A PRE-SCHOOL PREDILECTION GROWS TO FULL-BLOWN PASSION
Story by Odessa Paloma Parker
Drawing Influence artist Matthew Chow has illustrated pieces for clients like Le Château and CoverGirl, and styled for Plaid fave Tabula Rasa. This multi-talented Torontonian tells us about his humble beginnings and current happenings.
When do you first remember being interested in creating art?
Well….I don’t know if I would have called it art, but I would draw and paint all the time when I was in pre-school. I would draw women in huge dresses with loads of jewellery…I suppose it was my interpretation of fashion illustration at the time! All I know is that I really enjoyed drawing – it gave me the most pleasure.
Do you remember what the first artistic piece you created was?
No, nothing specific. Again, just lots of paintings when I was a child. Drawing was my favourite thing to do!
What is your process for creating your work?
I generally do a bunch of thumbnail sketches to figure out an interesting pose. I narrow down which sketch has the most potential to become a final illustration. Then, I either do my work on the computer or, more traditionally, by hand.
Your illustrations are very realistic, and sometimes quite technical in nature. What inspires your work?
I save images all the time that I find inspiring, whether it’s from magazines or when I’m perusing fashion sites online. I really like looking at street fashion shots. I like how candid the shots are and how creative the outfits can be. I find it really inspiring from both an illustrative and styling perspective.
How does being a stylist contribute to your artistic sensibilities?
I think it makes me think of the clothing aspect a bit more when illustrating. I really like to illustrate actual runway outfits that I see from my favourite designers.
Who are some of your favourite designers?
I love Phoebe Philo, I think she’s doing amazing things! I’ve always loved the Chloé aesthetic, and wished Phoebe continued to design for the house while continuing Celine. Stella McCartney for her laid-back luxury, and Miuccia Prada comes up with the most incredible ideas. Proenza Schouler and Alexander Wang make clothing that young people, like myself, want to wear.
There’s a lot of attention paid to the models you illustrate as well. Who are some of your favourite models and why?
I love models! There’s a few girls I like….I think Anja Rubik is gorgeous although she’s become so skinny! She’s a great mover. Mirte Maas is very wholesome looking, and I’ll always love Natasha Poly.
You have done illustration work for clients like Le Château and CoverGirl. What do you like about commissioned work, and are there any clients you’d like to work with in the future?
The collaborative aspect is nice, coming up with the final product together. I’d love to do magazine work no matter the client…..doing illustrations that accompany a write-up/story.
Why do you think fashion illustration is becoming more popular in publications? What does it achieve that perhaps photography does not?
I suppose there’s a whimsy that you can’t necessarily capture with photography. Also, you can push the limits a bit more with illustration. It’s really up to your imagination, and I like that.
What’s next for you?
I don’t know….I hope that I’ll have more illustrative projects coming up. And of course, further growing my career in styling. I’ll be happy if I get to do both all the time.
