A Never Ending story
Interview
I chose to make fashion part of my illustration because it’s always evolving in a never-ending cycle of creativity to be illustrated. There are so many ways to depict a piece of clothing;
Mimi Beckwith speaks with Patrick Morgan
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When did you first get into drawing?
I have always been drawing from my early years, but around age 9 yrs. old I was very inspired by a book I found by Arthur Rackham. His work inspired me to draw constantly whenever I had free time.
Why did you choose to make fashion part of your inspiration?
I chose to make fashion part of my illustration because it’s always evolving in a never-ending cycle of creativity to be illustrated. There are so many ways to depict a piece of clothing; I could paint the same outfit in 10 different styles and none of them would be the same. I love the versatility of fashion illustration.
What is your particular working day as a creative?
A typical working day usually starts with a coffee, then before I start the client’s illustration always rip a tiny piece of paper and make a thumb nail sketch of what I envision the final piece will be. I also like to warm up by making quick observational sketches of people passing by if I am by a window with a good view of the street, or I open a book of Kenneth Paul-Block or Rene Gruau. They always inspire me. After I finish work for a client, I work on my own personal project and brand MIMI, which is launching this summer.
What tools do you use when creating your images?
I use a quill for black Indian ink, which is always involved in my illustrations, watercolours and gouache. Sometimes I like to use old scraps of magazines or previous paintings to make a collage.
Who or what has influenced you over the years as an artist?
My main source of inspiration is travelling. I am always excited by new cultures, museums and historic monuments. If I am in London, I love to visit new upcoming exhibits whether they specialise in photography, sculpture, fashion design, illustrations etc. I also get a lot of my inspiration from books I’ve read and films I love. I also look for artists who inspire me, sometimes through social media but mainly through books I’ve collected over the years.
What advice do you have for younger artists looking to be part of this industry?
Advice for younger artists: go to as many exhibits/ museums as possible. Learn from others.
What are you drawing today?
At the moment, I am illustrating a collection of fashion illustrations for BRORA’S SS21 collection and also illustrating the prints for my new brand MIMI. All of the prints on the collection are illustrated, painted or printed by hand and further digitally manipulated. The 2 books I am reading at the moment are ‘When breath becomes air’ by Paul Kalanithi and ‘The fourteenth Wife’ by Kelly Alder. Listening at the moment to Prince, Ernest Raglin, FKA Twigs, Only Artists (BBC podcast) SHOW STUDIO (podcast). My Favourite artists at the moment are Harley Weir, Kelly Beeman, Lisa Brice and Nick Knight.