DESERT PORTAL
This fall I took a road trip from Nevada to California with my best friend. As she drove, I looked out the window and continued to notice the slow change in the scenery, cacti getting larger and more prickly as the ground became less rocky, while the mountains were changing from brown to green and purple. People say they experience a sense of euphoria when they drive across the country. Though I’ve never crossed the full length of the country, I’ve driven across multiple states and I’ve felt the euphoria. Especially since COVID, going to new places feels different. I drew the goddesses that create this feeling. They hide in the mountains within California and Nevada, and magically put travelers in a daze with their magic to hide the entrance of their city. They create a portal for the mortal travelers. With this collection I wanted to design clothing that was less conventional. My goal was to create two outfits that had components which could be made into several other styles, maximizing the two-figure collection. I was inspired by clothes traditionally worn in extreme desert environments: almost full coverage, layers, and face coverings, also inspired by the pandemic. The hard shell shirt and skirt in each look reminds me of armor, perfect for a goddess, and the pattern reminds me of casting a spell. In this piece, I also wanted to show hand-drawn fashion figures, different from my other collections.
Image two is a set of digital flows for look one in the “Desert Portal” mini collection, drawn in procreate. Details like the miniature portal earrings, the arm cuffs connected to a cape and necklace, and a side perspective of the shoes are defined in this format. This layout also aids in the interpretation of the layers, specifically the sheer overlay coat.
Image Three is a set of digital flows. Here all of the individual components of the complete look receive individual attention. The mask and bodysuit combination and the details of the sheer overlay coart are defined in this format.
2020, 11x16 inches, Mixed media, color pencil, watercolor paint, and ink on watercolor paper
