They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Testament to the talents of our favourite Australian illustrators, they are also worth thousands of little red hearts on Instagram.
Fusing art with fashion, these illustrators-turned-influencers are innovating the conventional sense of artistry and turning heads across fashion house boardrooms nationwide. While most tech-savvy millennials can filter a photograph, it takes a rare degree of talent (and balls) to conjure up a penned masterpiece and place it on the competitive mantelpiece of Instagram.
Today, weβre looking at a crop of our favourite sketchbook-handy grammers who are turning brushstrokes into brand collaborations and Insta accounts into patchworks of enviable talent.Β Roll out a few of our current favourite Insta galleries awash with fashion, beauty and lifestyle goodness…
1. JaeSuk Kim
When heβs not flitting across the world from Sydney to Seoul to Singapore, you can find JaeSuk Kim designing for the likes of LancΓ΄me, Loewe and Michael Kors (just to name a few).
2. Mads Francis
With Khloe Kardashian reposting her images four times and fans including the likes of Rihanna, Melbourne-based illustrator Mads Francis has fast become one-to-watch in the world of fashion illustration.
3. Megan Hess
One of Australiaβs most renowned fashion illustrators, Megan Hessβ impressive client list includes Dior, Chanel, Fendi, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Tiffany, and Cartier.
3. Belinda Xia Illustration
Featured by the likes of Elle, Seventeen and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia, Belina Xia is moving her way up the ranks of go-to fashion illustrators.
5. Alexandra Nia
While she may now be a commercial illustrator, the past decade has seen Alexandra Nea Graham employed in the fashion industryΒ β both locally and abroadΒ β as a senior fashion designer at labels Ted Baker in London, Collette Dinnigan and Little Joe Woman in Sydney, as well as being the director of her own fashion label, Alexandra Nea.
6. Jen and Jennifer
Born and raised in Brisbane, Jennifer Darr first began illustrating as a way to live a fulfilled and creative existence on her own terms.
7. Kerrie Hess Illustration
Similarly to her sister Megan, Kerrie Hess’ resumΓ© reads like a who’s who of the fashion and beauty industryΒ β with clients includingΒ Cartier, Laduree, Louis Vuitton, LancΓ΄me Paris, and Elie Saab.
8. The Lust List
After kick-starting her illustration career sketching all of the luxurious pieces she desired but couldnβt afford, Sally Sprattβs The Lust List has now become as covetable as the items she draws.
9. Birdy and Me
Valentino, Vogue, Net-A-Porter, Armani, Elle, L’OrΓ©al, Maybelline NYC… to say Birdy and Me’s Kelly Smith is in hot demand is just a slight understatementβ¦
10. Pippa McManus
From working with some of Australiaβs top fashion labels to holding solo art exhibitions, Pippa McManus has emerged as one of the country’s best-known fashion illustrators after
a decade of professional work in the industry.
Main image via: @meganhess | Words by: Genevieve Phelan
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