Imagemakers: Cutting Edge Fashion Illustration (Mitchell Beazley Art & Design) [Paperback]

The author, Martin Dawber, is extremely inspiring, concise and eloquent in reviewing over 50 of the World's leading fashion illustrators.

Of the exceptional talent, featured in this cutting edge publication, two outstanding artists contribute the most highly skilled, innovative and breathtaking work featured in the book, (to be located in the final section, entitled, Avantist).

These commanding artists are Lidia Cerutti and Fiona Wylie.
Their work is entirely unique, truly contemporary and beautifully depicted with a highly accomplished delineation.

I personally find Fiona Wylie's images dominate the entirety of work in all of the four sections. I expect that these illustrations are simply a tantalising taster of future award-winning advertising campaigns and an iconic career ahead of one so young.

Dissappointingly, on the other hand, the works of Jasper Goodall and Julie Verhoeven appear to ba a palid parody of their once triumphant and engaging portryals.

Fashion illustration is evolving and fortunately there are plenty of seats to be filled by many gifted and stylish illustrators, particularly the likes of Lidia Cerutti and Fiona Wylie.

To quote Jasper Conran's foreword: " Fresh, exciting - this is the definitive sourcebook of fashion illustration today".

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The recently published, Imagemakers, by Martin Dawber, is one of the most comprehensive and compelling publications on the subject, to date. It details the work of over 50 of the world's most talented and relevant fashion illustrators as well as providing an insightful narrative of the current climate of the fashion illustration industry.

After a foreword by Jasper Conran, the artists' work is divided in to four sections; Reportage, Street Cred, Style Council and Avantist.

Each of the artists featured, are initially presented by an insightful and constructive passage, outlining their individual and distinct styles, followed by full-colour examples of their work.

The freshest, most sensational of the work appears in the final section, Avantist.

The most breathtaking discovery of these professional fashion illustrators, is Fiona Wylie.
Her work is expertly executed whilst enriched with romantic and suggestive contemplation. The preciseness of line is staggering in its ability to capture such consciousness and genuine sentiment without a hint of tentative inhibition.

Anton Storey's beautiful portraits are near perfection in their fragmentary, elusive imperfection.

The work of Lidia Cerutti is a vision of expertly crafted, fashionable composition and an intelligent depth of palette.

The work of these 'up and coming' artists, featured in Imagemakers, vastly outshines their recognised rivals. For example, Jason Brooks, Julie Verhoeven and Daisy De Villeneuve have unfortunately become a staid parody of what appears to have been a one-trick-pony which they are either unwilling or unable to dismount.

One thing is certain, fashion illustration is becoming as sought after as the allure of the unique, hand-crafted and embellished designer garments they depict. Fashion illustration is no longer reserved as are the front row seats of a prominent catwalk show. I predict that in the near future, the aforementioned small handful of clique, passé illustrators lose their obligatory backstage-passes...

And I, for one, will be raising a glass of Moet to any and all of the new stars featured in Imagemakers... cheers!

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