soon.
Would it be helpful to see the outlines of the heads?
If you want to see more Men's Fashion Illustrations check out the Illustration Weekly section of the blog.
Illustration Styling, Rashgmaal
Illustration Weekly 5
To kick off the new illustration series at The Follow Fashion I give you Rashgmaal. Rashgmaal is the founder of The Follow Fashion Online Magazine where he provides daily inspiration with links to designers and clothiers all over the web and the world.
This new series will be capturing the fashion icons of our day such as Patrick Grant and Scott Schumann and re-styling them through illustration. Submissions/suggestions of who you think should be included are welcome.
(Read more about this article at TheFollowFashion.com)
-Sunflowerman
instagram- @sunflowerman
twitter- @sunflowermatt
London Collections Men, Hackett
London Fashion Week kicked off the new year and the new look at fashion for 2013. I have taken a look at several of the collections and illustrated them on recycled Sherlock Holmes Short Story Book Pages and are available at the shop
This first look is at the Hackett Collection. The WWD review provides a great rundown of the runway.
Jeremy Hackett took to the crypt of Saint Paul’s Cathedral in east London for his show that was all about the snazzy English gent — the sort who wears a bowler hat to work. Hackett played with traditional men’s wear patterns such as Prince of Wales and windowpane checks, and mixed and layered tailored pieces with patterned knitwear in the form of sweater vests, V-neck pullovers and scarves.
Sold.
The Rake at the shop
The Dapper at the shop
The Dandy at the shop
Fashion Illustration Web Headers
I began developing some Web-Header illustrations a while back that never were used. Hope is still strong within me that they will find a purpose one day. Today though, these fine illustrations are nice enough to share themselves as examples of my process. When I am illustrating there is an overall process that guides the work I do. Not everything is done the same way, but almost always there is a similar strategy to them. The Web-Headers have been the most straight-forward and will hopefully provide a bit of knowledge and maybe a bit of joy as well.
With this controlled style I start with a pencil sketch and follow it with an ink outline (I use a round brush from sizes 1-6 and black india ink, usually Dr. Ph. Martins).
When the ink dries I do a heavy wash of base colors in watercolor to cover most of the work space (This is mostly water and a little bit of watercolor to create a unique ethereal background).
Finally all that's left is filling in the details of lights and darks to pull the form of the figures from off the page (personally I feel that it is ok to use white gouache over watercolor to create some highlights and not to just leave the white of the background, where many watercolor purists would smack me in the face at the mention of it).
Milan Men's Fashion Week… Illustration Weekly 4
Milan Men's Fashion Week ended early last week. It came bracing the heels of the London Collections: Men but quickly slowed its pace to saunter as the first collections took to the runway. In, what appeared to be a stiffened gaze on the acceptable and conservative dress, Milan began showing the colors of slumping sales.
The Smokes Collection, Available Now
The Book Page Fashion Illustrations come out of a love for men's fashion and culture. The Book Page Collection Series is about knowledge, sophistication and originality. Each illustration is hand painted on a recycled book page using non-toxic india inks and watercolors.
When you see a Sunflowerman Fashion Illustration you are always seeing an original piece of art. Each image is created to be a unique creation fit for any collector or casual lover of the arts.
The Smokes Collection is now available at the shop where you can see the whole series.
But if you don't have time, here is a little teaser.
'The Smokes" Collection
The Construction of Dinosaurs...
The Construction of Dinosaurs is a painting I did live at Sam Flax nearly a year ago. It was a part of a promotion for One Love Generation, an Atlanta non-profit mentoring teens in arts and service. I brought a camera along to document the 8 hour process. The week before I spent some time developing a concept and composition to have a plan going into the day. A friend had suggested a while back that I do a painting of a kid pouring water on a blow up dinosaur. From there you have what came below.
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Enjoy.
Illustration Weekly 3...
Just Look to the Streets of London
London Collections: Men launched its second season this past week spring-boarding the new year's fashion frenzy. Milan came hurriedly after, jaunting there own sartorial say on 2013.
I of course could not resist the opportunity to include my thoughts on the spectacle; a spectacle of great beauty and pomp.
Some are even noticing a decidedly more interesting… (Read the rest of the article at TheFollowFashion.com)
-Sunflowerman
instagram- @sunflowerman
twitter- @sunflowermatt
My Look at the Matthew Miller Collection...
I didn't have the foresight to see all of the London Collections for Men as it was happening this year, but looking back upon the collections I stopped with the Matthew Miller Collection. Admittedly I was drawn to his work because I follow him on twitter (@Studio_M_Miller) and there was no end of Matthew Miller this and Matthew Miller that. When the collection made its way to my browser it caught me off guard. I was spending time with the Hackett and E. Tautz Collections which were giving me much more of what I would have expected, and giving well.
I took to understanding this Black Collection by doing what I do best. See my thoughts in these five illustrations.
I didn't quite capture the darkness in the collection with these brush drawings, but the essence of the movement and mood are present in each.
Enjoy