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fashion week sketchpad
September 13, 2013

Drawing in the Moment: Backstage at Fashion Week

By Bil Donovan

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Photo: Bil Donovan

The natural impulse when attending a fashion show is to record the madness around you immediately. While the majority of people in the audience whip out their iPhones, and an army of photographers jockey for spots on the risers, we wanted to see what could be done with a process that required a bit more time. We sent artist Bil Donovan to sketch his surroundings in the moment, using traditional watercolors and pencils. And while not every brand was willing to allow an illustrator to carve out a space and make paintings amid the chaos of backstage, a few acquiesced and the results were beautiful. Donovan captured the whirling dervishes on the runway and backstage at Thom Browne, Carolina Herrera and Tadashi Shoji. Click through for the whole impressionistic portfolio.

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1 / 30 Photos
Flash at the Tents 
Fashion Tents 
Carolina Herrera Gowns 
Thom Browne Nurse 
Tents 
Herrera Kinetic 
Tents 
Models' Hair at Carolina Herrera 
Carolina Herrera Sweep Gown 
Rucci Bow 
Woosh Herrera 
Thom Browne Hair and Makeup 
Thom Browne Racks 
Thom Browne Hair and Makeup 
Live at the Thom Browne Show 
Nurse at Thom Browne 
Thom Browne Walk 
Thom Browne Show 
Carolina Herrera Lineup 
Lineup 
Backstage Anticipation at Herrera 
Thom Browne White Wedding 
Guests Backstage 
Carolina Herrera Dress Rehearsal 
Thom Browne Patient Hair and Makeup 
Tadashi Shoji 
Thom Browne Shapes 
Herrera Gets Hair and Makeup 
Karlina Erjona 
Tenes Ariele Posed 
1 / 30

Tags:

  • fashion week sketchpad
  • tadashi shoji
  • carolina herrera
  • thom browne
  • slideshow
  • illustration
  • fashion illustrations
  • spring 2014 fashion week
  • More

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