Jul
19

Tools of the Trade: Personal Picks

NGC Illustrations’ Favourite Art Tools…

In the age of digital everything…no one still uses good old fashioned art supplies, right? Wrong! I do. I’m quite aware of the increase in artists using iPads and tablets with cool apps such as Procreate, and I kind of wish I could say I am an expert of both the digital and hand-crafting realms, but alas, not yet!

My favourite tools by far are Copic Markers. They are high quality, alcohol-based, blendable markers which look seamless when used correctly. I use these Japanese markers for almost all my fashion illustrations, occasionally mixing it up with other art mediums such as watercolour or acrylic paints. I also use copic multiliners in various sizes, with a tiny nib of 0.03 and 0.05 being perfect for small details on facial features such as eyelashes. I sometimes use coloured pencils for more textured areas such as hair, or a white pencil or gel pen to create highlights, for instance. I also prefer to use a light lead pacer (clicky) pencil rather than a regular sharpening pencil, as the lines are more consistent in width and boldness.

My Copic collection so far, including: Copic Sketch, Ciao and Original Markers and multi-liners

I absolutely love the X-Press It blending card in conjunction with the Copic products. This card is incredibly high quality and is specifically designed to be able to blend markers effectively. The ‘X-press it’ card is available in a range of sizes and is also acid free and archival, meaning it will last a veeeeery long time – making it the ideal paper for clients to frame and treasure for a lifetime!

  • NGC Illustrations work in progress
  • Self-Portrait Cleopatra by NGC Illustrations, using Copic Markers and mixed media on X-press it blending card

Maybe one day I’ll ease my way into the world of digital drawing, but for now, I find putting a real pen to paper really fulfilling, meditative even. There is something to be said about being able to see the ink escaping the nib of the marker and observing its colour transport onto the paper. I also love the feeling of the textures, and the sense of control when hand-drawing.

Have you tried copic markers before? Which tools do you like to create with? Leave your recommendations in the comments below,

Nicole

xx

Insta: @ngcillustrations 

Facebook: NGC Illustrations

Jan
25

Illustration Inspiration

Thoughts on the where and how of gathering inspiration.

Ahh, the age old question…Where does one find inspiration? Better still, one might ask themselves whether or not to wait around for inspiration to appear or to just, create? As someone who has delved heavily into the realm of personality typology, a small part of me wants to tell you that whether you create art spontaneously or deliberately, will depend on your individual personality. However, I truly believe we are more often than not subconsciously inspired by something at all times. So, often, the best way to create something is to do just that: create. How? Just begin. I find that the ‘flow’ and ideas tends to align and multiply once you become entrenched in what you are doing.

Recently, my mum received a bouquet of flowers for her birthday.

Without being overtly aware of it, I was drawn to the beauty of the flowers and just felt an urge to combine my passion for fashion illustration with my interest in the colours and shapes of the flowers. I imagined how I could transform certain flowers into fashion garments, to be draped on a body, and took to pencil and paper to replicate what I had visualised, as best as possible.

I think it’s important to take note of those words: “as best as possible”, or “to the best of my ability.” The truth is, we are always still learning, and sometimes what we envision may never translate onto paper in an exact way. It’s all too easy to procrastinate doing what we love because we don’t feel we are good enough. This is prohibitive and harmful to the self.”The truth is, we are always still learning”

What kind of things are you inspired to create? Is there anything in particular you draw inspiration from?

Please feel free to share your thoughts with myself and other creatives in the comments below!

Nicole

xx

Insta: @ngcillustrations 

Facebook: NGC Illustrations

Sep
22

Introducing the Artist

So here it is, my first blog post about NGC Illustrations and the world of fashion illustration. Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Nicole Candeloro and I’m a fashion illustrator who is also completing my final year of a Bachelor of Fashion Design in Melbourne, Australia.

If you are reading this, chances are you may have seen some of my art and commission work on my Instagram @ngcillustrations, or maybe you’re interested in learning about how or where to begin creating your own illustrations! Well, look no further! I’ll be blogging about how and where to find inspiration, my favourite tools of the trade, my personal adventures, and my progression as an artist. Please feel free to get in touch if there is anything you would like me to write about, in regards to the world of fashion art or my own journey!

Personally, I am passionate about all things arts; including movies, music and books. I feel the arts make the world go ‘round and they give life meaning. I feel that without the arts, we would merely exist, but would not truly live. Nothing is quite as relatable as the arts and I feel they are the most powerful way to spread important messages to people. I could go on and on about this – maybe I will write a book about this one day, so keep your ears and eyes peeled!

So, why illustrate? I basically just love to create! My creations bring joy to me and others. It is a perpetual cycle of joy, and isn’t that a blessing? Nothing is as touching to me as when a client hangs up their personalised portraits in their homes, or when they get in touch to show me how much it meant to them. Sometimes people will ask me to illustrate very special gifts, such as portraits, which include loved ones who have passed. I always feel so honoured to be asked to create something so personally valuable and special, and I try to put my whole heart into my work.

I love feeling the catharsis of blending colours, and getting lost in the moment. I find illustrating quite meditative in a sense, as it fully encapsulates my focus, if only for a few hours. I think it’s important to note: you don’t have to be amazing at art to enjoy it or do it yourself!

Are you an illustrator or an art fan? Do you have anything to share about your journey as an artist or why you love the world of illustration? Feel free to share them with me in the comments below!

Nicole

xx

Insta: @ngcillustrations 

Facebook: NGC Illustrations