Creating a Fashion Illustration Cover for a Magazine
Making a cover is a challenge for any artist—especially when it’s for a magazine as prestigious as Vogue ! In 2024, I took on that challenge by creating a Vogue cover illustration to enter the FIDA International Fashion Week 2024 Contest and got ranked as one of the 100 best fashion illustrator worldwide 🤩 !
In this post, I’ll take you through my creative process, from initial research to final touches, and share insights on what it takes to create a polished fashion illustration.
Research and Brainstorming
The first step in any creative project is brainstorming ideas. This is one of my favorite stages, where the possibilities feel endless. For this project, I decided to focus on Schiaparelli’s surrealist-inspired designs.
Their 2023 collection featured eye-shaped earrings and other accessories that transform body parts into wearable art pieces.
I envisioned a Vogue cover highlighting these elements in a striking, minimalist composition.
My moodboard. I copied-pasted images found on Schiaparelli’s website and Instagram.
Sketching digitally & Transfering the Sketch to Paper
With my concept in mind, I moved on to sketching.
After browsing various Vogue covers for inspiration, I opted for a clean and impactful bust composition that would showcase both the Schiaparelli accessories and a denim outfit from their collection.
I created my sketch digitally using Clip Studio Paint, which allows for flexible experimentation with composition and color before committing to a final version. Working digitally at this stage saves time and makes it easier to refine ideas 😊
Once I was happy with my digital sketch, I transfered it to watercolor paper. Although I like using digital to make refined illustrations, I always paint in watercolor since it’s my favorite technique.
Transfering the sketch to paper is a crucial step for me, as I love having clean linework to paint on.
I used an A3-sized lightbox to trace the sketch onto my watercolor paper, ensuring crisp and precise lines. This method helps to get a final lineart as close as the original sketch as possible.
Painting the illustration
Now, the fun part—painting !
Although this illustration was relatively simple, it required careful attention to detail to capture the metallic shine of the eye-shaped jewellery.
In fashion illustration, rendering fabric textures is essential. For the denim outfit, I used a granulating watercolor to achieve a textured, grainy effect. This approach adds depth and interest to the painting, making it more dynamic than a flat wash of color.
Of course, you could enhance textures digitally, but I prefer creating as much detail as possible in the original artwork. It’s both challenging and rewarding to solve these visual “problems” using traditional media !
Here is a video sneek peek of how I painted the lips :
For more video shots of fashion illustration painting, go to my Instagram ☺️
Digital Touch-Ups
Once the painting is complete, there’s still more work to do!
The final step involves digitizing the artwork and making adjustments to ensure it looks polished and professional.
First, I scanned my illustration using a Canon printer with an embedded scanner. Since the scanner is A4-sized and my artwork is larger, I scanned it in two parts and combined them digitally in my editing software.
After importing the scans, I made a few tweaks: adjusting the colors to match the original painting and cleaning up any dust or stray marks. I also added the iconic Vogue title and a soft white glow around the figure to enhance the cover’s impact !
Bonus tip
To showcase the final result, I created a mockup—a digital presentation that places the illustration on a realistic magazine cover. Mockups are a great way to visualize how your artwork would look like in a real life context and make a compelling addition to your portfolio.
You can find mockup templates on various websites or use free stock images from platforms like Unsplash or Pexels.
Here’s my final mockup:
I found this mockup on Unsplash and added my illustration on the cover !
Don’t underestimate the power of mockups !
They not only make your portfolio more professional but also help potential clients visualize how your work could fit their projects. It’s a little extra effort that can make a big difference!
Final Thoughts
Creating a professional fashion illustration for a cover involves multiple stages, from research and sketching to painting and digital editing.
While each step requires time and effort, the process is incredibly rewarding—especially when you see your work come to life as you paint !
Thank you for joining me on this creative journey! I hope this behind-the-scenes inspires you to take on your own illustration challenges :)
Prints are available !
The original painting of my Vogue cover illustration is also available for sale.
If you’re interested in giving it a new home, contact me at amelierose.boudjema@gmail.com. Remember it’s a unique piece and once it’s gone, it’s gone forever!