Blending History, Fashion and Art with Velicia Gourdin

March 12, 2025

Velicia Gourdin’s artistic journey has taken her from the corporate world to the dynamic field of fashion illustration, earning her a coveted spot among the Top 10 artists in IFIW 2025’s TOP 100 Fashion Portraits Prize. With a rich creative background and a passion for both history and fashion, Gourdin’s work stands out for its vibrancy and storytelling.

Gourdin first came across the TOP 100 Fashion Portraits Prize just weeks before the submission deadline. “I follow FIDA Worldwide on IG, and I’d just had a conversation with my husband about how much I’ve always enjoyed doing portraits, whether for fashion or for historic illustration work,” she recalls. “So I thought it was a sign to enter!”

When she received the news that her work had been selected, it was both exhilarating and affirming. “It’s always a pleasure to have my work recognised, especially in the fashion arena where I began my creative journey,” she says. “I entered because I like the way FIDA focuses on all aspects of the fashion industry as it stands today and also attracts work from all over the world. Like most illustrators, I don’t do what I do solely for recognition, but finding my work counted amongst so many talented creatives was exciting! It’s motivating, for sure!”

This was not Gourdin’s first taste of competition. In 2024, she won commendations in the 9th FIDA Awards. “Those competition ‘butterflies’ are crazy!” she admits. Her work as lead illustrator for Kofi’s Fire: A Spark of Resistance, an interactive educational module, also garnered significant accolades, winning awards such as Telly, Summit, Anthem, and MANY (Museum Association of New York). “Although I didn’t personally submit the work for these competitions, I was glad the recognition meant the work was gaining visibility and doing its job. History is important...Participating in a prize or award competition is definitely a great way to get your work in front of industry professionals.”

Gourdin’s path to illustration was influenced by her creative upbringing. “My mum was a classical pianist who won a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Paris in the mid-1950s. Our home was filled with musicians, dancers, and artists,” she shares. Initially drawn to fashion design, she discovered illustration in college when a professor guided her toward it. “I found that you still had to have a comprehensive knowledge of fabrics, how they drape, and how to render them. Today, there’s more freedom in rendering and unless you’re illustrating for a manufacturer or pattern making, you can loosely hint at the fabric.”

Though she has always balanced art with other professional pursuits, Gourdin made a decisive leap in 2019 to pursue her artistic career full-time. “A personal passion? I think I’ve had to be passionate, especially when my 9-to-5 job was so mentally exhausting that I wanted to quit,” she reflects. “Looking back, my corporate job as a training design and development specialist paid for the tools needed to grow as an illustrator and support my family. In the end, doing both paid off, ultimately resulting in a few briefs for The New York Times, OnyxBox, and even Norma Kamali during the pandemic.”

Her inspiration stems from both industry trends and personal connections. “Inspiration is closely tied to flexibility, in my opinion,” she explains. “Each industry - fashion, advertising, or education - has its own set of ‘eyes,’ and you can reach them by producing quality work and being knowledgeable about your craft.” Beyond that, her children play a big role in her creative motivation. “I love how my kids react to my work. I love that they see me as more than their Mum…a persona outside of that,” she says.

Gourdin’s creative process is meticulous and ever-evolving. “I begin by gathering ‘swipes’ that interest me creatively. I try to sketch something every day that satisfies me or resolves an artistic challenge...Lately because my focus has been drawn to a more realistic style, I’ve been including accessories as they provide an opportunity to render metal, chrome and silver.” she says. Her digital workflow involves Sketchbook Pro for initial sketches, where she utilises a native pencil tool resembling the Ebony pencils from life drawing class, before transitioning to Procreate for finalising details. “I use a magnetic screen protector that feels like newsprint and cuts down on glare,” she adds. “I love using Procreate’s time-lapse video function because sometimes earlier versions are more appropriate to what I envisioned originally - and often better than the final outcome.”

Looking ahead, Gourdin has an exciting array of projects lined up. Currently, she is working on a series of realistic illustrations for a historic organisation and has recently co-authored and illustrated a children’s book, Ten Little Koi Fish, which she and her husband plan to release as a hardcover edition for educational use. Additionally, she eagerly anticipates the premiere of a comic series centred on a famous Black female entertainer and is developing a tarot card deck featuring the Orisha.

Gourdin’s advice to aspiring illustrators? “Sketch everything, sketch every day, and be open to opportunity. Ultimately, the lessons - although sometimes unexpectedly presented - will help you grow as an artist.”