Okoye from Black Panther
Gamora from Guardians of the Galaxy
Uhura from Star Trek
Category: Costume Design
Costume Sketches
I’ve been filling up my winter break with artistic endeavors. While on Xiao LiuQiu I started working on these costume sketches. Colored pencils are ok but I really prefer the look of these new watercolors.
I also experimented with gouache watercolors. The colors are more opaque that I prefer but maybe I’ll try one more sketch with them to see if I can get better results.
Faces, hands and feet are still a challenge but I feel I’m getting better at body proportions. Next up I’ll work on some male characters.
More Superheroes, more art
I’m really happy to be drawing again. After drawing female figures I’m now working on the male form. The above is Thor from the Avengers movie and below is Captain America.
Last month Josh and I got to hang with fashion blogger Jonathan Waiching Ho while he’s here Living Like A Local. We went to the Bamboo Curtain Studio and got to experience this beautiful art installation:
This is the My Womb My Mother Earth Art Project by artist Lin Xiuping. Volunteers helped her create knitted, crocheted and woven pieces for the installation. I wish I would have known as I would have jumped at the chance to contribute. Next time! These fiber art bird was such an inspiration.
Our friend Shraddha Borawake had invited us to the studio and showed us her work as an artist in residence.
Our new friend Ivan not only showed us Taiwanese musical instruments used during puppet shows but gave us a demonstration.
It was a delight to spend an afternoon with fellow artists. Looking forward to my next visit to this wonderful studio.
Back to the drawing board
Now that Formosa Moon has been turned into the publisher I have time to sew again. In preparation for designing new costumes I’ve also been practicing drawing. The above is Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas. I always liked her patchwork dress.
Next up is Wonder Woman from the summer blockbuster. Linda Carter’s Wonder Woman was my first crush and my hero as a little girl. Seeing this new version of Wonder Woman was incredible and I sobbed through all the action scenes.
Grad school is starting next week so I’ve been getting more sightseeing in before I’m in class every week.
Taipei has great public art. This whimsical piece is in a park by Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.
Last week I got to go to the Keelong Ghost Festival with Josh and travel blogger Chelsea Pearl who’s here Living Like A Local. You can read his recap here.
World Stage Design Conference
I had my first visitor since moving to Taiwan! My Portland State professor Alison came to Taipei for the World Stage Design Conference. We toured the Dihua neighborhood and I got to take her to my favorite fiber building to explore several floors of fabric stores. She shopped for gifts to bring back home and we found this great gallery of paper crafts where we took the photo above.
The World Stage Design Conference was outstanding! Designers from around the world presented work in the exhibition hall and I was left tingling with inspiration. There were set, lighting and sound designs present but of course my faves were the costumes.
This paper creation was for a production of The Tempest. I didn’t take a picture of the designer info-ahh. But isn’t it stunning?!
Sofia Pantouvaki created these Tempest costumes below by creating the material using dying and felting techniques.
Designer Gino Gonzales created this costume for Hakbang Sa Hakbang Measure For Measure. The design concept was a subversion of a “Western ideal”-the costume silhouettes were kept but the materials used were locally produced materials in the Philippines. The piece below is made from muslin, simamay, raffia, coconut shells, hemp and wooden beads.
Angelina Atlagic created this costume for The Libation Bearers.
Qin Wenbao created this fabric sculpture costume for Maguhu Dream which has layers and layers of folded fabric.
After months on the road and months sequestered writing it was wonderful to be immersed in the world of theater again. The book is almost done so now I can finally start setting up a sewing workspace. I picked up a notebook and colored pencils to start costume designing again. It feels deeply gratifying to return to designing. I’ve missed it!