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Hong Kong–based illustrator Kitty N. Wong starts her illustrations with what she calls a very
rough draft but proceeds to the Ånal version quickly, otherwise she feels the spontaneity is lost
and the energy can never be captured again. Although her style is always evolving—and she
likes to experiment with diٺerent techniques—there are two constants in her work: Her images
tell a story and the lines she creates are smooth, Æuid, and relaxed. As Wong’s conÅdence in
illustration evolved, so did her work and the result is an infusion of color and patterns. She
counts humor as part of her style—something she says is rare for a fashion illustrator—and the
evidence is the witty fashion comic strips she has been commissioned to create.
For illustration, the barrier to entry
is set much lower than something
like starting your own fashion line.
You just need your sketches, time,
and some social skills, and you can
be on your way to getting clients.
Hong Kong
Perhaps one of the most promising new illustrators in the Åeld is Kitty N. Wong. Still
only in her twenties, the Hong Kong–based artist, who grew up in Canada, has already
made a splash creating custom sketches depicting designer runway looks for a top
fashion blog, as well as published pieces for the Hong Kong Tatler, Dazed Digital, and the
National Post in Canada.
AN ALWAYS-EVOLVING STYLE:
KITTY N. WONG
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THE ART OF FASHION ILLUSTRATION | PART 1: THE EMERGING MASTERS
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Comme des Garçons A fashion comic created in ballpoint pen and colored digitally, from a series for Dazed Digital
Halloween, ¹If Fashion Week was a Horror Filmº featuring Comme des Gartons, SS14’s darkest collection.
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InÛmences
Wong’s soft and ethereal, yet realistic illustration style was
cultivated through years of practice. She’s been drawing since
she was a child and would spend time in high school researching
fashion online. ¹Looking up runway photos and sketching my
ideas was my hobby. It was the most accessible way for me to
participate in the fashion world as a young girl living in a small
Canadian suburb,º says Wong. Although she took fashion illus-
tration classes at Toronto’s Ryerson University and completed
an undergraduate degree in fashion design, she says she doesn’t
believe a person can be formally trained in fashion illustration,
and says most of the important things she has learned have
been by drawing and by observing other artist’s work.
After graduation, Wong honed her skills working as an assistant
designer drawing fashion sketches and technical drawings for a
trading company. But the real turning point happened when she
quit her job and started to freelance.
¹My favorite parts about working from home are my commute
and the huge long desk my dad and I built—it’s big enough so
I can separate my work spaces,º Wong says. ¹I have a painting
side for all the messy analog processes and a computer side
where I clean up the images and write.º
¹Starting out as a freelance illustrator was intimidating, and I
felt like I had no idea what I was doing, but I met some good
people who gave me a few jobs either for trade or for small
amounts of money. I was able to get started and build my conÅ-
dence and skills,º she says. ¹For illustration, the barrier to entry
is set much lower than for something like starting your own
fashion line. Aou just need your sketches, time, and some social
skills, and you can be on your way to getting clients.º
Maison Martin Margiela A fashion comic created in ballpoint pen
and colored digitally, for Dazed Digital Halloween, ¹If Fashion Week
was a Horror Film.º
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THE ART OF FASHION ILLUSTRATION | PART 1: THE EMERGING MASTERS
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Every few days Wong Ånishes a new piece, and although she
says it doesn’t feel like much, over time she’s been able to build
up her portfolio. ¹When I was working for someone else, I ne-
glected my own practice and, at the end of the day, I had noth-
ing I was truly proud of to show for my time. I really treasure
this ability to make art. I could have easily gone through life
without realizing what kind of work I was passionate about.º
Wong feeds her need to draw by keeping random pieces of
scrap paper in her purse so she can make a quick sketch and
a notebook next to her bed to jot down ideas in the middle of
the night. She also says it’s important to see a lot of art and
make a lot of art. In Hong Kong she has done just that, visit-
ing what she calls ¹phenomenal private art galleries.º Her in-
Æuences are varied, and include everything from vintage items
from the 1950s to the works of inÆuential designers and artists
such as graphic designer Louise Fili, famed fashion illustrator
Renu Gruau, and painter Henri Matisse.
Good Advice
Looking back on her career so far, Wong says the biggest chal-
lenge was feeling unsure of herself and being intimidated. ¹I
thought there were all these rules I had to follow. There are no
rules except the ones you set for yourself.º
Madame Bao An editorial illustration merging food and fashion created
for the 2anuary 2014 issue of the Hong Kong Tatler for a story about the city’s
hottest food trend: the steamed bao.
¹A Kate Moss portrait in progress, part of the Women I’ve Wanted to Be
series,º says Kitty N. Wong. The artwork is surrounded by the artist’s gouache
palette, paint test strips, and a fashion illustration postcard from her Etsy shop.
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