Lately the career of a fashion illustrator has become far more popular despite the fact that this profession has been in existence for over a century. Today most illustrators collaborate with major brands and fashion publications. Indeed Lockdown strengthened the position of the importance of the fashion illustrator as during this time it became easier to create a fashion illustration on the cover of a magazine as opposed to inviting a whole team of specialists (models, photographers, makeup artists, stylists, lighting designers, etc.). Natalia Kopcha (@nataliya_kopcha_illustration), a professional fashion illustrator and artist from Moscow will tell us her thoughts.
Natalia studied at the RGGU and the Albert Ludwig University (Freiburg) where she received a Master of Arts degree. She is the author of two solo exhibitions in Moscow and Freiburg (Germany). She collaborates with GQ and Basic magazine. She is a teacher of fashion illustration at the International of Art School Fantasy Room.
When did you decide that fashion illustration was for you?
In Russia fashion illustration has been known not only as a profession but as a direction in art for only the last five to seven years although this story is more than a hundred years old. I started drawing models from Vogue in High School. I filled out sketchbooks and the last pages of notebooks with sketches. At University I relinquished my drawing only to return to it in Graduate School. The realization that this was my destiny came immediately as soon as I saw the works of foreign illustrators on Instagram. The question arose for me though was… Was it possible to achieve? In the sense that it’s not a hobby but a full-fledged profession.
What was your first drawing?
Some time ago I showed my students the first conscious fashion illustration. The reference was taken from the backstage of the Dolce & Gabbana FW-2016 Show. The model is wearing a red tight-fitting coat with large metal buttons. I still love this work dearly. It has already outlined the style and colour palette.
What do you think is the reason for the popularity of illustrators / sketchers in recent years?
A special vision of the world. Once upon a time, photography shifted the illustration due to its clear transmission of reality. However, today some things you want to see, you want to embellish or to add something and the illustrator has this power. From a practical point an illustration is cheaper than a photograph. For a photo shoot you will need to hire a photographer, stylist, makeup artist, decorator, assistants and rent a room. On the other hand to create a fashion sketch you need at minimum, paper, paint and the expertise of the illustrator.
For models the ultimate goal is to be on the cover of Italian Vogue. What is the ultimate dream for a fashion illustrator?
Here illustrators do not lag behind models and fashion photographers. Everyone wants to cover the famous glossy magazines not just Vogue. Fortunately, this trend is only gaining momentum now and illustrators have many opportunities. Also, no one will refuse to collaborate with a popular brand. For example, Gucci is very fond of such art collaboration and puts the work of artists on their products. It is cool to create a campaign for a famous designer and we all dream of a personal exhibition.
What has surprised you recently in the fashion world?
A quick and clear response to the pandemic. I’m not talking about luxury brand masks. The fashion industry had to be revamped and Covid was the catalyst for a radical rethink. It is important that it is creative. Virtual screenings opened the door to a new reality and also gave millions of viewers the opportunity to attend the screenings. Dior made a fabulous film and Balmain models sailed on a river barge on the Seine. During quarantine a new genre of photography appeared for example Face Time when photographers work with models remotely and sometimes it is cooler than a complex editorial. And of course, a revolution in fashion glossy magazines. Artists are rejoicing! After all, fashion illustration has returned to the covers and pages of magazines.
Text by K. Mironova
Photo/illustrations provided by N. Kopcha
