Ralph Lauren Mansion: Live Sketching

Live sketching custom fashion illustrations at the Ralph Lauren mansion NYC flagship store was a career highlight and even though it's been a minute I thought it deserved a highlight here. The stunning space and meticulous merchandizing have made it one of my favorite Manhattan stores for decades. I've sketched events for the brand previously under both the Ralph Lauren label and Polo but this was my first time sketching in their iconic flagship--and it did not disappoint! 

The desk where they set me up to draw for the day was at the base of their notorious staircase. It's the key spot of the whole store, where everyone who walks through the store passes. It's also raised up on a small staircase platform and was styled, of course, to perfection with large spheres at my feet, a grand antler candelabra to my side and flanked by luxurious curtains. 

It was a regular shopping day in the store, open to all and not a private event, but to my pleasant surprise there were many influencers and notable people who came by, including a former Miss. America, an actor as well as numerous fashion bloggers and influencers. Over on the gram I shared a bunch of videos from the event, the one of above being one of my favorites! There's nothing better than seeing the twinkle in a persons eye the moment they see their custom sketch. 

My first time live sketching at the Ralph Lauren mansion was an experience that did not disappoint! I had a wonderful time sketching and meeting an array of Ralph Lauren customers and employees (including the President of RL!) in a stunning setting. The event went so well that they flew me down to Miami about two weeks later to live sketch there for a few days as well as booked me to come back for Mother's Day weekend! 

Similar posts to check out: 

• Chanel Custom Fashion Illustrations 
• Ferragamo Fashion Illustration Invitations 
• Custom Sketching for Harry Winston

Our Frontline Figure Custom Illustration Series

Towards the start of this health crisis I wanted to find my own personal way to give back to our healthcare heroes. The people on the front lines of the pandemic who are risking their lives every single day to keep us safe. I've been giving what I can personally, and now doing my part professionally. I launched my first Instagram live series titled Our Frontline Figures where for six weeks I created custom illustrations of our healthcare heroes inspired by photos submitted by their friends and families.

Every week my community joined me on Instagram live as I walked them through the custom illustration process. I taught how my process works every step of the way, people followed along and created their own custom sketches of a healthcare hero in their life and got to ask questions throughout. Throughout the six weeks I received submissions of healthcare heroes from across the country (and people tuned to learn to draw from around the globe!) winners were chosen at random. We had an ER nurse, a Pulmonary Doctor, two Manhattan based Covid nurses, a newly engaged nurse from Georgia and a New Jersey nurse who actually hosted a socially distanced IG live margarita viewing party on her front lawn because she was so excited about being chosen. The messages of gratitude from these heroes who are saving lives and risking their own health everyday continually moved me to tears.

As many of us do, I have a tendency to be my own worst critic and occasionally devalue myself and my talent. But this global pandemic has made me thankful for my talent and the talent and work of other artists in my community. Now more than ever, with everyone quarentined and isolated at home, people have been turning to the art and entertainment industries. I'm in a membership group for artists and another artist in the community recently commented on Facebook that "artist are barometers and scribes of society and the times we live in." (Darcy Goedecke) I think we'll look back on 2020 and in addition to it being a history making year it will also be a pivotal moment in art. That being said, I'm excited to say theres more to come from me soon and Our Frontline Figure series was only the first creative creation series.

Thank you for all the submissions and thank you to all the amazing Healthcare Heroes who participated every week and more importantly thank you for all that you to do save lives everyday during this global pandemic. You're truly an inspiration.

Custom Illustration Surprise for Roselyn Sanchez

A few weeks ago I was contacted by actor Eric Winter to commission a custom fashion illustration of his gorgeous wife actress Roselyn Sanchez and their adorable daughter as a surprise Christmas gift. Eric did a little investigating as to his wife's favorite red carpet moments and we reviewed photos of both Roselyn and their daughter to pick looks that they both loved and best reflected the girls personalities, colors and attitudes.

I start custom illustrations with a batch of rough sketches for the client to review and choose a pose from (shown above left.) Originally the illustration was only to featured Roselyn and Sebi in their dresses but after Eric reviewed more of my work he asked if designer shopping bags could be added and possibly a Vogue magazine popping out, since I often illustrate for Vogue and it's a favorite of Ros'. I was happy to make the changes and did so in the next step, the polished line drawing (close-up shown above right.) Eric promptly approved the line drawing and I moved ahead to the final color rendering.

Eric had the illustration framed and surprised his girls Christmas morning. I was thrilled to hear it was a hit, Roselyn even instagramming and tweeting a picture saying she was "in love with her fab gift" and Eric said "you rocked it!"  Needless to say working with Eric on this custom illustration was  a pleasure! I loved the outcome and was so touched by the overwhelming response from them and their friends.

You can order a gift or commission your own custom illustration through my Etsy shops Brooklit and Brooklit Bride.  There you will also see examples of my custom illustrations and can read more about the custom process.

A few more custom commissions you may like:

• Custom Fashion Illustrations (CNN's Sunny Hostin)
• Custom Illustration Gifts for Love Gold  
• Child Fashion Illustrations (Sadie Yanks) 

Custom Fashion Illustrations

Today I have some new custom fashion illustrations to share, the first client being the lovely Sunny Hostin, CNN Legal Analyst, host and mom! Sunny commissioned a custom illustration to be used on personal correspondence cards. She told me she absolutely loved the finished sketch and promptly  ordered it printed on personal notecards. Within just a week or so one of her friends reached out to me for one of her own, which I'm actually finishing up this weekend. 

Fashion blogger Veronica Parga saw the custom illustrations I created for Love Gold and was eager to order one of her own to be used in her blog revamp and social media. Coincidently Sunny and Veronica chose the similar poses but the overall style couldn't be more different. Sunny is cheerful and light in a beach-chic coral printed caftan and Veronica is sultry rocking a glam-girl cheetah print jumpsuit and bold fuchsia pink lip. 

For more examples and information on my custom illustrations check out the custom listings in my Brooklit Etsy shop and contact me for artwork usage rates. 

Eva Mendes Sketches for Vogue Eyewear Party

A little over a week ago I flew to LA to live sketch at Vogue Eyewear's party celebrating Eva Mendes as the new face of their campaign. Before heading out west I sketched a bunch of fashion illustrations of Eva in various frames based off campaign shots that the lovely group at Luxottica, Vogue Eyewear's parent company, had sent me. I drew Eva in about six different eyewear looks, scanned the art and emailed them off to Luxottica in Milan and their PR company in New York. Then I crossed my fingers that all parties involved would like them.

Well, like them they did, because when I arrived at the event in Beverly Hills the space was filled with large framed prints of my illustrations. I even overheard some of the Luxottica ladies talking about shipping them back to Milan for their offices! Since Eva was hosting the soiree I decided to bring signed mini prints of the sketches for her, and was told she loved them too.

I'm still editing photo's of the event which I'll share later in the week, including some live-sketches I drew of the party guests and photo's of the sexy venue but in the mean time I wanted to post a few of my favorites of the beautiful Eva Mendes.

Fashion Illustrations of Party Guests {Part 1}

Last week I participated in a fabulous party/event where I sat and live sketched quickie fashion illustrations of party guests. My illustration table turned out to be quite the hit of the party and resulted in some fun and fashionable new sketches, like the one shown above of Kimberly, the lovely author of Eat.Sleep.Wear. I did share (via Twitter & Instagram) a few pictures of illustrations fresh off my sketchbook that night but thought I'd feature some more of my favorites here on Fabulous Doodles.

This "Midsummer Soiree" was thrown by Cameo PR as thank to the NY based editors and fashion bloggers whom they work with on a daily basis. I was only signed on to draw guests for 1.5-2 hours but my table got so crowded and I had such a long list of party guests wanting an illustration that I ended up staying and sketching just over 3 hours without getting up even once! It was a challenge to capture each guest in a such a small time frame but I tried to zero in on something that made them unique and made their personality and style shine through. For some it was their edgy summer party frocks and rocking attitude, like Kim's cheetah print silk shorts and dark shades, or Dawn's classic LBD and giant quilted Chanel bag.

 As for other guests/models it was their demeanor and pose witch made their personality come through in the drawings. The top two friends wanted to be drawn together and I loved how their two summer dress looks complimented one another as well their stance. Sarah (in the middle above) was adorable in her preppy "anchor pants" and I tried to capture her preppy-chic style in a comparable fun and flirty pose.

My live party guest sketching station was certainly a success, guests were thrilled with their illustrations and I plan share more sketches from the event later in the week. For rates to sketch at your event you can email me at FabulousDoodles@gmail.com.

(All images and illustrations: Brooke Hagel)

Head Shot Illustrations for Polka Dot Bride

Years ago I was commissioned by Ms. Polka Dot Bride to create a "head shot" illustration for her popular site as well as an original bridal fashion illustration of a retro polka dot bride to adorn her office.

Since that first commission, Ms. Polka Dot Bride has expanded her Australian based website and taken on a new staff of bridal bloggers, who of course now need illustrations as well. The girls reached out to me for a new batch of head shot sketches. Each fashion illustration resembles the writer behind the blog in hair color, eyes, hair style and wedding dress silhouette.

I think the bridal bloggers are pretty happy with their new sketches, Ms. Floral recently tweeted that "They all look fantastic. If only my hair stayed that perfect in real life!" This was such a fun little project, as I absolutely love illustrating head shots, making them brides, well that was just the icing on the cake.

Happy Birthday Fabulous Doodles

It's my first "Blog Birthday"! I can hardly believe I've been authoring a blog for a year now. I'd like to say a big thank you to you, all my wonderful readers! I'm so grateful for your support, encouragement, questions and comments.

I was extremely intimidated to start writing and putting myself out in the blogsphere for all to see, but its been such a positive experience. When I started Fabulous Doodles I thought I would simply share new products added to my Etsy shop and the occasional fashion illustration from designers. I had no idea people would contact me for advise and that my blog would turn into sharing not only my illustrations and current projects but books, tools and tips for others to use and learn from.

One year has past, 135 posts, numerous freelance projects, features, press, and Fabulous Doodles continues to grow. You can check out my first post, by clicking here, and see how I timidly started. Once again, I thank you and look forward to your comments, tweets, and facebook fan page messages in the next year.

Showerific

As if getting packages in the mail wasn't exciting enough, its ten times more so when it's a surprise package you weren't expecting! I came home to find a box at my door from River Cottage Farm. At first glance I thought maybe I had ordered something from etsy late night and forgotten about it (which does happen on occasion), but when I picked up the box I instantly knew some sweet handmade body products were awaiting me because the return label had my fancy farmgirl sketch on it! As do all the yummy shower scrubs, sugar cubes and lip balms that were inside. It's such a thrill to see my illustrations on actual products, and amazingly smelling ones are even better. Here's an old post about working on this project.

Step 3: Ta da!

Well as you may have guessed by the title of this post, step 3 in the custom order process is completing the final artwork. Once the line drawing is perfected and approved by the client, (Adam, who's name I can now share with you because he gave it to his wife Heather this past weekend for their first anniversary so it's no longer her surprise 1 year anniversary paper gift) I then get to work on the coloring and fabric rendering.

I love this step. This is where the illustration comes to life, the make it or break it moment (well, hours really). Some bridal illustrations take only one to two hours to render in color, like Heather here. But some take much longer, when the dress is head to toe lace or a ornate vintage gown. So here she is, I hope you liked seeing and reading about my process and getting a peak at my messy desk here.

I got an email from Adam last night telling the gift went over really well: "Heather loved it! It literally brought tears to her eyes!" I couldn't ask for anything more, I looooove a happy client! It was also such a pleasure to work with Adam, so thank you for that Adam, and thank you for letting me share it all here on my blog. Happy 1st Anniversary!