New Creative Collaboration
In last month’s Blog, I wrote of the challenge I faced in working on a new paper doll book, “Stripes!” I wanted to re-concept the entire project, making the dolls and the clothes look more modern, more doll-like. I realized that my usual, vintage-style painterly artwork would not have the look I was after. What to do? I conferred with Jenny and together we came up with an experimental idea. Why not collaborate with a digitally adept, computer savvy artist, someone like the tremendously talented Julie Allen Matthews? (She illustrated Kitchen Kitsch Paper Dolls and was the featured artist in Vamps & Villains Paper Doll Studio OPDAG issue #118.) I have never met Julie, so Jenny became the go-between. When Jenny pitched the idea to Julie, she eagerly said “Yes!” I roughed-out my ideas for the content, designing some of the garments and referenced some others, and suggested the layout of the book. Using my sketches, she digitally rendered and painted the costumes, and I was bowled-over by the results. A perfect marriage of classic illustration and digital technology. So away we go! Watch for the “Stripes!” book to be released in November 2019.
David’s rough designs and Julie’s computerized interpretation for “Bold” stripes.
David’s rough designs and Julie’s computerized interpretation for “Rainbow” stripes.
David’s rough designs and Julie’s computerized interpretation for “Vintage” stripes.
In last month’s Blog, I wrote of the challenge I faced in working on a new paper doll book, “Stripes!” I wanted to re-concept the entire project, making the dolls and the clothes look more modern, more doll-like. I realized that my usual, vintage-style painterly artwork would not have the look I was after. What to do? I conferred with Jenny and together we came up with an experimental idea. Why not collaborate with a digitally adept, computer savvy artist, someone like the tremendously talented Julie Allen Matthews? (She illustrated Kitchen Kitsch Paper Dolls and was the featured artist in Vamps & Villains Paper Doll Studio OPDAG issue #118.) I have never met Julie, so Jenny became the go-between. When Jenny pitched the idea to Julie, she eagerly said “Yes!” I roughed-out my ideas for the content, designing some of the garments and referenced some others, and suggested the layout of the book. Using my sketches, she digitally rendered and painted the costumes, and I was bowled-over by the results. A perfect marriage of classic illustration and digital technology. So away we go! Watch for the “Stripes!” book to be released in November 2019.
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| David’s rough designs and Julie’s computerized interpretation for “Bold” stripes. |
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| David’s rough designs and Julie’s computerized interpretation for “Rainbow” stripes. |
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| David’s rough designs and Julie’s computerized interpretation for “Vintage” stripes. |
Getting A-head
Thinking back, I realize that I have raced deadlines for my entire career, from my first job (age 19 in 1959) as assistant to the Advertising Manager for a small chain of Ohio department stores. When I retired from my final full-time job (age 75 in 2016), the pressure was off and I was happily faced with lots and lots of time to create paper dolls, write my monthly blog and contributions to Paper Doll Studio and Paperdoll Review Magazines. Case in point: I needed to create heads for two dolls on the back cover of the forthcoming paper doll book, “Stripes,” so I enjoyed toying with many versions with different faces and coiffures. Which two heads were chosen? Find out next month!
Brunette, blonde or redhead?
A quartet of faces.
A trio of varied faces and coiffures.
Thinking back, I realize that I have raced deadlines for my entire career, from my first job (age 19 in 1959) as assistant to the Advertising Manager for a small chain of Ohio department stores. When I retired from my final full-time job (age 75 in 2016), the pressure was off and I was happily faced with lots and lots of time to create paper dolls, write my monthly blog and contributions to Paper Doll Studio and Paperdoll Review Magazines. Case in point: I needed to create heads for two dolls on the back cover of the forthcoming paper doll book, “Stripes,” so I enjoyed toying with many versions with different faces and coiffures. Which two heads were chosen? Find out next month!
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| Brunette, blonde or redhead? |
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| A quartet of faces. |
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| A trio of varied faces and coiffures. |
New Pop Trends Paper Doll Book, Now Available
Recently published by Paper Studio Press: Pop Trends Paper Dolls, a new book that will be especially fun to cut-out and play with. Three dolls, sized the same, are able to wear each other’s 90-piece wardrobe of timeless/trendy fashions: Nostalgic, Romantic, Exotic, Gypsy, Minimal, Uniform, Sporty and Futuristic. Do as real-life stylists do, mix items from different trends and create a brand new look. Example: Romantic lace-trimmed jeans with an Exotic top. Anything goes these days!
Pop Trends cover doll trio, ready to mix and match outfits.
Romantic and Nostalgic Trends.
Exotic and Gypsy Trends.
Minimal and Uniform Trends.
Sporty and Futuristic Trends.
Recently published by Paper Studio Press: Pop Trends Paper Dolls, a new book that will be especially fun to cut-out and play with. Three dolls, sized the same, are able to wear each other’s 90-piece wardrobe of timeless/trendy fashions: Nostalgic, Romantic, Exotic, Gypsy, Minimal, Uniform, Sporty and Futuristic. Do as real-life stylists do, mix items from different trends and create a brand new look. Example: Romantic lace-trimmed jeans with an Exotic top. Anything goes these days!
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| Pop Trends cover doll trio, ready to mix and match outfits. |
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| Romantic and Nostalgic Trends. |
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| Exotic and Gypsy Trends. |
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| Minimal and Uniform Trends. |
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| Sporty and Futuristic Trends. |
Coloring the Circus
Most every coloring book in my collection is devoted to a vintage Hollywood movie star of the ‘40s, “50s or ‘60s. One exception is a 1953 Merrill coloring book, “Super-Dooper Circus.” Not a single glamour star in it, but I added it to my collection nevertheless because I fell in love with the cover art, a joyously exuberant visualization of a circus parade.
Super-Dooper Circus” cover and title page.
Two pages colored by me.
Most every coloring book in my collection is devoted to a vintage Hollywood movie star of the ‘40s, “50s or ‘60s. One exception is a 1953 Merrill coloring book, “Super-Dooper Circus.” Not a single glamour star in it, but I added it to my collection nevertheless because I fell in love with the cover art, a joyously exuberant visualization of a circus parade.
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| Super-Dooper Circus” cover and title page. |
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| Two pages colored by me. |
Remembering a Very Special London Fashion Party
While rummaging through some storage boxes, I happened to find a London party invitation that brought back memories that I want to share. I cannot recall the year of the party and the invitation only provides the month and day. My guess is that it was in the early 1970s. Anne Knight, the brilliant Fashion Director of Fortnum and Mason, was famed for transforming the fusty 200 year old elegant emporium into the swinging fashion epicenter of the era. She “discovered” me when I moved to England in the mid-'60s and for years I produced the store’s adverts that appeared in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Anne called me one day and told me she was opening a new boutique department that would carry a trio of cutting edge designers: Jean Muir, Zandra Rhodes and Bill Gibb. She asked me to come up with a name for the high fashion trio. In a flash, I suggested “Odyssey” and so it became. The opening party was fabulously peopled with celebrities and a few minor Royals. Read the fine print for the late night dress code: unpredictable. Ah, yes, I well remember what I wore; a white cashmere sweater that laced-up with suede thongs trimmed with ermine tails and Native American pottery beads. My skin-tight pants were made of pigskin and I tucked them into python boots with sky-high platforms and heels. Need I even tell you that my hair flowed down past my shoulders? (Yes, I had hair then. No, I don’t have any photos.) Memories like this light the corners of my mind. Wasn’t I the lucky one?
My illustration on the invitation to celebrate the opening of the “Odyssey” Boutique in London’s poshest store, Fortnum & Mason.
The RSVP invitation to the most fashionable London party of the year. Too bad I cannot remember what year it was!
While rummaging through some storage boxes, I happened to find a London party invitation that brought back memories that I want to share. I cannot recall the year of the party and the invitation only provides the month and day. My guess is that it was in the early 1970s. Anne Knight, the brilliant Fashion Director of Fortnum and Mason, was famed for transforming the fusty 200 year old elegant emporium into the swinging fashion epicenter of the era. She “discovered” me when I moved to England in the mid-'60s and for years I produced the store’s adverts that appeared in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Anne called me one day and told me she was opening a new boutique department that would carry a trio of cutting edge designers: Jean Muir, Zandra Rhodes and Bill Gibb. She asked me to come up with a name for the high fashion trio. In a flash, I suggested “Odyssey” and so it became. The opening party was fabulously peopled with celebrities and a few minor Royals. Read the fine print for the late night dress code: unpredictable. Ah, yes, I well remember what I wore; a white cashmere sweater that laced-up with suede thongs trimmed with ermine tails and Native American pottery beads. My skin-tight pants were made of pigskin and I tucked them into python boots with sky-high platforms and heels. Need I even tell you that my hair flowed down past my shoulders? (Yes, I had hair then. No, I don’t have any photos.) Memories like this light the corners of my mind. Wasn’t I the lucky one?
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| My illustration on the invitation to celebrate the opening of the “Odyssey” Boutique in London’s poshest store, Fortnum & Mason. |
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| The RSVP invitation to the most fashionable London party of the year. Too bad I cannot remember what year it was! |
Menswear Spring '20 Shows Go on and On
The chaotic, confused fashion calendar meant to preview the spring ’20 Trans-Atlantic menswear shows remains muddled. Many designer collections now mix menswear into some women’s fashion shows or mix women’s into menswear shows. It’s best to give up trying to make sense of the timing and focus on influential ideas. The rediscovery of tailoring continues to be the most important overriding trend, but for younger men, the tailoring is softer, roomy and relaxed. Easy tailoring means bigger suits and jackets, oversize shirts. Belts sometimes cinch-in bigger coats and jackets. As the athleisure-sporty-utility mega-trend continues to wane, some dandy-ish prints and colors add fresh excitement. Mellow yellows are a super stand-alone color newsmaker. The silliest newsmaker is transparency. Why, oh why?
Mellow yellows stand-out by Craig Green, Botter and Ovadia.
More mellow yellows by Ovadia, Sies Marjan and White Mountaineering.
Relaxed tailoring for suits by Alyx, Officine Generale and Ovadia.
Belts are a cinch by Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Sies Marjan and Sies Marjan.
Oversize jackets and shirts at Sacai, Alyx and Willy Chavarria.
Dandy-ish prints at White Mountaineering, ditto and ditto.
Athleisure-utility mega-trend continues at Willy Chavarria, Craig Green and Sacai.
Silly attention-grabber transparencies by Craig Green, Pigalle and Ludovic de Saint Sernin.
The chaotic, confused fashion calendar meant to preview the spring ’20 Trans-Atlantic menswear shows remains muddled. Many designer collections now mix menswear into some women’s fashion shows or mix women’s into menswear shows. It’s best to give up trying to make sense of the timing and focus on influential ideas. The rediscovery of tailoring continues to be the most important overriding trend, but for younger men, the tailoring is softer, roomy and relaxed. Easy tailoring means bigger suits and jackets, oversize shirts. Belts sometimes cinch-in bigger coats and jackets. As the athleisure-sporty-utility mega-trend continues to wane, some dandy-ish prints and colors add fresh excitement. Mellow yellows are a super stand-alone color newsmaker. The silliest newsmaker is transparency. Why, oh why?
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| Mellow yellows stand-out by Craig Green, Botter and Ovadia. |
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| More mellow yellows by Ovadia, Sies Marjan and White Mountaineering. |
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| Relaxed tailoring for suits by Alyx, Officine Generale and Ovadia. |
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| Belts are a cinch by Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Sies Marjan and Sies Marjan. |
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| Oversize jackets and shirts at Sacai, Alyx and Willy Chavarria. |
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| Dandy-ish prints at White Mountaineering, ditto and ditto. |
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| Athleisure-utility mega-trend continues at Willy Chavarria, Craig Green and Sacai. |
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| Silly attention-grabber transparencies by Craig Green, Pigalle and Ludovic de Saint Sernin. |
Researching the Real-Life Royal Princesses
I am beginning to plan my projects for 2020 and have started the research for a new book, “Royal Princesses of the 20th Century,” representing five iconic fashion trend-setters of their periods. No Disney princesses in this planned book. It begins with Princess Alexandra of Denmark who wed the Prince of Wales in 1902 and became Queen Consort to King Edward VII. The next doll in the book will be Princess Margaret Rose (sister of Queen Elizabeth II). Then to Hollywood for Grace Kelly who became Her Serene Highness, Princess Grace of Monaco. Back to the United Kingdom to include Anne, The Princess Royal, daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and reputed to be the hardest worker of the Windsor family. No surprise that Princess Diana, “The People’s Princess” and the most-photographed person of the 20th century completes this enchanting five-some of regal royal real-life princesses. I intend to keep you posted as this paper doll project is created for publication sometime in 2020 by Paper Studio Press.
Princess Alexandra of Denmark who became Queen Consort of Edward VII.
Princess Margaret Rose, dressed by Christian Dior for her 21st birthday.
Princess Grace of Monaco, formerly movie star Grace Kelly.
Anne, Princess Royal, Olympic horsewoman and fashion clotheshorse.
Diana, Princess of Wales, mega-celebrity and beloved as “The People’s Princess.”
I am beginning to plan my projects for 2020 and have started the research for a new book, “Royal Princesses of the 20th Century,” representing five iconic fashion trend-setters of their periods. No Disney princesses in this planned book. It begins with Princess Alexandra of Denmark who wed the Prince of Wales in 1902 and became Queen Consort to King Edward VII. The next doll in the book will be Princess Margaret Rose (sister of Queen Elizabeth II). Then to Hollywood for Grace Kelly who became Her Serene Highness, Princess Grace of Monaco. Back to the United Kingdom to include Anne, The Princess Royal, daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and reputed to be the hardest worker of the Windsor family. No surprise that Princess Diana, “The People’s Princess” and the most-photographed person of the 20th century completes this enchanting five-some of regal royal real-life princesses. I intend to keep you posted as this paper doll project is created for publication sometime in 2020 by Paper Studio Press.
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| Princess Alexandra of Denmark who became Queen Consort of Edward VII. |
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| Princess Margaret Rose, dressed by Christian Dior for her 21st birthday. |
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| Princess Grace of Monaco, formerly movie star Grace Kelly. |
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| Anne, Princess Royal, Olympic horsewoman and fashion clotheshorse. |
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| Diana, Princess of Wales, mega-celebrity and beloved as “The People’s Princess.” |
