THE FANTASY WORLD OF PATRICK WILLEM

Fashion Illustrator Patrick Willem

Patrick Willem is a passionate Fashion illustrator from Belgium, he studies in the Academy of Beaux-Arts in Belgium, high school and his undergraduate degree were in design, although his major was in creative advertising rather than fashion illustration. As a freelance illustrator and graphic designer he worked over the few years in fashion doing personal artwork for small businesses and some agency work in NEW-YORK / textile print, WASHINGTON DC/ fashion design/fashion illustration instructor, HAWAII/tee-shirt print-sportswear, BERLIN /fashion studio, INDIA / kids fashion illustration…

When did you know you wanted to be in the fashion world?

Very young, I was definitely passionate about fashion and after some time, I realized illustration was my strongest. It was natural to combine the two loves for me.

What’s it like being in the Fashion industry?

It is like going on an adventure trip around the world, with excitement to discover all the fantastic artistic peoples in the fashion world and the irresistible urge of creation…

What was your first job in the fashion industry?

My first work was for friends; I would do illustrations and design garments.

How would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it?

My design is very intuitive; I love avant-garde fashion, pop-art, colors, light, nature… My surrounding influences my way of thinking. They push me to produce new impulses to transform and create new harmonious images between the fashion world and the land of fantasy.

What kind of impact do you hope to make in the fashion world in the next 10-15 years?

I hope to be able to contribute to and influence trends trough my artistic work and inspire fellow artists to follow suit…

What projects are you working on now?

Just finished some illustrations that will be published in the new book of the very talented Yasmin Heinz, I have a couple of illustrated photos for USA magazines that should be published soon and working on a small series, although it will be used in illustration context to help promote myself.

What photographers and artists from the past or present have influenced you the most?

My influence is, some of the photographer; NICK KNIGHT, SOLVE SUNDSBO, PAOLO ROVERS, ELIZAVETA PORODINA… Artist: ANDY WARHOL, FRIDA KAHLO… And many more…

Describe what do you do in your work?

Regarding my process of creation, I first have an image flashing through my mind, an idea, a vision of something, I ‘d like to illustrate, it’s always related to fashion or beauty…

Next stage, I do a lot of thumbnail of croquis, I don’t spend too much time on composition or aesthetics until I’m content with an idea that works and enhances it later in Photoshop.

What do you like about your work?

I like the fact that I can be creative all day and can make my own hours, I’m no bound by the physical and metaphorical of an office setting and the bonus is to meet so many talented Artistic peoples, … No day is typical, never a dull moment.

If you want to know more about this amazing illustrator, please visit: Patrick Willem