Practice Not Magic: Repainting an Illustration from 1996

TL;DR

Fashion design professor, Zoe Hong, redrew a sketch from 1996 to showcase her growth and development over the years.

Transcript

hey hey party people and Happy New Year this is your friendly neighborhood fashion design and illustration professor Zoe Hong and in this video I am taking a super old sketch from 1996 over 20 years ago and I am redrawing it at your request so the other day on Instagram I posted a photo of this 1996 sketch of the girl in blue and I put it right nex... Read More

Key Insights

• 🇭🇰 Zoe Hong emphasizes the importance of steady practice and not expecting instant improvement or relying on magical shortcuts.
• 🥶 The exercise of redrawing an old sketch allows her to reflect on how far she has come as a fashion designer and illustrator.
• 😥 Hong points out that comparing oneself to others is counterproductive and instead encourages comparing personal growth over time.
• 🛟 She highlights the significance of having a balanced life, not just focusing on career growth but also cherishing personal relationships and other aspects of life.
• 👨‍🎨 Hong shares her techniques and materials, such as using leftover paint and mixing skin tones, to show that being resourceful can still result in beautiful artwork.
• 👻 The exercise not only helps her see how her skills have developed but also allows her to understand the construction and cost involved in recreating the sketch.
• 🧑‍🏭 Granulation in watercolors, which can create unique textures, is a personal preference for Hong and a factor she takes into consideration when choosing her materials.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Zoe Hong decide to redraw a sketch from 1996?

Zoe Hong received a request from her Instagram followers to redraw the sketch in order to showcase her growth and improvement as an artist over the years.

Q: What materials did Zoe Hong use for the redrawing process?

Hong used arches watercolor paper, a pilot point 3 pencil, and a Skoda kolinsky sable brush, along with leftover paint on her palette to create the piece.

Q: How did Zoe Hong ensure a fair comparison between the original sketch and the redrawn version?

Hong wanted a fair comparison, so she freehanded the sketch just like she did in high school without using any templates or a lightbox.

Q: What message did Zoe Hong want to convey with this exercise?

Hong wanted to remind herself and her viewers that progress and improvement take time and consistent practice, and it's important to focus on personal growth rather than comparing oneself to others.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Zoe Hong received a request from her Instagram followers to redraw a sketch she made in 1996 to demonstrate her progress and improvement in skills and style.

• She followed the sketch as closely as possible, using a wash technique instead of color pencils which she doesn't usually prefer.

• Hong used freehand drawing on arches watercolor paper and used leftover paint from her palette to create the piece.