Sharp Accents on Every Curve with Alena Zakhvatkina

November 14, 2024

Alena Zakhvatkina's journey began with sketching outfits inspired by MTV videos and has since blossomed into a successful career blending traditional and digital techniques. With a distinctive style defined by refined shapes and storytelling, she brings fashion week designs and intricate fabrics to life.

What first drew you to the world of fashion illustration? Was there a defining moment when you knew this was your passion?
I started at around 8-10 years old. While watching MTV videos at home, I would draw dresses for the performers, thinking my designs would be a better fit for the songs. I wanted to become a fashion designer because, at that time, I didn't know about fashion illustration.

How would you describe your artistic style, and what are the key elements that define it?
I think my artistic style is defined by stylisation, developed through my experience. I focus on refined shapes with sharp accents on every curve.

Are there any fashion designers, illustrators, or artists who have particularly inspired your work? How have they shaped your creative vision?
My teacher, the artist Stanislav Girko, had a big influence on me as an illustrator. His work was an ideal example of graphic stylisation, and his paintings showed how to create a unique style. I learned from his experience and knowledge, which helped shape my own style. Later, I discovered the fashion illustrator Alena Landovskaya, whose work inspired me. I watched her interviews and saw her creative process. That’s when I realised my true passion: not just illustration, but fashion illustration. I also studied the work of Karl Lagerfeld, which made me fall in love with high fashion.

What tools or mediums do you prefer when illustrating fashion - digital, traditional, or a mix of both? Why?
I work with both traditional and digital materials. I enjoy painting with watercolours and using mixed techniques, like watercolour pencils and markers. For digital illustration, I mainly use Procreate or Photoshop on a tablet, but I mostly do that for work.

How do you approach translating the textures, fabrics, and details of fashion designs into your illustrations?
When using traditional materials, I combine watercolour with coloured pencils to capture fabric textures. When drawing on a tablet, I create custom fabric brushes.

What role does storytelling play in your fashion illustrations? How do you bring a narrative to life through your work?
Storytelling illustrations are perfect for holidays, like New Year's or Halloween. These types of illustrations are in high demand for decorating interiors or creating postcards.

How do you approach illustrating movement and the way fabric flows, especially when depicting runway looks?
I love depicting models in motion because it makes the illustrations more vivid and emotional than just a simple dress sketch. Through movement, I can convey the model's grace, which is very important to me in my illustrations.

What’s the most challenging part of fashion illustration - capturing intricate details, conveying mood, or something else?
For me, the most challenging part of illustration is the number of details. It's not that they're hard to draw, but they take a lot of time. Sometimes, during the process, I lose motivation and inspiration.

Which brands or collections do you enjoy illustrating the most, and why?
I follow every fashion week and enjoy selecting the most expressive looks, regardless of the brand. However, I especially enjoy painting designs from Moschino, Versace, and Zuhair Murad.

Tell us about some of your most memorable projects.
I once worked on a series of BJD doll illustrations that perfectly captured my model drawing style. If you've seen balloon dolls in beautiful outfits, you'll understand how elegant the body shapes are. It was a pleasure to depict them, emphasising the expressiveness of the forms. These illustrations were created for a series of interior paintings, and I used watercolour technique.
Another memorable project was a collaboration with an underwear designer, one of my first professional partnerships. We worked together to develop unique models of underwear and swimwear. During that time, I was not only an illustrator but also a fashion designer.
I also enjoy hosting offline masterclasses where we create fashion illustrations based on a specific theme.